AO members disrespectful.

[Sir. Foxalot]

[TransMan]

i completley agree tho i havnt seen any of these pics but i only look at a few threads a day so i prob missed em

[bornl33t]

post a picture of you... and we'll make fun of it instead.


Go stand infront of a bulldozer plz ( "plz" indicates I'm polite )

[shartley]

[1stdeadeye]

I disagree!

There is a difference between ribbing someone and trying to humiliate them. Flaming someone is already prohibited. Check out the Iraq thread! We are haveing a spirited debate and are keeping it quite civil.

Except for calling CollegeBoy a Frenchman! I said I was sorry for that very low blow!

[SlartyBartFast]

Re: I disagree!

Originally posted by 1stdeadeye
Except for calling collegeboy a Frenchman! I said I was sorry for that very low blow!

How can you defend something as a good discussion while bringing up your own support for a negative stereotype?

The xenophobic, meglomaniac, and self centered American attitudes that are prevalent on the board these days have certainly put a dent in how much I bother reading AO.

I've stayed out of the other political threads because so many seem to be too immature to discuss topics without putting others down or resorting to sad stereotypes.

Whether it's the French, Arabs, Japanese, or others there's a lot of hate being put out on AO these days.

I'd agree with the origianl poster even if this is a little too PC for my tastes. Most of the OWNED and other type put-down images used simply show how immature the poster is and really reveal how little logical thinking they are capable of.

[JAM]

yeah, things can be funny while being a little "off color" or whatnot... People in general need a better sense of humor and less of a politically correct attitude... Why do we need to protect everyone from themselves? people have opinions and they are free to, but please... some picture of a retarded kid with a funny caption is something I can laugh at, but that doesn't mean i disrespect "mentally challenged" people. Everyone jsut lighten up and have fun. Of course, there are limits, And the mods make sure to get rid of any truly offensive material pretty quickly.

[Timmee]

Re: Re: I disagree!

Originally posted by SlartyBartFast


How can you defend something as a good discussion while bringing up your own support for a negative stereotype?

The xenophobic, meglomaniac, and self centered American attitudes that are prevalent on the board these days have certainly put a dent in how much I bother reading AO.

I've stayed out of the other political threads because so many seem to be too immature to discuss topics without putting others down or resorting to sad stereotypes.

Whether it's the French, Arabs, Japanese, or others there's a lot of hate being put out on AO these days.

I'd agree with the origianl poster even if this is a little too PC for my tastes. Most of the OWNED and other type put-down images used simply show how immature the poster is and really reveal how little logical thinking they are capable of.

I don't feel that I have a xenophobic, meglomaniac, or self centered American attitude. I support the US troops in what they're doing (whether I agree with the reasons or not).

[aaron_mag]

Yes!

Originally posted by SlartyBartFast


How can you defend something as a good discussion while bringing up your own support for a negative stereotype?

The xenophobic, meglomaniac, and self centered American attitudes that are prevalent on the board these days have certainly put a dent in how much I bother reading AO.

I've stayed out of the other political threads because so many seem to be too immature to discuss topics without putting others down or resorting to sad stereotypes.

Whether it's the French, Arabs, Japanese, or others there's a lot of hate being put out on AO these days.

I'd agree with the origianl poster even if this is a little too PC for my tastes. Most of the OWNED and other type put-down images used simply show how immature the poster is and really reveal how little logical thinking they are capable of.

Totally in agreement with you here. However I am disappointed that the non U.S. contingent of A.O. don't want to put their opinion on the boards. Believe it or not I actually read the boards to LEARN something. Despite our vehement debate in the Iraq section I have learned some things and have had to concede some points. It would be great to get other perspectives. Some of our insults (like 1stdeadeye and myself) are actually done in humor. At any rate if A.O. loses its international element it would be a shade of its former self.

EDIT:

I don't feel that I have a xenophobic, meglomaniac, or self centered American attitude. I support the US troops in what they're doing (whether I agree with the reasons or not).

Great we are in danger of letting our other debate leak into other areas. We better not get into it here!

[CoFFeY[NiTrO]]

Originally posted by Heat
post a picture of you... and we'll make fun of it instead.


Go stand infront of a bulldozer plz ( "plz" indicates I'm polite )

irbodden already took care of that with a picture of me...and yes it is disrespectful

[BTAutoMag]

i think poking fun at disabled people is very bad. I'll be dating a one legged girl pretty soon and i dont know what the big deal is

[1stdeadeye]

Re: Re: I disagree!

Originally posted by SlartyBartFast


How can you defend something as a good discussion while bringing up your own support for a negative stereotype?

The xenophobic, meglomaniac, and self centered American attitudes that are prevalent on the board these days have certainly put a dent in how much I bother reading AO.

I've stayed out of the other political threads because so many seem to be too immature to discuss topics without putting others down or resorting to sad stereotypes.

Whether it's the French, Arabs, Japanese, or others there's a lot of hate being put out on AO these days.

I'd agree with the origianl poster even if this is a little too PC for my tastes. Most of the OWNED and other type put-down images used simply show how immature the poster is and really reveal how little logical thinking they are capable of.

and mean jokes! Get it?

[SlartyBartFast]

Bringing this back on-topic with the original complaint, that of poking fun at the disabled, it's really all about respecting others and thinking about your reply. There are so many much funnier ways to put your point across than to do the low, easy, pathetic approach of attacking an easy target/stereotype. If it's worth the effort for you to post and for others to read at least make your brain do a little work. If it's just going to insult others and adds nothing of note to the discussion, why bother?

Sorry about the hijacking of the thread because I really think the topic deserves some respect in its own right. However, I believe I am addressing a connected issue of general respect on AO.
Addressing responses to my post:

Timmee don't quote my entire post as your response only (inaccurately) addresses part of it.

Originally posted by Timmee
I don't feel that I have a xenophobic, meglomaniac, or self centered American attitude.

Good for you. I hope it's true and the reason I figure you inaccurately address my post. I am not familiar enough with your posts to comment on you personally. Indeed to keep discussion friendly, talk should be kept on the topic of the ideas being discussed and not the people discussing them. But the general feeling and atmosphere in many discussions is not one of open-mindedness and acceptance of other ideas. Much of the discussion degrades itself by resorting to stereotypes and simplistic labelling.

Actually a good reason that pictures of disabled or handicapped people are in such poor taste in posts. As the post using them invariably is making a statement against a poster and not ideas and that the negative aspects that the picture is undoubtedly supposed to ascribe to the poster are related to the affliction of the person represented.

I support the US troops in what they're doing (whether I agree with the reasons or not).

Keep that discussion out of this one. THIS discussion is about whether AO members are mature and level headed enough to accept the fact that there will always be opinions opposite to their own and that because an opinion is different doesn't mean it's wrong. I've been staying out of THAT discussion because I can't be bothered dealing with the responses I can assume I'd have to deal with.

More important is how discussion about the pros and cons of the issue are approached. Unfortunately regressing to the current hot topics, this can be illustrated with:
Anti-Bush is not anti-American.
Anti-War, Anti-Bush is not Pro-Sadam or Pro-Terrorism.
No one has the right to declare "You're with me or against me."
If you can think logically and discuss things amicably, starting from the above you can actually discuss common ground and alternate scenarios. If you can't all you'll ever do is descend towards insult.

The thing that I believe scares most people is that much of the time their opponent is always at least partially right. But not being able to separate what they believe from what they know, many resort to emotional arguments or descend into labels/stereotypes that allow them to easily dismiss the other point of view.

Even the worlds biggest crackpots have a grain of truth to their ramblings. That grain may not justify their position nor their actions. However, if you can understand that grain from their perspective you may just be able to envision a true solution to avoid the situation recurring.

It's a poor mind that can only think in black and white. Think I had a great quote lying around somewhere about that (and I may have put it on AO before).

The world is a complicated place. The sooner everyone understands this the better. Discussion can then lead to the fact that there is far more in common between most points of view than differences. And for the differences that really do matter, the world and society is large enough to make room for all the possibilities.

Originally posted by aaron_mag
However I am disappointed that the non U.S. contingent of A.O. don't want to put their opinion on the boards. Believe it or not I actually read the boards to LEARN something. Despite our vehement debate in the Iraq section I have learned some things and have had to concede some points. It would be great to get other perspectives. Some of our insults (like 1stdeadeye and myself) are actually done in humor. At any rate if A.O. loses its international element it would be a shade of its former self.

Well, considering the garbage that has been allowed on the boards about the French or Germans, do you really think they'd bother responding? As a Canadian I've had my country and beliefs insulted on list. I'd think that the level of insults against a number of groups is high enough that someone quickly skimming AO would probably assume that AGD products are the last thing they want to buy due to the opinions that are expressed. A good reason for the avoid political discussions in the first place. But now we have moderators making such discussions Classic.

Why bother giving your point of view in such an atmosphere. Insults are only in humour if you REALLY know and understand the person you are talking with and rarely come across as intended in a forum such as this.

Considering the varying and split opinion in the US over the current hot issues, the American members on the list should be asking themselves why their own fellow citizens aren't speaking up with their opinions. I will admit that paintball as a sport will undoubtedly be quite a bit right of centre to begin with and perhaps not represent a perfect cross segment of opinion, but the other opinions have to be out there.

As it is now, I'm debating to just stick to the technical/paintball issues and ignore all other discussion.

Originally posted by 1stdeadeye
and mean jokes! Get it?

I get it. But in what sense? Seems to me much of the discussion is attempting to be serious. A joke in that case is a put down of the other poster's position. Also how are you to interpret the 'joke' in the context of this discussion? That it was a joke (probably inappropriate) in the previous discussion? That it's a joke now? That the discussion at hand is a joke?
You see, others can't read the nuance of the message. Also, at some point disrespect is always in poor taste.

But then we're back to the issue that you should never discuss politics, religion, or morality if you want to guarantee friendly discussion.

[1stdeadeye]

Chill!

Originally posted by SlartyBartFast
I get it. But in what sense? Seems to me much of the discussion is attempting to be serious. A joke in that case is a put down of the other poster's position. Also how are you to interpret the 'joke' in the context of this discussion? That it was a joke (probably inappropriate) in the previous discussion? That it's a joke now? That the discussion at hand is a joke?
You see, others can't read the nuance of the message. Also, at some point disrespect is always in poor taste.

A joke can also be an attempt to diffuse a debate that is getting to hot. It can also be a way to keep things fun. The Iraq debate is not a classroom. It is fun discourse of ideas. I think you should realy read the posts before you slam someone as disrespectful. Guess what Collegeboy and I have agreed on quite a few things.

As Aaron_Mag stated, we are having fun with it. We have almost all conceded points if proven wrong. I think you are the one painting the American AO populace with too broad of a brush. The Friendly corner is meant to be fun. So enjoy it. This isn't life or death, it's just chat! So relax!

[FutureMagOwner]

Originally posted by SlartyBartFast
Well, considering the garbage that has been allowed on the boards about the French or Germans, do you really think they'd bother responding? As a Canadian I've had my country and beliefs insulted on list.

now i have heard alot of french(or should i say freedom ) insulting recently but germans i havent seen alot of slander towards truthfully(however i dont go thru every iraq/war related thread in search of people calling them krauts or jerries or heavily insulting their inability to win wars (which i may add isnt their fault they are a force not to be underestimated with in the past)) also i havent seen alot of canadian insulting beyond that of the ribbing that is given back and forth.(americans call canadians dumb, canadians calling us fat etc) could you point out some german slandering for me or canadian for that matter(PMS)