There is to be no more discussion on the discussion board
I like message boards fundamentally. As really anyone could guess, I like discussing my beliefs, debating them - challenging myself and others to fully understand our various convictions. Maybe even learn something new. My expectations are never that I will change someone, convert them to believe what I believe. Indeed - to me - that is completely missing the point.
Being able to freely discuss our points of view - that is the point. After all, there are many places in the world where that isn't even legal. Yes, it's about meeting people and all that, but naturally, there are easier and better ways to go about meeting people than sitting in front of your computer. But I'm veering off the topic which ails me.
I recently joined a message board with the lovely word, "DISCUSSION," all nice and white on blue background. However, I'm dismayed to learn as of today that, indeed, discussion isn't truly allowed at all on this board. Imagine my shock to be told to basically shut up after writing some lengthy (but relatively short for me), well thought out, and supported posts. By the moderators of said board no less! Seriously.
Most of the people on this f-list know me through various online areas, particularly Hogwarts Castle. And it seems as though most of said individuals have seen at one point or another my debate skills on basically every top imaginable. Many know (or maybe just Heather at this point, haha) that I have been on the receiving end of many, many insults for my beliefs. But I would like to believe that I have never returned in kind because resorting to childish monikers offends my senses; I should be able to argue my beliefs on their own terms. This is not to say that no one has ever taken offense to the things I say. That would be a complete and utter lie. I would merely like to believe that I have never tried to degrade the person behind the argument.
Perhaps at this point, I have come to expect insults and accusations when it comes to politics, particularly anything to do with abortion. But holy shit, I seriously had NO CLUE that I would receive such dislike on account of my opinions about 3 seconds of film. I really had no idea that to be considered a fan of a certain romantic pairing, I had to, in no uncertain terms, accept the opinions of three board members.
But after being misquoted and misrepresented, after being insulted with claims that, because my opinion was different, I was surely not watching the same scene! After being told that by 2 people posing as a MAJORITY that it would be wrong for me to continue to discuss my opinions, I finally understand. If I wish to be "included," acknowledged in ANY way, the only way for me to do that is to suffer a lobotomy and agree with what everyone else is saying.
Of course, I wouldn't be the only one lobotomized. After all, their interpretation of the same scene is one that removes the very essence of the character, the basic humanity of the character and of the relationship in question.
I'm not sorry that I believe there's more to Horatio Caine than his relationship with Yelina. I'm not sorry that I believe the seriousness of death comes before the hotness that is Sofia Milos (okay, fine - at least before the deaths of people you care about, hehehehe). I'm not sorry that I posted carefully crafted arguments supporting my beliefs. I am only sorry that for all of my effort and energy spent, the most I received in return was a "no, we didn't say that! You're just not paying attention! SHUT UP" response. And I'm sorry that, for a moment, I believed people could rationally discuss their views on a seemingly benign topic. Sorrier still that that is CLEARLY not possible.
Funny how such hot-button topics like the war in Iraq, abortion, and gay rights have all afforded me more respect than the question: what is Horatio thinking when he's holding his dead brother's wedding ring? ... Okay, "dead" brother since he wasn't dead, but whatever.