BoatBanter.com - View Single Post

On 24 Sep 2005 08:51:51 -0700, wrote:

So, Chuck, what are you going to do to elevate the level of discussion? Are
you going to go on one of your self imposed sabbaticals and come back just
as angry and nasty as your were before?

1) Continue my effort to refrain from name calling.

Sounds good to me.

2) If I choose to disagree on an issue, do so from a fact or
opinion-based perspective rather than launch a long harangue listing
the past and present shortcomings of some person in the NG, calling
names, and otherwise operating from the personal attack and insult
level.

OK. I'll buy that one.

3) Resist the temptation to start a lot of OT threads. (When I really
get up to speed, I'll work on resisting the temptation to participate
in them as well).

I can live with that.

4) Try to introduce some threads that are boating related.

Sounds reasonable.

5) Turn the other cheek. If in doing so, a few people notice that it
happens to be the cheek of my arse I guess that's a personal
imperfection.

OK.

6) Try to avoid ever getting to the point where I have to admit that my
purpose for clicking into the NG is simply to "**** a few people off."

Fair enough.

Does this work?

Stop Bush-bashing just for the sake of bashing?

I would submit my improved on-line relationship with a former nemesis
in this group as an example. Only a few months ago, another person and
I were at each other every day. Who knows whose fault it was? Who
cares? After a long, bitter battle we were always in a perpetual
stalemate. Our feud was simply one of many stinking up the NG. The
other party and I somehow mutually and informally agreed to give the
whole mess a rest, and so far it's working. I'm as big as jackass as I
ever was, but that individual has now chosen not to continuously point
out "you're a jackass!" (no need, it's obvious) in every thread in
which I participate. I have made a serious effort to extend a similar
courtesy in return. The other party and I have some major philosophical
and political disagreements, and that has not and most likely will not
ever change. In that particular case, two people who were acting like
(nasty) children simply elected to begin acting like intelligent
adults. I believe that option is probably open to just about everybody.
How sad it would be if the "side" of
some people we see displayed in this forum turned out to be an accurate
profile of who they are in "real life."

My own behavior here is far from perfect, but I can honestly say I make
an effort. I am trying not to sink to the level of the lowest common
denominator in this forum. How about you?

Sounds reasonable, Chuck. I'll sign up. Wonder if anyone else will?
--
John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."