DEMOCRATS can disagree!

[ExPatLeftist]

I am amazed at the number of people here posting things like "Just drop it!" and "Get over it!" and other COMMANDS to other posters here about what "may" or "may not" be discussed.

Excuse me, but I thought that we were the party of varying opinions. Of adults that know that we can agree to disagree and still come together to serve the big picture. I know of another party whose leadership AND followers expect all members to march in lock-step, but that is not our party. That other party is the same one, remember, that told us in 2000, during a Constitutional crisis, to "Get over it" and "Let it go". Another thing that they do to us is belittle our opinions or ignore completely the reasoning behind them - by, for example, saying that any criticism of the acts of an individual is spawned by their "blind hatred" of that individual. Just because someone in THAT party does not agree with the reason for the anger toward said individual does not mean that our criticisms (individual and collective) are without merit - this is all subjective. These tactics are immature and illogical, and they have been thrown at us relentlessly for years. I would suggest that we avoid developing Stockholm Syndrome and using those same tactics against members of our own party.

Every single last one of us here has a campaign strategy for Obama/Biden that we are convinced is THE best strategy ever. To try to force others to follow YOUR strategy or post only on topics of which YOU approve is incredibly ARROGANT to say the least.

If you are "over" something, then good for you. Not everyone works on your time schedule. If you think something is a "non-issue" then feel free to ignore it and discuss what matters to you. But I would ask you to consider that yours is but one opinion of billions, and we as a party will not get along any better if people within the party are constantly trying to silence those with whom they disagree or belittle and disregard their opinions because they do not fit into our own personal MASTER STRATEGY.

We each get exactly one voice, and we are a party of INDIVIDUALS, not automatons. Thank Bob, because there already is a party for automatons in the US and A.

[Bluenorthwest]

1. Well said

And it needs to be said.

[elocs]

2. If I think something is a "non-issue" do I not have the freedom to post that opinion?

Or in your thread where you are scolding people for telling others what they can or should post you are telling me there is something I cannot post, that I must simply ignore the subject. Are you saying if I believe that we would be better in not discussing something that I should not be allowed to express that opinion? If you don't like those posts you can always, you know, "ignore" them.

I don't have a campaign strategy for Obama/Biden that I am convinced is THE best strategy ever, so I guess that not every single last one of us has one.

So take your own advice and if you do not like a thread or post, ignore it. (I'm not telling you what to do--it is just a suggestion. You may do it or not do it--the choice is yours.)

[ExPatLeftist]

3. Nope, I am not saying that

I am saying that you can post what you want - but that I would hope that you would consider that it is only your opinion.

There is a way to state an opinion without commanding others, i.e. "JUST STFU ABOUT IT ALREADY!!!"

If you feel the need to try to command others to "Get over it", then I will defend your right to say that. And I will also defend my own to say that I think that commanding and bullying others to follow your strategy is incredibly arrogant, immature, illogical, and weak. You say what you want, I will say what I want. Same as it ever was.

Of course people will post what they want - that is my whole point. I am not suggesting that no one post their opinions at all - what I am saying is that those that seek to shut others up with commanding posts are being arrogant and seem to believe that they have the right to tell others what topics may be discusses. And yes, that is my opinion, and I am stating it here in detail, not simply telling people what to do a la "LET IT GO!!!!!"

And regarding "Every single one of us" - I thought it was obvious that I was just making a point. Alas, nitpicking is exceedingly prevalent. Whatever, I am pretty confident that most other people will see what I mean in the big picture here - agree with it or not - and will not simply look for a nit to try to pick.

[elocs]

4. I agree with the gist of what you say, unfortunately, in real life on message boards

there is not much of a way to change it. I deal with it mostly by using "ignore". For me, life is too short to do otherwise and cantankerous people are not worth the trouble.

[Bluenorthwest]

6. One man's ceiling is another man's floor

There are people who would die for issues I think are just silly. Not my issue does not mean it is a non issue, and to say so is arrogant.

[elocs]

7. Absolutely, and it is possible to disagree, agreeably.

In my 5000+ posts here at DU I don't think that I have ever told anybody to STFU. There are a good number of posters here who are not only arrogant, but crude in their arrogance. I have an opinion and a point of view, but I am open to other ideas and even the disagreement of others with my opinion does not diminish me. I don't believe that everything that is important to me should be important to everyone, but on the same hand I don't believe something I hold to be important should be trashed by someone else who does not agree.

[ExPatLeftist]

8. Well put - and more concisely than me. :) thanks for posting n/t

[Libby2]

5. I agree

and I just want to tell them, You're not the boss of me!