US Representative, at least 6 others killed

[BolianAuthor]

There is a huge difference between disagreeing with someone's actions, opinions, or even character, and wishing them physical harm. I sincerely hope that you simply not giving your posts a lot of thought, and that you can tell the difference between ridiculing a political party and cheering about the injuries or deaths of its members.

Kestra... I am not wishing anyone harm... I am ASKING if the people here who are "on the left" would feel the same compassion for someone with whom they strongly disagree.

I give my posts a lot of thought, and I don't apologize for posting this, because it's a question I have.

As Nerys posted, there may be some here who WOULD cheer the death of George W. Bush, or Jan Brewer or Rush Limbaugh... but would they actually come out and say it? No. So that makes me wonder how they would react to someone "right-wing" getting shot or killed... I honestly wonder if their reaction would be just as compassionate, or if they would be honest enough to admit that it wouldn't.

If you dislike my question, then of course, you need not reply... but do not attack me for asking a question, which was all I was doing. The fact that so few people have said that they would feel equal compassion says a lot, IMO.

Shaw also brought up a great point... that left-leaning people DO tend to be more sympathetic... so again, what is so wrong and taboo with just responding to my point? It's because a lot of left-leaning people DO also tend to greatly vilify the right-wingers as evil. So that's what prompted me to ask my question.

Tora Ziyal, I'm glad you said yes... that makes me feel pretty good. I for one, think this kind of thing IS horrible, no matter who it happens to.

 

[BolianAuthor]

The thing that really bothers me about all this is that it's all pointless, distracting conjecture. Why even go down that path in your head? Why say to yourself "I bet people would behave badly in such-and-such situation?" If you believe so badly of the people on this forum, why would you choose to associate with them? And what does such an attitude even get you? Why assume the worst of people without reason?

Because I'm curious about it, and when I'm curious, I ask questions. It's called the learning process.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

What a horrible assumption to make about people you choose to be around.

Agreed. This guy obviously hasn't been on this board long, and doesn't know that there are some really great, caring people here- left, right, and center.

I do believe you'd see a difference between the threads for a conservative and a liberal who was attacked or passed away. Sorry--but that is my honest read on the board.

I don't know that you would see the outright dancing on graves, except from idiots, but I do think the tone would be discernibly different and discernibly less sympathetic.

I think that many people here would keep it to themselves if they felt like cheering--but I have to say it, I think there are some people who would act in such a tasteless manner. Hopefully the mods would contain it if that occurred, but I really think there would be some idiots who could not keep their mouths shut and would make those sorts of comments.

Idiots have made comments in this thread. It doesn't mean that, were the political parties reversed, there would be more idiots. I'm sorry, but you clearly don't know the board well enough. The second this board becomes that place is the second I leave, pure and simple. I stay here because I respect most people here and I can vouch that they would never do that.

 

[Kira's Mom]

Agreed. This guy obviously hasn't been on this board long, and doesn't know that there are some really great, caring people here- left, right, and center.

I do believe you'd see a difference between the threads for a conservative and a liberal who was attacked or passed away. Sorry--but that is my honest read on the board.

I don't know that you would see the outright dancing on graves, except from idiots, but I do think the tone would be discernibly different and discernibly less sympathetic.

I think that many people here would keep it to themselves if they felt like cheering--but I have to say it, I think there are some people who would act in such a tasteless manner. Hopefully the mods would contain it if that occurred, but I really think there would be some idiots who could not keep their mouths shut and would make those sorts of comments.

I disagree. Of course there will be loudmouthed idiots, that's the internet for you. But I do not believe you would see much of a difference if it were a conservative person instead of a liberal one. Most of us have the capability to set aside politics when it comes to someone's life or well being.

I also TOTALLY disagree. And I'm offended. How dare you assume people would react that way? You don't know squat about any of us. Don't you fucking tell me that I'd cheer for the death of Bush or anyone else I disagree with. I sure as hell wouldn't.

And this:

I think Obama and his socialist rants do a hell of a lot more than any of these guys do. If things are to be toned down then Obama needs to stop with the socialist propaganda.

Are you fucking kidding me? What propaganda? What socialist rants? This is the stupidest thing I have read on this board in years, and I've been here almost ten years.

I'm done now. Any warnings coming my way I'll gladly accept.

 

[Kestra]

The second this board becomes that place is the second I leave, pure and simple. I stay here because I respect most people here and I can vouch that they would never do that.

 

[iguana_tonante]

There is a certain counter-cultural, liberal smugness in SF fandom that I have always found a bit... ugly.

Well, after the last posts, you may now rest assured that there is an equal amount of holier-than-thou, passive-aggressive conservative smugness in here.

But it's amusing that while some may indeed find my question in bad taste, the fact was, I didn't word anything in a combative way, or outright accuse any forum members... I simply voiced a theory I had... and as I said, the fact that nobody has just come out and said "yes", that they'd absolutely hate for anything to happen to anyone on "the other side" of the political isle in AZ, and that they'd pray for their well-being is a bit telling, lol.

Wrapping your insults in "lol" and putting them as "just voicing a theory" does nothing to disguise them. And people will react accordingly.

The thing that really bothers me about all this is that it's all pointless, distracting conjecture. Why even go down that path in your head? Why say to yourself "I bet people would behave badly in such-and-such situation?"

Because it's better to do pointless conjectures about hypothetical scenarios that admitting that, right here, right now, it was a liberal Congresswoman who was shot (among many other liberal supporters), and some people, right here, right now, are saying that they had it coming for their "socialist propaganda".

 

[Shaw]

Shaw also brought up a great point... that left-leaning people DO tend to be more sympathetic... so again, what is so wrong and taboo with just responding to my point? It's because a lot of left-leaning people DO also tend to greatly vilify the right-wingers as evil. So that's what prompted me to ask my question.

Because your question was loaded, and therefore wasn't deserving of a direct response.

It would be the same as if I asked you when did you stopped beating your wife?

But obviously it is helpful for you to justify your position to project how you do things onto the other side. Added to your loaded question, and it is more telling about what you think of others than it is of the character of anyone else around here.

But lets trade answers... you answer this (honestly) and I'll answer your original question (even though I actually already did)...

Does the vilification of others help you in any productive way? Does it make you feel better to think the worst of others? Does it serve a purpose in your life? ​

Deal?

 

[Alidar Jarok]

The second this board becomes that place is the second I leave, pure and simple. I stay here because I respect most people here and I can vouch that they would never do that.

Aw thanks. I just drank a bunch of NyQuill, so I don't know if this post (or subsequent posts) will be coherent, but I do mean that. I think I would be a sporadic poster at best if it weren't for all the people I've met here over the years. I don't think I'd post in Misc or go to meetups, that's for sure. It's definitely a different experience to start to view people here as people here and not as text that appears on a wall so you can respond to. It's why I feel I can confidently say what I said above.

 

[ichab]

Because it's better to do pointless conjectures about hypothetical scenarios that admitting that, right here, right now, it was a liberal Congresswoman who was shot (among many other liberal supporters), and some people, right here, right now, are saying that they had it coming for their "socialist propaganda".

She was pro-second amendment,pro-border security and voted against Nancy Pelosi as minority leader so she wasn't all THAT liberal. Just saying. Besides her vote on the health care bill I can't think of one reason why a conservative wouldn't vote for her. Probably explains why she was re-elected.

I hope she pulls through and is able to look that scumbag in the eye during his trial. And then of course I look forward to sweet justice being handed out when he's found guilty.

 

[bigdaddy]

Don't retreat! Reload!

Then when people die blame other people and deny everything!

Don't retreat! Reload! Get more people killed!

 

[Amaris]

Don't retreat! Reload!

Then when people die blame other people and deny everything!

Don't retreat! Reload! Get more people killed!

Her choice of wording was shortsighted and foolish. That said, Sarah Palin didn't cause this guy to do anything he wasn't already going to do.

 

[ThankQ]

This is what the wacko wrote....

And he adds, "I can't trust the current government because of fabrications. The government is implying mind control and brainwash on the people by controlling grammar."

The guy is a nut and the fact there are believed to be at least another nut is scary.

I suppose "implying" was supposed to be "employing"? For all the work the government is doing to control grammar, they seem to be leaving diction and usage up to the individual.

I can throw nasties at Palin all day long about "take out" and "target" and "reload", but from what I've read so far, this guys seems to be his own brand of crazy. My guess, again, from what I've read so far, is that he didn't need Palin to go out and do anything insane.

Now, new information will come to light and be made (or leaked) public, and he might say "I did it for Sarah", but that hasn't happened yet. If you wanna bitch about Palin, start that thread. I'll be the first reply.

Evidence will be brought to light.

Let's not jump the gun.


ETA:

Don't retreat! Reload!

Then when people die blame other people and deny everything!

Don't retreat! Reload! Get more people killed!

Her choice of wording was shortsighted and foolish. That said, Sarah Palin didn't cause this guy to do anything he wasn't already going to do.

Dammit, J! How do you always manage to say first what I want to say, and do it with far fewer words?

 

[RJDiogenes]

what is so wrong and taboo with just responding to my point?

Your question got the response it deserved: Disgust.

 

[Amaris]

Dammit, J! How do you always manage to say first what I want to say, and do it with far fewer words?

 

[Tora Ziyal]

The fact that so few people have said that they would feel equal compassion says a lot, IMO.

...

Tora Ziyal, I'm glad you said yes... that makes me feel pretty good. I for one, think this kind of thing IS horrible, no matter who it happens to.

BolianAuthor, you're making assumptions about why more people are not saying they would feel equal compassion. If I hadn't gotten annoyed at your jumping to conclusions, I wouldn't have said it either -- not because I didn't mean it, but because your comments just weren't worth responding to.

 

[TheBrew]

I used to intern for her, so I am pretty shook up by this. I took a moment during the moment of silence at 11AM to remember Gabe Zimmerman, who left behind a fiancée. He will be missed.

 

[ThankQ]

UPDATE: The manhunt is over for the "person of interest" in the Tucson shooting. The Pima County Sheriff's Department has located the man, questioned and released him. He is a cab driver, who had driven Jared Lee Loughner to the Safeway, and then walked into the store with him because the suspected shooter needed to get change to pay his fare.

Must have been a crazy couple of days for this cabbie.

This really does make me question the ultimate wisdom of publishing phots of "persons of interest" to the mass public after a major incident like this.

Had things gone differently, this guy could have been beaten or worse by justice-minded citizens or itchy-fingered cops.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

I used to intern for her, so I am pretty shook up by this. I took a moment during the moment of silence at 11AM to remember Gabe Zimmerman, who left behind a fiancée. He will be missed.

Are you OK? Anything we can do to help you?

 

[Misfit Toy]

I think there are some people who would act in such a tasteless manner. Hopefully the mods would contain it if that occurred, but I really think there would be some idiots who could not keep their mouths shut and would make those sorts of comments.

Yes those idiots exist, but they exist on all sides of the political spectrum. Going there in this thread is, IMO, pathetic.

 

[TheBrew]

I used to intern for her, so I am pretty shook up by this. I took a moment during the moment of silence at 11AM to remember Gabe Zimmerman, who left behind a fiancée. He will be missed.

Are you OK? Anything we can do to help you?

Well, I am doing better than most people, I guess. I didn't know Gabe personally as he worked in a different office and only spoke to him a few times briefly during my tenure, but he was a nice guy and really gave us a lot of support as we listened to and helped her constituents with their concerns.

I was panicking a little over the weekend as I couldn't get a hold of everyone and I didn't know who had been hit with the exception of Gabby and the judge. I was able to get in contact with one of my friends in her office to check in this morning, that was when I heard about Gabe. Now I am just in mourning.

Thanks for the offer, but I will be okay. I have a great support network here. If anything, I feel more determined than ever to get my non-Profit off the ground and do some good.

To quote my friend in her office, hug all your loved ones tonight.