[Owl_Little_Girls]

Reading that cluster**** of a thread late, I'm not even sure who the dogpiled person is, is it the OP or one of the others who picked up the baton and ran with it.

Skimming, I saw a calvacade of astonishing statements.

In a serious car crash, were the analogy apt, someone would be maimed or killed. I'm not even sure who the "victim" here is. A lot of people got ruffled, is that THAT big a deal?

I am reading it too, and can't pick it either.

OP - again I ask, why is this so personal to you. la di dah is right, lots of people got ruffled in said thread. Pretty sure most members pulled up their big girl knickers and go on with it.

[poss71]

I've made it personal to me because the things that were incorrectly posted and reported about her, then the ridiculing and belittling that followed her attempts at sticking up for herself were ultimately met with (posts to the effect of):

a) you need to use a dictionary before you post; and
b) nothing you can say to us will change the fact that you are a racist.

I would stand up for that person if she was surrounded by a mob in a shopping centre; so I will here too.

Do you truly think that the words of strangers have no effect on another person? If you could see their effect, would it make any difference? Or is it your automatic position that anyone affected by a stranger's comments must be mentally ill or looking for something online that she is incapable of finding IRL (e.g., oh let's say, friends)?

[Owl_Little_Girls]

I am not saying that just because it's online, it doesn't matter. But you can't expect too much.

[Sinister Bonnet]

Well not to want to godwinise the thread, I will proceed to godwinise the thread. In Nazi Germany people stood aside and said and did nothing.

Many many of us saw her posts in that context. They were that distressing and that offensive. I know she was all about the drama and how could we possibly think that but yeah. I'm not all with the sympathy and anyone who stands alongside her opinions gets tainted with the same.

[Guest_maybelle_*]

The poster I am referring to has deleted her membership in some considerable distress.

Whether she was the one who sent you 'angry, aggressive, sbusive' PMs, I can't say.

What I can say is, unwarranted attacks on her were and remain on the public record. Whatever PMs you received are Private messages.

Do you think you acted appropriately and fairly, maybelle? If so, then this thread shouldn't affect you at all.

I don't think we are speaking of the same person FWIW, but I have more respect for spirited discussion on a very emotive top being held in the public forum rather than sending nasty PMs, if I have to make a choice. I am not in support of a witch hunt of any kind but if you ask a bunch of people if they agree with prejudice rhetoric and the majority say no they don't, you either have to re-evaluate your values or your audience (I would hope the former).

I believe I posted competely appropriately appropriately and fairly in that thread, poss71. I also believe I responded with as much respect and patience as I could to the PMs I received in explaining to the sender that I disagreed with her stance on the topic but wished her well and recommended that she didn't stay in the thread if it was causing her distress. I kinda gave up by the end of the day though.

[Polly Esther]

I have no idea which person you're talking about (but can guess it'd be one of a few that are constantly treated like garbage by a number of bitter wenches here who have little better to do than pick on others)... but I do agree that some people really fail at being polite.

If people are jerks to you - fair enough, be one back. Otherwise, shut your effing mouth. I read posts here all the time where I think not-so-nice things but I keep them to myself, because it's not necessarily helpful to type it, and all it's likely going to do is offend... and if that was my point in posting, what kind of person am I?

An occasional disagreement on the forums is fine... but the constant harassment of certain members by certain other members is just sickening.

ETA - Ah, I see this is about racism. Generally, if you say something racist, then you're going to get labelled as one. Saying, "But I'm not, I have plenty of black friends!" doesn't mean you're not a racist either (or whatever, I don't know the specifics of the thread involved, I just had a brief read when it was active).

If you spout hateful crap, then expect repercussions.

The rest of the post I stick by, though I was thinking of an entirely different situation than the one you're talking about OP... there is one poster who cops so much nonsense here, simply for posting really (posting things others find pointless I believe?)... and I was thinking of her when writing my reply.

This post has been edited by Polly Esther: 06/01/2012, 12:07 AM

[Sinister Bonnet]

Let's be adults and name names. The poster is diamond butterfly who is not the OP.

She also was pretty good at swiping out at people herself. Calling silent moose of all people a racist was a nice touch.

[Owl_Little_Girls]

Do you truly think that the words of strangers have no effect on another person? If you could see their effect, would it make any difference? Or is it your automatic position that anyone affected by a stranger's comments must be mentally ill or looking for something online that she is incapable of finding IRL (e.g., oh let's say, friends)?

You can't be serious! Where did I say she was mentally ill or looking online for something she couldn't find IRL. Way to twist my words. I am saying if it affects a person, it's time to move away from the computer and do something else. For example if a mother posted about her poor feeding baby and didn't get the advice she was after, perhaps a child nurse or doctor or whatever IRL would be better for her to seek out. If you get what I mean.

[Guest_maybelle_*]

I have no idea which person you're talking about (but can guess it'd be one of a few that are constantly treated like garbage by a number of bitter wenches here who have little better to do than pick on others)... but I do agree that some people really fail at being polite.

If people are jerks to you - fair enough, be one back. Otherwise, shut your effing mouth. I read posts here all the time where I think not-so-nice things but I keep them to myself, because it's not necessarily helpful to type it, and all it's likely going to do is offend... and if that was my point in posting, what kind of person am I?

An occasional disagreement on the forums is fine... but the constant harassment of certain members by certain other members is just sickening.

Polly, look at the thread linked in the OP - I am pretty sure you would not agree with it. It is the thread version of a "F*** off, we're full" sticker.

[Guest_maybelle_*]

Do you truly think that the words of strangers have no effect on another person? If you could see their effect, would it make any difference? Or is it your automatic position that anyone affected by a stranger's comments must be mentally ill or looking for something online that she is incapable of finding IRL (e.g., oh let's say, friends)?

There are a lot of mentally ill people on EB, including me. Most people manage to not use that term as an insult.