Empowerment

I try to avoid personal attacks but I am well aware there are people who join sites like this supposedly to debate things, but treat any questioning of their opinion, however constructive, polite and non-personal, as a downright insult.

Generally these are best ignored though unless you can still debate the topic with others on the same thread, it can look as if your attacker has "won" by having the last word.

I think some yearn for the comfort of a spurious certainty given by sharing by others who agree 100% with their beliefs on any given matter; so are frightened to find plenty who hold differing opinions. Frightened even more, to find that their opinion follows genuine ignorance of the topic: argued from a real mistake of fact or false logic.

I believe this is the social-media phenomenon often called the "echo-chamber", from which all analysis, differing opinions, corrections of errors and even basic logic must be excluded. To what end?

The late-18C became known as the Age of Enlightenment, when people started to question, study and appreciate the world around them, with both the Arts and the Sciences flourishing despite considerable social and political turmoil. Sometimes, listening or reading to some threads on site like this, or in the wider world of the politician, pundit and campaigner, I fear ours will become the Age of Ignorance.


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There is also a tiny minority of users frankly unable to engage in any proper discourse, so love to jump into conversations not to support a given opinion, offer a polite correction to a factual error or highlight a fact missed by the others; but to hurl gratuitous insults at individuals.

Seeing I was not the only victim of one particularly unpleasant bully in that way I reported him, and he was suspended, though I think he crept back some months later under a different nick-name.

(And different account? Don't forget the site managers have our IP addresses so in theory, might be able to block that to stop simply changing a user name to circumvent a ban.)

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The other way round, I try not to take insults too badly. There is no point in feeling hurt because some stranger anything from 8 to 8000 miles away, wants wilfully to be rude to you. Text messages are dangerous tools because it is too easy to hurt someone accidentally; but if I can see I was in the wrong I may be able to at least offer an apology.

Otherwise, I take some comfort from reflecting that it is the sender of the unwonted and deliberate insult who has the problem; and I wonder if such people also bully those around them in real life.

every one has an opinion and it may not be the same as mine... I can accept that... some can't

I get a bit miffed when I have no idea why i have been blocked... especially part way thrugh a discussion, but then there is always other people to chat to :)

It's easier to talk behind a screen. Secondly I don't give a damn if people hate me.

If a tree bears more fruits, it occasionally attracts more stones.

So I take that as a compliment if someone doesn't like me or block me.

No. I don't give two shits if a faceless username on the internet doesn't agree with me on something.

I believe in loving everyone but after we have been really polite and they are continuing to be rude then the suggestion from this administration is to block them, right? So that's what I do! I unblock them a few weeks later to give them a chance to apologize or to just be politer going forward! But I will block again when people are so rude on MY POST!

I have never blocked anyone who had a differing view or disagreed with me whether I agreed with, disliked, or understood their point or not. I have however muted and/or blocked people who were rude, insulting/condescending, hateful, and offensive about it. I respect other's opinions and beliefs even when they are different from or opposite my own, but I do not tolerate when they are not respectful of mine.

No. I frequently don't even realize I'm in a full-blown argument until the blood starts to run. If somebody disagrees with me, that's perfectly fine. When it gets abusive and vindictive - to me or anybody else (on my post), then they get a warning - but they're usually too far gone by then to heed it.

I tend to ignore the negativity.

No, it's really when they're just being a dick and attack me without cause.

Now, this does NOT mean that my calling out some perv who keeps making new accounts to post the same trash as attacking someone without cause. I have cause.

No, that would be really bad. I have had this happened to me when someone just straight blocked me without even giving me a 2nd chance to explain what i was trying or intending to say. Some people are here think they are above all. Fuck that. I never do that.

I just recently had a rude uncalled for reply to one of my latest posts- I reported it and blocked. I didn't retaliate- waste of time. I was pretty angry though but held it in.

i definitely dont try an block anyone in fact if someone has a view its fine. there entitled as i am entitled to disagree if need be. / great post love it

I would never block someone just for disagreeing with me. I like to hear other people's opinions..

I just ignore them. I feel more powerful of moving on other than arguing with them.

It's not a problem if someone disagrees but the tone and purposeful hatred they bring to it is not ok.

No only if they curse at me or critisice me instead of talking about the subject.

That is what people do who are feelers rather than thinkers and also are inclined to be conventional sensing-judging types a well. So closed-minded coventional women are most inclined to do that as they are more likely to be f's. However men are more likely to be s's than women are who are more likely to be n's but still only a minority of both genders, are n's, intuiters.

No. I know that not everyone will agree with me.

For me it’s politics. Unfortunately, after having had enough conversations with people of a certain mindset, I can almost predict when the name-calling and profanity will begin. Often I see one comment and block, because I’m not going to want to ever talk with that person.

I know people are entitled to their opinions

Yep, they’re called ‘Snowflakes’, or ‘Loony Left’, or ‘Libtards’ {Liberal + Retard = ‘Libtard} ...

In trying to shutdown the argument when they’re losing the argument, they usually call you ‘Racist’

I block because i dont like the person.their posts.username etc.its my choice who i want to associate with NO one elses