People like to see me lose my cool. It's pretty entertaining when I start 'going rounds' with people. Pages get turned, tempers flare and someone, ultimately, starts looking like a welcome mat or the butt of one very twisted joke. I seem to give the appearance of enjoyment, in instances where someone has 'stepped in it'.
Very often, it's my rants that draw attention. I get creative with the language. I explore new avenues of thought, with analogies and violence, just to get a small point across about some peeve or another. But on occasion, I tear into someone for something and it's not a rant. I'm just pouring salt on a wound, dumping gas on the fire, taking that stick and JAMMING it into the hornets' nest.
I'll fucking MAKE waves, dammit! People will SEE something happening whether they're looking for it or not. I make a scene. I draw attention. I rock the fuckin' boat!
I should have an open, running apology for shaking people up, like that. I don't mean to disrupt the forums. I never intend to for people to see my asshole side, I try way too hard to be diplomatic and understanding, around here. But, you know, a leopard can't change it's spots. I can seriously be an asshole, when the time comes to be one. Sorry about that.
What I am not sorry about, to be clear, is defending those that I feel need defending. Squashing bigotry, whenever possible. Attacking those that would attack my family, here on PF. I will never bow to pressure, as some would, to go with the flow and let sleeping dogs lie, so to speak, if those dogs should not be there. Rabid motherfuckers, no matter who they are, do not frighten me. It shows. Diplomacy can only do so much... then it's time for action. And I'm forever prepared for that eventuality.
Don't fuck with my friends and you won't get my wrath, trying to protect them. Don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining. Don't ever make the mistake of thinking I'm a pushover, that I don't know how to handle myself, or that I'm some bumpkin that needs a lesson in life, on how [and who] to hate. These will most definitely raise my ire.
And cause me to have to apologize to everyone for rocking the goddamn boat, again! Which I detest doing!! The fact that I cannot resist rocking the boat is a bad reflection on an administrator/owner. Why do people insist on pushing that button? QUIT IT!
I just don't like how it comes out, how I handle that belligerent stupidity. For one thing, the concept is rather subjective: For example, I believe in faeries and will leave offerings for them. How stupid is that? Well, that depends on who's doing the judging. I won't point fingers at most bizarre (as far as I'm concerned) understandings but at the same time I won't back down from lunacy.
There's a fine distinction, really, between not trying to ridicule people for using the Ouija game and not ridiculing someone's bigotry. I don't want people on the forum to ever get the impression that I'm going to be coming after their beliefs, trying to dispel whatever myths. And it's in that direction that I feel I lean too far when jumping up, rocking the boat, making a scene about some nonsense that someone truly believes. A dangerous balance, in my mind. And one that I need to reassure my friends and family about, that I will not attack just anyone for something that I alone, decide is bullshit.
I really don't know how clear that is. I probably just muddied up the waters even worse.
Try this: My fear of upsetting the herd is non-existent. My fear is that people will reach a false conclusion, by seeing my reactions to someone else's far-fetched, or at least questionable, reality. Like, if I'll make a scene about *that* person's claims, then I'll make a similar scene over ANYONE'S. <--- Not true.
But don't ask me to define the limits. I can't explain it, with any clarity. I just know it when I am confronted with it. Hense: the apology.
What you're upset about is an unfair stance, honestly. It's someone saying that they get a right to come down hard on others, but no one gets a right to do the same with them. It can't work both ways, it's either A or B...but when someone comes along and says "I have all this far-out stuff I want you to accept me for...but I also get to say this other group is horrible for what they believe"?
It's not right, and we all know it.
If anything, we bend over backward to be lenient here....most of the time we strike a fair balance, but every now and then we deal with someone who tends to manipulate the system, who says all sorts of inappropriate stuff, but backs up time and time again if called on it. And we will forgive them, over and over, until they push too far. I think this was one of those times.