(09-09-2026 10:55 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  I hadn't read all the other thread that was closed until just now. I did post early on that I valued this place as a place to get some news, some perspective on what was happening from both sides, to make some friends, to blow off steam on occasion, to learn some new stuff or revisit old, to laugh, to make silly jokes, to post funny items so I could come back to it later, to contemplate, to post cool music and see/hear what others listen to that might open new perspectives or rekindle interest, to occasionally check out the weather (wish they hadn't moved that thread) et cetera. It is by far best that it continue, even though it will always be imperfect.

Having read the 'shut it down' post in the other thread, I am concerned as a citizen that someone would want to take a discussion, no matter how occasionally heated, away from others in the public forum.

Times I think I need a break, I just take a break on my own and don't come here or post. Times I don't feel like arguing back and forth with someone, I just don't. Maybe they get frustrated because they want to pick a fight. Too bad for them.

One poster mentioned he posted mostly for himself, not so much to convince others. More like a personal ongoing bookmark catch-all for his thoughts or stuff he finds interesting is how I took it. Yeah, me too.

I can't take most of this stuff too personally, but I do feel something is 'off' with the suggestion we just close down altogether. If someone doesn't like it here, then, I am guessing, no one is forcing them to be here. They can lurk without posting, which many do seemingly comfortably, or just not visit in the first place.

The suggestion that since they are uncomfortable everyone must forgo the sometimes imperfect discussions on topics seem, well, un-American is the best I can see how to describe that. Our country was founded on the principle 'I don't have to agree with what you say, but I will defend to the end your right to say it.' Shutting down seems to go directly against that fundamental principle. If that is how some people are interpreting our freedoms, well, troubling is the word.

All around the world, many people have been and are finding they don't actually have the freedoms we often take for granted here. I'd rather an imperfect, and yes, sometimes frustratingly messy, board where people are safe from the thought police that seem to be increasingly inhabiting too much of societies around the world. If someone says something you don't like, that THEIR problem, not yours...unless YOU let it be. Sticks and stones, we used to be taught as kids. Maybe some never were taught that, or never learned what that means or how to deal with it. It was a good lesson, and it worked pretty well for many decades.

Everything in life is not going to go my way, our yours, or his or hers, et cetera. You can be frustrated and blow off some steam and then move forward. There's 8.5 billion on this planet and a few hundred million here in the US. Not everyone is going to like you, or me, and that is perfectly okay. Some may even hate you or me, and again that is their right. I'd rather a heated discussion board rather than than we all get into our individual tanks and handle things that way. The problems on this board pale in comparison with the problems around the world. We might all do well to understand why we would best be grateful for this board including its imperfections and imperfect posters that the alternative. Let the board continue to live long and prosper, to coin a phrase.

Also, I don't use it much, but there IS an ignore function. This is High School stuff all over. It was stupid then and remains stupid now, maybe stupider because most of us are grown now. Just deal with it, take what you like and leave the rest of what you don't and enjoy your day and your life, because in the end life's too short for all of us.

clarity and perspective consolidated into a peaceful cadence within oneself ... there's nothing better ...