Behavior on this forum and the choice we are all presented with

[Slartibartfast]

Everyone should look at how they are reacting to the death of Kirk. From what I am seeing, the real tragedy of Kirk's death isn't actually his death but at the further degradation of the culture of America due to how people are reacting to it. When I started on this forum back in ye olden days, the discussion was about things like marginal tax rates and whether this or that tax rate helped this or that group of people, specific interpretations of various amendments, or the cost vs benefit of various types of social spending. During that time, we all largely rowed in the same direction of trying to help the lower and middle economic classes, but disagreed on how.

After the 2008 financial crisis and then the 2016 election, the tone shifted to which group(s) of Americans best represent America. The discussion was less about how to help everyone, but started shifting towards how people can help those they best identified with.

It has only gotten worse since then as now the discussion is devolving into which groups of Americans should be harmed, deported, punished, killed, or otherwise removed from the conversation for the benefit of some other group.

Now, that Kirk has been shot, I think the conversation is starting to center about how to actually accomplish the harm, kill, deportation, or otherwise remove people from the conversation. On top of that, the tone on this forum has shifted and in the past there was hatred displayed towards different groups, but now the tone feels like hatred towards specific forum users.

I have contributed to that somewhat, while operating in the paradigm that certain groups want to harm the US (and I still believe that), my expression of that belief over the last few days is being amplified back to me as hatred towards actual individual users. This is not a place I can go to. This is against my faith and the command that I take very seriously to love your neighbor. It is fine to point out that groups of people are causing harm, even Jesus did that, but its another thing to be drawn into actual hatred. That is where we are though.

I don't know if anyone agrees with me on this. I am sure there are those who will lash out at me and blame me and that's fine, they are exercising their anger and in posting this, I will be a convenient punching bag. What I hope everyone agrees with me on is that while pointing out that different groups are causing harm is fine, wanting to harm people or hatred towards people is not.

If this continue (and I believe it will), I will need to walk away. This is because I cannot effectively practice my faith in that sort of environment. God equips some people to do that as a spiritual gift as individuals who can help bring order out of chaos. My spiritual gifts are in other domains, which is fine as the people of Christ are a body.

I wanted to put this out there and share my private feelings because there are those on this forum who may also be feeling a similar alienation. They may process that alienation differently then I do (not all people are religious, for example). However that processing works for you, as long as its authentic, is fine. I shared my thoughts because I felt like being open, vulnerable, and honest are the right things to do in this escalated situation, but that's what works for me. You do what works for you.

If you are feeling the alienation, hatred, tone-shift, etc. Just know that many people feel this way and that you are not alone. I venture to guess that most people in the US feel this way. I encourage you to be honest with those feelings and to seek other people who want order and safety over causing chaos for the feeling of being right about some political topic.

I have said my piece and for those who wish to flame me, go ahead. For those who read this and it helps them process the views and feelings on the tone shift of this forum, I hope I have helped.

 

[Loulit01]

Everyone should look at how they are reacting to the death of Kirk. From what I am seeing, the real tragedy of Kirk's death isn't actually his death but at the further degradation of the culture of America due to how people are reacting to it. When I started on this forum back in ye olden days, the discussion was about things like marginal tax rates and whether this or that tax rate helped this or that group of people, specific interpretations of various amendments, or the cost vs benefit of various types of social spending. During that time, we all largely rowed in the same direction of trying to help the lower and middle economic classes, but disagreed on how.

After the 2008 financial crisis and then the 2016 election, the tone shifted to which group(s) of Americans best represent America. The discussion was less about how to help everyone, but started shifting towards how people can help those they best identified with.

It has only gotten worse since then as now the discussion is devolving into which groups of Americans should be harmed, deported, punished, killed, or otherwise removed from the conversation for the benefit of some other group.

Now, that Kirk has been shot, I think the conversation is starting to center about how to actually accomplish the harm, kill, deportation, or otherwise remove people from the conversation. On top of that, the tone on this forum has shifted and in the past there was hatred displayed towards different groups, but now the tone feels like hatred towards specific forum users.

I have contributed to that somewhat, while operating in the paradigm that certain groups want to harm the US (and I still believe that), my expression of that belief over the last few days is being amplified back to me as hatred towards actual individual users. This is not a place I can go to. This is against my faith and the command that I take very seriously to love your neighbor. It is fine to point out that groups of people are causing harm, even Jesus did that, but its another thing to be drawn into actual hatred. That is where we are though.

I don't know if anyone agrees with me on this. I am sure there are those who will lash out at me and blame me and that's fine, they are exercising their anger and in posting this, I will be a convenient punching bag. What I hope everyone agrees with me on is that while pointing out that different groups are causing harm is fine, wanting to harm people or hatred towards people is not.

If this continue (and I believe it will), I will need to walk away. This is because I cannot effectively practice my faith in that sort of environment. God equips some people to do that as a spiritual gift as individuals who can help bring order out of chaos. My spiritual gifts are in other domains, which is fine as the people of Christ are a body.

I wanted to put this out there and share my private feelings because there are those on this forum who may also be feeling a similar alienation. They may process that alienation differently then I do (not all people are religious, for example). However that processing works for you, as long as its authentic, is fine. I shared my thoughts because I felt like being open, vulnerable, and honest are the right things to do in this escalated situation, but that's what works for me. You do what works for you.

If you are feeling the alienation, hatred, tone-shift, etc. Just know that many people feel this way and that you are not alone. I venture to guess that most people in the US feel this way. I encourage you to be honest with those feelings and to seek other people who want order and safety over causing chaos for the feeling of being right about some political topic.

I have said my peace and for those who wish to flame me, go ahead. For those who read this and it helps them process the views and feelings on the tone shift of this forum, I hope I have helped.

I honestly believe Trump and MAGA are a serious threat to the republic.

I don't know enough about macroeconomics to give in-depth opinions on marginal tax rates. I do know the tax code needs a complete overhaul.

I have very strong feelings about racism, white nationalism, and the strong Evangelical support for Trump and I'm going to express those feelings.

Yes, the country is dangerously divided. I hardly recognize it as the country I was raised in.

 

[multivita-man]

I think most people who mock the dead online (whoever they're talking about) would never do it in front of real people, but I see it for what it probably is: trolling someone they don't particularly like, which the internet is always good for, for better or worse. I guess some could argue that it's a cowardly thing to do, and I suppose it is, but people post under aliases to blow off steam and say things without the real-world consequences attached to them.

The US is suffering a moment of severe social/political cleavage. We're living in what is almost certainly one of the most contentious and likely tumultuous periods in American history, and I fear it's just the beginning. America has always struggled with the intersection of racial demographics and its identity as a nation, and this is the next chapter - perhaps the final one. I hope not.

 

[NatMorton]

Everyone should look at how they are reacting to the death of Kirk. From what I am seeing, the real tragedy of Kirk's death isn't actually his death but at the further degradation of the culture of America due to how people are reacting to it. When I started on this forum back in ye olden days, the discussion was about things like marginal tax rates and whether this or that tax rate helped this or that group of people, specific interpretations of various amendments, or the cost vs benefit of various types of social spending. During that time, we all largely rowed in the same direction of trying to help the lower and middle economic classes, but disagreed on how.

After the 2008 financial crisis and then the 2016 election, the tone shifted to which group(s) of Americans best represent America. The discussion was less about how to help everyone, but started shifting towards how people can help those they best identified with.

It has only gotten worse since then as now the discussion is devolving into which groups of Americans should be harmed, deported, punished, killed, or otherwise removed from the conversation for the benefit of some other group.

Now, that Kirk has been shot, I think the conversation is starting to center about how to actually accomplish the harm, kill, deportation, or otherwise remove people from the conversation. On top of that, the tone on this forum has shifted and in the past there was hatred displayed towards different groups, but now the tone feels like hatred towards specific forum users.

I have contributed to that somewhat, while operating in the paradigm that certain groups want to harm the US (and I still believe that), my expression of that belief over the last few days is being amplified back to me as hatred towards actual individual users. This is not a place I can go to. This is against my faith and the command that I take very seriously to love your neighbor. It is fine to point out that groups of people are causing harm, even Jesus did that, but its another thing to be drawn into actual hatred. That is where we are though.

I don't know if anyone agrees with me on this. I am sure there are those who will lash out at me and blame me and that's fine, they are exercising their anger and in posting this, I will be a convenient punching bag. What I hope everyone agrees with me on is that while pointing out that different groups are causing harm is fine, wanting to harm people or hatred towards people is not.

If this continue (and I believe it will), I will need to walk away. This is because I cannot effectively practice my faith in that sort of environment. God equips some people to do that as a spiritual gift as individuals who can help bring order out of chaos. My spiritual gifts are in other domains, which is fine as the people of Christ are a body.

I wanted to put this out there and share my private feelings because there are those on this forum who may also be feeling a similar alienation. They may process that alienation differently then I do (not all people are religious, for example). However that processing works for you, as long as its authentic, is fine. I shared my thoughts because I felt like being open, vulnerable, and honest are the right things to do in this escalated situation, but that's what works for me. You do what works for you.

If you are feeling the alienation, hatred, tone-shift, etc. Just know that many people feel this way and that you are not alone. I venture to guess that most people in the US feel this way. I encourage you to be honest with those feelings and to seek other people who want order and safety over causing chaos for the feeling of being right about some political topic.

I have said my piece and for those who wish to flame me, go ahead. For those who read this and it helps them process the views and feelings on the tone shift of this forum, I hope I have helped.

An admirable post, and, FWIW, my advice to you is don't walk away. Try instead to be an example of tolerance on this site, even in the face of hatred directed your way.

Perhaps look at DP as a kind of practice area. If you do slip up and get drawn into a hateful exchange, the damage done is minimal. We're all anonymous here, and no one comes within harm's way. It's a place where we can all make mistakes and, hopefully, learn from those mistakes without having to pay a huge price. You never know, those lessons may be valuable and your real life outside of this forum.

 

[Lutherf]

Christ challenged people to confront their own life choices and evaluate those choices before the template they knew to be truth. Where people did not know truth He challenged them to seek it and to evaluate what they found against that which they had been told was truth. For that He was killed. Though His body was killed His message lives to this day. Such is the nature of Truth.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

Sad to have read this commentary and already know those of a certain group of people will get nasty in response.

Here is my response:

Everyone should look at how they are reacting to the death of Kirk. From what I am seeing, the real tragedy of Kirk's death isn't actually his death but at the further degradation of the culture of America due to how people are reacting to it.

Fox and the like have fed this anger. Almost everyone on the left has said that the assassination was wrong and that the perp has to pay the price. BUT that isn't good enough. Fox and the like have made Kirk a cause, to paint ALL liberals as violent people. The degradation of the culture of America has been going on since forever. There will ALWAYS be a small number - yes, I believe it is just a small number - of people who are filled with hate, bigotry and intolerance that will use ANY excuse to raise the temperature in the hopes of "owning the libs."

It has only gotten worse since then as now the discussion is devolving into which groups of Americans should be harmed, deported, punished, killed, or otherwise removed from the conversation for the benefit of some other group.

My parents came from Nazi Germany, though I was born on this side of the ocean. Both passed away now they could tell those on the Rightwing fringe a thing or two about how easily any country can fall into the trap of marginalizing certain groups, creating a notion of white superiority and that the country must be saved from "them." America isn't going to become Nazi Germany, my address is to those few out there that don't mind their government acting in some Nazi-like fashion.

If this continue (and I believe it will), I will need to walk away.

Maybe you should have posted this as a blog. Not sure that fitness is where this belongs. It may get moved. Nevertheless I hope the powers that be recognize what you are saying and take your points of view into consideration. Please DO NOT walk away. We need sound minds, not hateful minds, on here.

I wanted to put this out there and share my private feelings because there are those on this forum who may also be feeling a similar alienation.

I don't feel alienated. First of all, it's how you take a place like this. For me, dropping in is a pastime. A time killer. Mostly for amusement. I have NO allusions that I will change the minds of anyone on here or that my words will make anyone more civil or open-minded. The nature of the beast. We are anonymous on here and feel free to reveal our worst impulses. Leaving won't change that, but it would take away one more sane voice.

I have said my piece and for those who wish to flame me, go ahead.

They will. Count on it. They will mock you as well. Just remember, if they do, it says more about them than it does about you.

 

[MaryP]

Everyone should look at how they are reacting to the death of Kirk. From what I am seeing, the real tragedy of Kirk's death isn't actually his death but at the further degradation of the culture of America due to how people are reacting to it. When I started on this forum back in ye olden days, the discussion was about things like marginal tax rates and whether this or that tax rate helped this or that group of people, specific interpretations of various amendments, or the cost vs benefit of various types of social spending. During that time, we all largely rowed in the same direction of trying to help the lower and middle economic classes, but disagreed on how.

After the 2008 financial crisis and then the 2016 election, the tone shifted to which group(s) of Americans best represent America. The discussion was less about how to help everyone, but started shifting towards how people can help those they best identified with.

It has only gotten worse since then as now the discussion is devolving into which groups of Americans should be harmed, deported, punished, killed, or otherwise removed from the conversation for the benefit of some other group.

Now, that Kirk has been shot, I think the conversation is starting to center about how to actually accomplish the harm, kill, deportation, or otherwise remove people from the conversation. On top of that, the tone on this forum has shifted and in the past there was hatred displayed towards different groups, but now the tone feels like hatred towards specific forum users.

I have contributed to that somewhat, while operating in the paradigm that certain groups want to harm the US (and I still believe that), my expression of that belief over the last few days is being amplified back to me as hatred towards actual individual users. This is not a place I can go to. This is against my faith and the command that I take very seriously to love your neighbor. It is fine to point out that groups of people are causing harm, even Jesus did that, but its another thing to be drawn into actual hatred. That is where we are though.

I don't know if anyone agrees with me on this. I am sure there are those who will lash out at me and blame me and that's fine, they are exercising their anger and in posting this, I will be a convenient punching bag. What I hope everyone agrees with me on is that while pointing out that different groups are causing harm is fine, wanting to harm people or hatred towards people is not.

If this continue (and I believe it will), I will need to walk away. This is because I cannot effectively practice my faith in that sort of environment. God equips some people to do that as a spiritual gift as individuals who can help bring order out of chaos. My spiritual gifts are in other domains, which is fine as the people of Christ are a body.

I wanted to put this out there and share my private feelings because there are those on this forum who may also be feeling a similar alienation. They may process that alienation differently then I do (not all people are religious, for example). However that processing works for you, as long as its authentic, is fine. I shared my thoughts because I felt like being open, vulnerable, and honest are the right things to do in this escalated situation, but that's what works for me. You do what works for you.

If you are feeling the alienation, hatred, tone-shift, etc. Just know that many people feel this way and that you are not alone. I venture to guess that most people in the US feel this way. I encourage you to be honest with those feelings and to seek other people who want order and safety over causing chaos for the feeling of being right about some political topic.

I have said my piece and for those who wish to flame me, go ahead. For those who read this and it helps them process the views and feelings on the tone shift of this forum, I hope I have helped.

Very thoughtful. I came here to DP from that wild west message board that will not be named because it was way too rough and I finally gave up on it. DP certainly has always had strong opinions, but I agree with you the tone has greatly deteriorated.

I have no idea what your politics are, but thank you for your civilized thoughts.

 

[Loulit01]

For the record, this was my post the day Kirk was shot.

You can't shoot people. They should catch the criminal, I mean, I'm sure Mr. Kirk wasn't wandering around alone.

Post in thread 'Charlie Kirk shot'

Sep 10, 2025

You can't shoot people. They should catch the criminal, I mean, I'm sure Mr. Kirk wasn't wandering around alone.

• Loulit01

• 

 

[lynnwinslow]

Everyone should look at how they are reacting to the death of Kirk. From what I am seeing, the real tragedy of Kirk's death isn't actually his death but at the further degradation of the culture of America due to how people are reacting to it. When I started on this forum back in ye olden days, the discussion was about things like marginal tax rates and whether this or that tax rate helped this or that group of people, specific interpretations of various amendments, or the cost vs benefit of various types of social spending. During that time, we all largely rowed in the same direction of trying to help the lower and middle economic classes, but disagreed on how.

After the 2008 financial crisis and then the 2016 election, the tone shifted to which group(s) of Americans best represent America. The discussion was less about how to help everyone, but started shifting towards how people can help those they best identified with.

It has only gotten worse since then as now the discussion is devolving into which groups of Americans should be harmed, deported, punished, killed, or otherwise removed from the conversation for the benefit of some other group.

Now, that Kirk has been shot, I think the conversation is starting to center about how to actually accomplish the harm, kill, deportation, or otherwise remove people from the conversation. On top of that, the tone on this forum has shifted and in the past there was hatred displayed towards different groups, but now the tone feels like hatred towards specific forum users.

I have contributed to that somewhat, while operating in the paradigm that certain groups want to harm the US (and I still believe that), my expression of that belief over the last few days is being amplified back to me as hatred towards actual individual users. This is not a place I can go to. This is against my faith and the command that I take very seriously to love your neighbor. It is fine to point out that groups of people are causing harm, even Jesus did that, but its another thing to be drawn into actual hatred. That is where we are though.

I don't know if anyone agrees with me on this. I am sure there are those who will lash out at me and blame me and that's fine, they are exercising their anger and in posting this, I will be a convenient punching bag. What I hope everyone agrees with me on is that while pointing out that different groups are causing harm is fine, wanting to harm people or hatred towards people is not.

If this continue (and I believe it will), I will need to walk away. This is because I cannot effectively practice my faith in that sort of environment. God equips some people to do that as a spiritual gift as individuals who can help bring order out of chaos. My spiritual gifts are in other domains, which is fine as the people of Christ are a body.

I wanted to put this out there and share my private feelings because there are those on this forum who may also be feeling a similar alienation. They may process that alienation differently then I do (not all people are religious, for example). However that processing works for you, as long as its authentic, is fine. I shared my thoughts because I felt like being open, vulnerable, and honest are the right things to do in this escalated situation, but that's what works for me. You do what works for you.

If you are feeling the alienation, hatred, tone-shift, etc. Just know that many people feel this way and that you are not alone. I venture to guess that most people in the US feel this way. I encourage you to be honest with those feelings and to seek other people who want order and safety over causing chaos for the feeling of being right about some political topic.

I have said my piece and for those who wish to flame me, go ahead. For those who read this and it helps them process the views and feelings on the tone shift of this forum, I hope I have helped.

I really hope you don’t walk away. Your voice adds kindness and reason to the board, and that’s something this space really needs right now.

Some people treat this place like a zero-sum game and don’t engage rationally. There are others who are honestly not bright enough to ever understand how or why they are being manipulated. But, I do believe others are quietly influenced by thoughtful, sensible posts even if they don’t admit it.

You know who pushes your buttons, and the ignore feature is a great way to protect your peace while still keeping your presence here, which truly makes a difference.

 

[bythoughts]

This series of events reveals a broader madness in the country. First, we have a lunatic firing a gun - hardly a rarity in today's America. Then we have deeply misguided "liberals" seeming to applaud that act of censorship - people so foolish they don't realize that they are charging straight into the next set of gunsights. And then we have deeply misguided "conservatives" pushing for a national campaign of political correctness, going after federal employees who are supposed to have free speech, and private employees. They are telling everyone in the country that whoever writes their paycheck is not merely some merchant they're making a deal with - no, their Employer is their MASTER, their JUDGE, the one responsible for approving everything they say within range of a camera or an AI capable of recording their words - and what place isn't?

Should everyone in the country lay down prostrate when they get to work, PRAY to their Boss to be always true and good in their heart to the Beast their Boss works for? Or will some Christian show them the way?

 

[Loulit01]

This series of events reveals a broader madness in the country. First, we have a lunatic firing a gun - hardly a rarity in today's America. Then we have deeply misguided "liberals" seeming to applaud that act of censorship - people so foolish they don't realize that they are charging straight into the next set of gunsights. And then we have deeply misguided "conservatives" pushing for a national campaign of political correctness, going after federal employees who are supposed to have free speech, and private employees. They are telling everyone in the country that whoever writes their paycheck is not merely some merchant they're making a deal with - no, their Employer is their MASTER, their JUDGE, the one responsible for approving everything they say within range of a camera or an AI capable of recording their words - and what place isn't?

Should everyone in the country lay down prostrate when they get to work, PRAY to their Boss to be always true and good in their heart to the Beast their Boss works for? Or will some Christian show them the way?

Nice.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Maybe you should have posted this as a blog. Not sure that fitness is where this belongs. It may get moved. Nevertheless I hope the powers that be recognize what you are saying and take your points of view into consideration. Please DO NOT walk away. We need sound minds, not hateful minds, on here.

I put this in fitness due to its implications over mental health concerns that people may have.

 

[Scatty Kitty]

Everyone should look at how they are reacting to the death of Kirk. From what I am seeing, the real tragedy of Kirk's death isn't actually his death but at the further degradation of the culture of America due to how people are reacting to it. When I started on this forum back in ye olden days, the discussion was about things like marginal tax rates and whether this or that tax rate helped this or that group of people, specific interpretations of various amendments, or the cost vs benefit of various types of social spending. During that time, we all largely rowed in the same direction of trying to help the lower and middle economic classes, but disagreed on how.

After the 2008 financial crisis and then the 2016 election, the tone shifted to which group(s) of Americans best represent America. The discussion was less about how to help everyone, but started shifting towards how people can help those they best identified with.

It has only gotten worse since then as now the discussion is devolving into which groups of Americans should be harmed, deported, punished, killed, or otherwise removed from the conversation for the benefit of some other group.

Now, that Kirk has been shot, I think the conversation is starting to center about how to actually accomplish the harm, kill, deportation, or otherwise remove people from the conversation. On top of that, the tone on this forum has shifted and in the past there was hatred displayed towards different groups, but now the tone feels like hatred towards specific forum users.

I have contributed to that somewhat, while operating in the paradigm that certain groups want to harm the US (and I still believe that), my expression of that belief over the last few days is being amplified back to me as hatred towards actual individual users. This is not a place I can go to. This is against my faith and the command that I take very seriously to love your neighbor. It is fine to point out that groups of people are causing harm, even Jesus did that, but its another thing to be drawn into actual hatred. That is where we are though.

I don't know if anyone agrees with me on this. I am sure there are those who will lash out at me and blame me and that's fine, they are exercising their anger and in posting this, I will be a convenient punching bag. What I hope everyone agrees with me on is that while pointing out that different groups are causing harm is fine, wanting to harm people or hatred towards people is not.

If this continue (and I believe it will), I will need to walk away. This is because I cannot effectively practice my faith in that sort of environment. God equips some people to do that as a spiritual gift as individuals who can help bring order out of chaos. My spiritual gifts are in other domains, which is fine as the people of Christ are a body.

I wanted to put this out there and share my private feelings because there are those on this forum who may also be feeling a similar alienation. They may process that alienation differently then I do (not all people are religious, for example). However that processing works for you, as long as its authentic, is fine. I shared my thoughts because I felt like being open, vulnerable, and honest are the right things to do in this escalated situation, but that's what works for me. You do what works for you.

If you are feeling the alienation, hatred, tone-shift, etc. Just know that many people feel this way and that you are not alone. I venture to guess that most people in the US feel this way. I encourage you to be honest with those feelings and to seek other people who want order and safety over causing chaos for the feeling of being right about some political topic.

I have said my piece and for those who wish to flame me, go ahead. For those who read this and it helps them process the views and feelings on the tone shift of this forum, I hope I have helped.

Hey not for nothing but why is this in fitness?

 

[Slartibartfast]

Hey not for nothing but why is this in fitness?

A large part of this topic is about people’s mental health.

 

[redbeer]

Everyone should look at how they are reacting to the death of Kirk. From what I am seeing, the real tragedy of Kirk's death isn't actually his death but at the further degradation of the culture of America due to how people are reacting to it. When I started on this forum back in ye olden days, the discussion was about things like marginal tax rates and whether this or that tax rate helped this or that group of people, specific interpretations of various amendments, or the cost vs benefit of various types of social spending. During that time, we all largely rowed in the same direction of trying to help the lower and middle economic classes, but disagreed on how.

After the 2008 financial crisis and then the 2016 election, the tone shifted to which group(s) of Americans best represent America. The discussion was less about how to help everyone, but started shifting towards how people can help those they best identified with.

It has only gotten worse since then as now the discussion is devolving into which groups of Americans should be harmed, deported, punished, killed, or otherwise removed from the conversation for the benefit of some other group.

Now, that Kirk has been shot, I think the conversation is starting to center about how to actually accomplish the harm, kill, deportation, or otherwise remove people from the conversation. On top of that, the tone on this forum has shifted and in the past there was hatred displayed towards different groups, but now the tone feels like hatred towards specific forum users.

I have contributed to that somewhat, while operating in the paradigm that certain groups want to harm the US (and I still believe that), my expression of that belief over the last few days is being amplified back to me as hatred towards actual individual users. This is not a place I can go to. This is against my faith and the command that I take very seriously to love your neighbor. It is fine to point out that groups of people are causing harm, even Jesus did that, but its another thing to be drawn into actual hatred. That is where we are though.

I don't know if anyone agrees with me on this. I am sure there are those who will lash out at me and blame me and that's fine, they are exercising their anger and in posting this, I will be a convenient punching bag. What I hope everyone agrees with me on is that while pointing out that different groups are causing harm is fine, wanting to harm people or hatred towards people is not.

If this continue (and I believe it will), I will need to walk away. This is because I cannot effectively practice my faith in that sort of environment. God equips some people to do that as a spiritual gift as individuals who can help bring order out of chaos. My spiritual gifts are in other domains, which is fine as the people of Christ are a body.

I wanted to put this out there and share my private feelings because there are those on this forum who may also be feeling a similar alienation. They may process that alienation differently then I do (not all people are religious, for example). However that processing works for you, as long as its authentic, is fine. I shared my thoughts because I felt like being open, vulnerable, and honest are the right things to do in this escalated situation, but that's what works for me. You do what works for you.

If you are feeling the alienation, hatred, tone-shift, etc. Just know that many people feel this way and that you are not alone. I venture to guess that most people in the US feel this way. I encourage you to be honest with those feelings and to seek other people who want order and safety over causing chaos for the feeling of being right about some political topic.

I have said my piece and for those who wish to flame me, go ahead. For those who read this and it helps them process the views and feelings on the tone shift of this forum, I hope I have helped.

Good post and I agree. Vast majority on both sides think/feel the same way, imo. It's never the majority which causes the problems in life, just the loud squeaky wheels. Thanks for posting for it has been a help seeing more of your character.

 

[Loulit01]

Good post and I agree. Vast majority on both sides think/feel the same way, imo. It's never the majority which causes the problems in life, just the loud squeaky wheels. Thanks for posting for it has been a help seeing more of your character.

Posts a squeaky loud wheel.

 

[Hari Seldon]

Posts a squeaky loud wheel.

Love his signature. Not too divisive.

 

[CaughtInThe]

If there's a threat to American democracy then people haven't even seen how bad it's going to get.

Those who would defend democracy have not even started the real the fight against the traitors who would kill American democracy and install a strongman (as it looks like we're slowly becoming like Putin's Russia due to rulings by the Supreme Court).

I bet the Founders had similar emotions most of their lives.

 

[Peacenik]

... I have contributed to that somewhat, while operating in the paradigm that certain groups want to harm the US (and I still believe that), my expression of that belief over the last few days is being amplified back to me as hatred towards actual individual users. This is not a place I can go to. This is against my faith and the command that I take very seriously to love your neighbor. It is fine to point out that groups of people are causing harm, even Jesus did that, but its another thing to be drawn into actual hatred. That is where we are though.

I don't know if anyone agrees with me on this. I am sure there are those who will lash out at me and blame me and that's fine, they are exercising their anger and in posting this, I will be a convenient punching bag. What I hope everyone agrees with me on is that while pointing out that different groups are causing harm is fine, wanting to harm people or hatred towards people is not.

If this continue (and I believe it will), I will need to walk away. This is because I cannot effectively practice my faith in that sort of environment. God equips some people to do that as a spiritual gift as individuals who can help bring order out of chaos. My spiritual gifts are in other domains, which is fine as the people of Christ are a body.

I wanted to put this out there and share my private feelings because there are those on this forum who may also be feeling a similar alienation. They may process that alienation differently then I do (not all people are religious, for example). However that processing works for you, as long as its authentic, is fine. I shared my thoughts because I felt like being open, vulnerable, and honest are the right things to do in this escalated situation, but that's what works for me. You do what works for you.

If you are feeling the alienation, hatred, tone-shift, etc. Just know that many people feel this way and that you are not alone. I venture to guess that most people in the US feel this way. I encourage you to be honest with those feelings and to seek other people who want order and safety over causing chaos for the feeling of being right about some political topic.

I have said my piece and for those who wish to flame me, go ahead. For those who read this and it helps them process the views and feelings on the tone shift of this forum, I hope I have helped.

Well, I hope this doesn't drive you to leave, but if it does, know that you will be missed.

Atheism comes in many flavors. Others take life and society very differently than I do as an advocate for peace. Logic drives my faith in humanity that overall, good prevails over bad. I define these terms as good: being what is beneficial for society; and bad being what is detrimental. I don't need to be commanded to love my neighbor. It is logical to do so because humans loving other humans is good. It just feels right to love other humans. Hatred feels wrong.

Loving humans no matter who they are makes me liberal. Conservatives want to pick and choose who is deserving of love and who isn't. I just love everybody. The only distinction I make is that some people you have to love from a distance; and you can't tell them or have anything to do with them because the love is not returned. Their loss, not mine.

Anybody wants to flame me for this, boom. I just cut 'em off and begin loving them from a distance, too. I don't have time for the grief BS. I am out to enjoy my life while I have it because after it's gone it's gone. There is no more me. I've got to make the best of my existence while it's going on.

I do hope you'll stay. I'd miss you if you go.

 

[hecatmoggie]

I honestly believe liberals and Democrats are a serious threat to our nation

they will do ANYTHING to stop the people that disagree with them .... from name calling/labeling to hating, to lawsuits to changing the laws to go after political opponents to attempted assassinations and now ?

now we see the liberal left killing Charlie Kirk because Kirk was very good at explaining why he believed as he did and why the liberal left were wrong and they killed him for it

that's Democrats in 2025

I've only been on this forum a couple of years but the hatred towards conservatives is real

 

[gman]

There are those who read the OP and get it. Then there are those who have to make the ad hominem to blame their political opposite. We’re all guilty to a lesser or greater degree.

 

[Hari Seldon]

I honestly believe liberals and Democrats are a serious threat to our nation

they will do ANYTHING to stop the people that disagree with them .... from name calling/labeling to hating, to lawsuits to changing the laws to go after political opponents to attempted assassinations and now ?

now we see the liberal left killing Charlie Kirk because Kirk was very good at explaining why he believed as he did and why the liberal left were wrong and they killed him for it

that's Democrats in 2025

I've only been on this forum a couple of years but the hatred towards conservatives is real

A good cons are so loving, forgiving while exhibiting no hate. Oy gevalt.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

IF ANYONE wanted an example of the one-sided, small-minded, and absolutely asinine attitudes of some on here, they wouldn't have to look far.............

I honestly believe liberals and Democrats are a serious threat to our nation

I've only been on this forum a couple of years but the hatred towards conservatives is real

Such hatred. No echo chambers where you feelings won't get hurt available to you?

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

There are those who read the OP and get it. Then there are those who have to make the ad hominem to blame their political opposite. We’re all guilty to a lesser or greater degree.

Maybe the comment above yours is the best example.

 

[VySky]

A large part of this topic is about people’s mental health.

Speaking of mental health.

Have you made up your mind about splitting the scene?