Facebook and Flamewars
So I posted a political thought today that evolved into what became a bit of a nasty fight between two close friends - REAL friends in the flesh that I have met in person and love each in his own way. They however do not know each other from Adam's house cat.
Anyway, my status update read...
I really believe the if the Republicans don't watch it they are going to be proved to be totally on the wrong side of history...
The first few comments where fairly innocuous until one of the dear friends, Sxxx, commented as thus:
You mean, they'll be portrayed as the nazis they really are?
Unfortunately, another dear, Ixxxx took umbrage of this comparison and responded:
@Sxxx - that's offensive that you invoke the name of the Nazis...it demeans the Jewish holocaust.
My friend Sxxx then took even greatter offense at Ixxxx and replied fairly vehemently:
Ixxxx? Really? You're telling ME that? You think I don't have family members who were lost in the holocaust? You think NOT talking about factual history is better? Well, with full support of the Jews in my family, and my Jewish friends I could deliver a hearty FUCK YOU to your bullshit "P.C." way of thinking, but instead I will firmly agree to disagree with you. Drawing parallel lines between nazis and Republicans shows people exactly what they are...rat dogs who will take away everything from everybody for the advancement of their political party! 'Nuff said.
Please keep in mind that all this is going on while I am working away at my desk this afternoon and had NO IDEA that any level of civility and decorum had been abandoned on my page. Also keep in mind, neither of these guys knows the other or their respective histories. Ixxxx took even more offense and responded again:
@Sxxx - I don't have to reduce myself to using epithets against someone that you don't know and with whom we share a close friend. By reacting as you have, you have shown the world what a lame and insignificant person you are.
@Evan - You keep Sxxx as a friend -- and tolerate him to say what he has to me????? Step up to the plate buddy...
I got off work briefly before I had to take part in an after hours new product training session and see all this, along with a message from Ixxxx basically demanding I unfriend Sxxx and questioning my loyalty for not publicly defending him. I immediately removed the thread, due both to the personal attacks that had happened and the tone/language that had taken place. I have mentioned it here and to friends before - my mother reads my Facebook, as well as Aunt Ruby and Aunt Becky. I do not hide or compartmentalize my life on there so want the discourse to remain civil and no worse than PG rated.
Anyway, in response to all this, I posted a note (as it was over the character limit for a status update) about things that those of you on my friend list on Facebook possibly have seen:
OK - since a previous post of mine turned into a bit too much of a flame war and got personal, I have deleted it. Please understand, that I love my friends and their strong personalities. I forget that those personalities can clash and that the subject matter may have touched some raw nerves. However, I fully intend for my Facebook to be used for CIVIL discourse when people are debating or disagree. At this point I am not dropping friends that I love due to what happened, but I will not allow a personal attack from any front on my page.
Besides, my page is an open page, meaning it is not just gay friends, work friends, school friends, family or any other sub group - it is for all. For Heaven's sake, my mother reads my page on a daily basis. I know she does not necessarily want to see F-bombs thrown around or anything salacious for that matter. Neither do many of my other family or friends. If I wanted discourse like that, there are lots of other places on the web I can go.
So, if anyone out there on my friend's list feels like this is stifling free speech or somesuch as that, feel free to drop me as a friend on here.
So far I do not think anyone has dropped me, but Ixxxx is not at all happy for my refusing to take sides. I have been in contact with both parties and Sxxx apologized to me personally for his part, but I can not apologize on his part to Ixxxx. I did apologize that what had been said offended him, and explained that is one of the reasons I deleted the thread. I hope I am not losing a long time friend here, but I have never experienced Sxxx reacting in such a way before. I have to chalk it up to the fact that many in this nation are nearing the boiling point with everything that is going on politically right now. I just hope these emotions do not blow up in a more literal way.
I got home and Sunny loves me at least...
Anyway, my status update read...
I really believe the if the Republicans don't watch it they are going to be proved to be totally on the wrong side of history...
The first few comments where fairly innocuous until one of the dear friends, Sxxx, commented as thus:
You mean, they'll be portrayed as the nazis they really are?
Unfortunately, another dear, Ixxxx took umbrage of this comparison and responded:
@Sxxx - that's offensive that you invoke the name of the Nazis...it demeans the Jewish holocaust.
My friend Sxxx then took even greatter offense at Ixxxx and replied fairly vehemently:
Ixxxx? Really? You're telling ME that? You think I don't have family members who were lost in the holocaust? You think NOT talking about factual history is better? Well, with full support of the Jews in my family, and my Jewish friends I could deliver a hearty FUCK YOU to your bullshit "P.C." way of thinking, but instead I will firmly agree to disagree with you. Drawing parallel lines between nazis and Republicans shows people exactly what they are...rat dogs who will take away everything from everybody for the advancement of their political party! 'Nuff said.
Please keep in mind that all this is going on while I am working away at my desk this afternoon and had NO IDEA that any level of civility and decorum had been abandoned on my page. Also keep in mind, neither of these guys knows the other or their respective histories. Ixxxx took even more offense and responded again:
@Sxxx - I don't have to reduce myself to using epithets against someone that you don't know and with whom we share a close friend. By reacting as you have, you have shown the world what a lame and insignificant person you are.
@Evan - You keep Sxxx as a friend -- and tolerate him to say what he has to me????? Step up to the plate buddy...
I got off work briefly before I had to take part in an after hours new product training session and see all this, along with a message from Ixxxx basically demanding I unfriend Sxxx and questioning my loyalty for not publicly defending him. I immediately removed the thread, due both to the personal attacks that had happened and the tone/language that had taken place. I have mentioned it here and to friends before - my mother reads my Facebook, as well as Aunt Ruby and Aunt Becky. I do not hide or compartmentalize my life on there so want the discourse to remain civil and no worse than PG rated.
Anyway, in response to all this, I posted a note (as it was over the character limit for a status update) about things that those of you on my friend list on Facebook possibly have seen:
OK - since a previous post of mine turned into a bit too much of a flame war and got personal, I have deleted it. Please understand, that I love my friends and their strong personalities. I forget that those personalities can clash and that the subject matter may have touched some raw nerves. However, I fully intend for my Facebook to be used for CIVIL discourse when people are debating or disagree. At this point I am not dropping friends that I love due to what happened, but I will not allow a personal attack from any front on my page.
Besides, my page is an open page, meaning it is not just gay friends, work friends, school friends, family or any other sub group - it is for all. For Heaven's sake, my mother reads my page on a daily basis. I know she does not necessarily want to see F-bombs thrown around or anything salacious for that matter. Neither do many of my other family or friends. If I wanted discourse like that, there are lots of other places on the web I can go.
So, if anyone out there on my friend's list feels like this is stifling free speech or somesuch as that, feel free to drop me as a friend on here.
So far I do not think anyone has dropped me, but Ixxxx is not at all happy for my refusing to take sides. I have been in contact with both parties and Sxxx apologized to me personally for his part, but I can not apologize on his part to Ixxxx. I did apologize that what had been said offended him, and explained that is one of the reasons I deleted the thread. I hope I am not losing a long time friend here, but I have never experienced Sxxx reacting in such a way before. I have to chalk it up to the fact that many in this nation are nearing the boiling point with everything that is going on politically right now. I just hope these emotions do not blow up in a more literal way.
I got home and Sunny loves me at least...