Peter, it's not about the opinions, it's about what the people DO when they talk about opinions. People who gather in groups to dissect people personally, or hold insult parties, or lose their tempers and say outrageously rude things, those people- regardless of their opinions- are not of interest to me. It really is the quality of the messenger, not the message. I've been happy to discuss all sorts of issues with people, but when they lose their tempers, and say things that involve my family, my work, my personal life, I don't forget that- and I know that person has the potential to flip out over and over and over. I generally give people 2 chances, and after that, it's over. I don't go around moaning about them to others, or talking about them, or stalking them, but I do give up on them as a conversational partner.
People on the left don't generally flip out on me, but when they do I don't talk to them either. I won't tolerate the kind of rudeness I have come to loathe on SI any longer. I can't change other people's behavior, but I can choose not to reward behavior I see as unhealthy and destructive. We all make those choices. So next time you decided to talk about me, try to remember that who I talk to is mostly based on the manners of the individual I am talking to- in my judgment, of course. Opinions on manners will, of course, vary. |
