great post chad! i know that you and i have had our share of arguments over the years, but as we have argued i have gotten to see the areas where we agree and i have gotten a chance to read some of the art that you have shared, and all of that trumps any arguments or disagreements that we may have had. over the last few years i think i have been able to kind of "get" you or get where you are coming from, recognize the similarites, recognize the differences and find the common ground. you and i are an example of how people of differing opinions can come together for a common reason. the problem is, our "leaders" in DC refuse to do what we have done.
i can see how people might see this forum as toxic. when you deal with real issues and people are passionate about their beliefs there are going to be arguments and conflict. that happens in all settings every day.
i know a lot of you view me as a partisan hack, and that is ok. doesn't bother me. but one thing i can guarantee is, when there is bullshit, inaccurate "facts" posted, i am gonna call it out. when people pass off a fox news story as a fact when it has already been debunked, i am going to call it out. when one group of people is trying to accomplish a goal and another group is opposed to it because the president supports it, and for no other reason, i am gonna call it out. my conservative counterparts are going to dislike me for that, but since my country's media is not going to do it's job and fight back against lies and debunked talking points, it falls upon people like me to do it for them. that can be viewed as toxic. but i have never been the kind of person to sit back and let lies and disinformation and fearmongering go on unabated.
and that is the saddest commentary on our discourse in this country. one group of media is afraid to report real news because they are afraid that their corporate funding might be yanked, and the other side is afraid to call out bullshit because they are afraid that they might be called biased or "unamerican" for reporting on things that a majority of people do not want to see as true.
"You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry." - Lincoln
also great blast from the past with that old hitler thread being posted byrnzie. to be honest that was tame in comparison to some of the threads that i can remember from 2003 and 2004, but it was nice to see some old names from people who made this place what it was back in 2009 and 2010.
"You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry." - Lincoln
thank you kindly, sir. you are a good guy. you are doing good here. keep holding 'em to the fire. thanks again for what you do, what you believe in & for helping some of us maybe understand politics a little better. i may be getting there, slowly but surely. it's a lot to wrap one's head around
be well
......... edit - thanks mr. byrnzie & mr. lux
again two differing views from two individuals both have continued to show me different points. sometimes i feel like throwing cottonballs laced with gravel at these gentlemen. other times i wanna throw butterflies carrying both used & unused soft chew candies at them & with my hugs in there we can be pals. you both read more than i, therefore, i'll give you each a couple minutes of my time. sound good? i thought so :bz
People on this board care. Most humans are apathetic and just go with flow. As such we're a passionate bunch and don't hold back in our thoughts. Good thing and glad we have people from both sides. It's the maintaining respect that we sometimes lose for each other, myself included. But it's not that bad.
"sometimes i feel like throwing cottonballs laced with gravel at these gentlemen. other times i wanna throw butterflies carrying both used & unused soft chew candies at them & with my hugs in there we can be pals."
That puts a smile on my face, Chadwick- the images alone crack me up! Well done.
Yes, callen, good point about how many people are apathetic- that is definitely one reason I like coming here- at least people are aware that something is going on besides the latest TV show.
Good to your input here, gimme- always a man of principal and knowledge!
I'm still going to throw my support for what the OP was getting at- for me it's important to also focus on some of the good things that happen in our world and in the news and try not to be so futile and negative.
Cheers, train riders.
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
I'm still going to throw my support for what the OP was getting at- for me it's important to also focus on some of the good things that happen in our world and in the news and try not to be so futile and negative.
Cheers, train riders.
Well that's Right...The Media always Focus on the Negative stuff because that's what Sells...and a lot of People as well Focus on the Negative Stuff...It is Very Important if People could just Focus on the Positives it would be so much Better and Try not to get so caught up in the Bad News that the Media like to glorify so easily.
Don't focus on the negatives. The percentage of truly legit people on this board is quite high. It's very easy, especially in AMT, to get bogged down in the negative aspects of this place. I've learned over time (not always easy to adhere to, but I try) to just ignore certain types of posts...mostly from a handful of people. Differing viewpoints and opinions should always be welcomed. It's the lashing out I can't stand. But alas it is the internet...sometimes you just need thicker skin.
I refuse to go to one of my old favorite Phish message boards anymore because it became a cesspool, and sifting through the absolute filth to find the great threads became harder and harder. I have not even brought the site up once in well over a year now. But does that mean I moved on from Phish? Absolutely not. Phish - the band, has nothing to do with Phish - the online community. And even there it was generally a few dozen dipshits ruining it for everyone- The typical "Look how outrageous I can be online where I can hide behind a keyboard!!". So instead of letting it bring me to a dark place, I moved on.
This message board is just a small fraction, a tiny little corner of the PJ world. When you go to shows and meet fans beforehand and hang out afterwards, my experiences have been pretty much all positive. THAT'S what it's all about. If you can't come to this board and enjoy it, then just stop coming. But to move on from the band, the music, and the shows because of some people flexing their immature internet muscles? Seems extreme. Lighten up a bit. Life is too short.
Bright eyed kid: "Wow Typo Man, you're the best!"
Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
I'm not leaving the band, just the membership. I will still go to shows, just will have to get tix another way, no problem. And I have met some of the best people ever before and at the shows. That culture, the commraderie at the shows is an awesome energy. Do you still go to Phish shows? Awesome energy there as well (although the best energy ever was at Dead shows). Ironic that their forums were toxic as well, but I guess the anonymous mentality of the internet globally is what makes people post the way they do.
Not really. You saw one thread that someone cherry picked. It was a heated time for sure.
yeah those were heated times. i remember reading just outright hateful posts back then. i can't believe i have been on this forum for so many years. of all of the "eras" of this forum, that time in the lead up and beginning of the iraq war and the 2004 election was probably the most heated i have ever seen it. turbulent times for sure.
"You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry." - Lincoln
"Feel the path of everyday....which road you taking?"
Barrie, ON '98
Toronto, ON '00/'03/'06/'09/'11/'16(x2)
Hamilton, ON '05/'11
Newark, NJ '10
London, ON '13
Buffalo, NY '13
Detroit, MI '14
Ottawa, ON '16
Comments
i can see how people might see this forum as toxic. when you deal with real issues and people are passionate about their beliefs there are going to be arguments and conflict. that happens in all settings every day.
i know a lot of you view me as a partisan hack, and that is ok. doesn't bother me. but one thing i can guarantee is, when there is bullshit, inaccurate "facts" posted, i am gonna call it out. when people pass off a fox news story as a fact when it has already been debunked, i am going to call it out. when one group of people is trying to accomplish a goal and another group is opposed to it because the president supports it, and for no other reason, i am gonna call it out. my conservative counterparts are going to dislike me for that, but since my country's media is not going to do it's job and fight back against lies and debunked talking points, it falls upon people like me to do it for them. that can be viewed as toxic. but i have never been the kind of person to sit back and let lies and disinformation and fearmongering go on unabated.
and that is the saddest commentary on our discourse in this country. one group of media is afraid to report real news because they are afraid that their corporate funding might be yanked, and the other side is afraid to call out bullshit because they are afraid that they might be called biased or "unamerican" for reporting on things that a majority of people do not want to see as true.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
thank you kindly, sir. you are a good guy. you are doing good here. keep holding 'em to the fire. thanks again for what you do, what you believe in & for helping some of us maybe understand politics a little better. i may be getting there, slowly but surely. it's a lot to wrap one's head around
be well
.........
edit -
thanks mr. byrnzie & mr. lux
again two differing views from two individuals
both have continued to show me different points. sometimes i feel like throwing cottonballs laced with gravel at these gentlemen. other times i wanna throw butterflies carrying both used & unused soft chew candies at them & with my hugs in there we can be pals. you both read more than i, therefore, i'll give you each a couple minutes of my time. sound good? i thought so :bz
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
That puts a smile on my face, Chadwick- the images alone crack me up! Well done.
Yes, callen, good point about how many people are apathetic- that is definitely one reason I like coming here- at least people are aware that something is going on besides the latest TV show.
Good to your input here, gimme- always a man of principal and knowledge!
I'm still going to throw my support for what the OP was getting at- for me it's important to also focus on some of the good things that happen in our world and in the news and try not to be so futile and negative.
Cheers, train riders.
I refuse to go to one of my old favorite Phish message boards anymore because it became a cesspool, and sifting through the absolute filth to find the great threads became harder and harder. I have not even brought the site up once in well over a year now. But does that mean I moved on from Phish? Absolutely not. Phish - the band, has nothing to do with Phish - the online community. And even there it was generally a few dozen dipshits ruining it for everyone- The typical "Look how outrageous I can be online where I can hide behind a keyboard!!". So instead of letting it bring me to a dark place, I moved on.
This message board is just a small fraction, a tiny little corner of the PJ world. When you go to shows and meet fans beforehand and hang out afterwards, my experiences have been pretty much all positive. THAT'S what it's all about. If you can't come to this board and enjoy it, then just stop coming. But to move on from the band, the music, and the shows because of some people flexing their immature internet muscles? Seems extreme. Lighten up a bit. Life is too short.
Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
Barrie, ON '98
Toronto, ON '00/'03/'06/'09/'11/'16(x2)
Hamilton, ON '05/'11
Newark, NJ '10
London, ON '13
Buffalo, NY '13
Detroit, MI '14
Ottawa, ON '16
I looked forward to those threads so I could get a good laugh.