I don't buy the claim you made of not knowing the level of disgusting bigotry and hate solon was spewing
Solon has demonstrated over time that he can spew with the best of them. So can you. There may or may not be some marginal difference in disgust level between the spewings of each of you during this incident. I have not looked closely enough to make a a judgment on that one. I don't care to look closely at either set of spewings. As I said, I stopped reading them a while back so there may have been something in there totally over the top that I missed. It doesn't matter to me as it seems to matter to you. You have a dog in this hunt while I'm in pox-on-both territory. I can't see either of you on particularly firm ground pointing the finger at the other.
You presented a scenario about a guy who would give anyone pause. Solon came out swinging assuming the worst. Shame on him. Solon had some legitimate points among the barbs, though, that you refused to address. Shame on you. I can understand why he popped off. I can understand why you reacted by getting all defensive and started hurling random insults--his insults were more or less on point, while yours were wild. I can understand why he turned up the venom level when you refused to address his concerns. I can understand why you responded with further entrenchment. As Neo might say, did say, actually, one can recognize and understand without endorsing.
I'm sure we have had this discussion before. Some people look at these fights in terms of sides with teams aligning and scoring points and all posts designed to cement side affiliations. I have not actively participated in that although I recognize that participants with that orientation sometimes interpret my statements as affiliation statements when they are merely statements of my opinion on the substance. I can often see parties on both sides taking heart from my comments when that was not my intent and often totally incorrectly. I rarely bother about that and just try to stay focused on the substance. To the extent that I pay attention to the siding, I try to acknowledge at least some good points on both sides and to get along with everyone. Whether there is anything right or wrong about my approach, I don't know. It just is what it is. I say this only so that you don't get too exercised over invalid interpretations. And so you don't have any expectations that I will go to bat for you when I won't. All you can expect from me, absent flagrant bullying, is to agree with your position whenever I happen to agree with it and disagree with it whenever I disagree, just like I do with everyone else.
Although you are more reserved, the two of you have a lot in common.
I assume by "the two of you" you didn't mean Neo and me...<g>
You realize by now, surely, that Neo and I have almost identical positions on the disposition of your scenario. Your reaction to each of us in light of that has been interesting. |
