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Originally Posted by Eric5273
I just figured I would post some thoughts here for all to read...
We've had a couple threads in the last 24 hours get shut down due to personal attacks. From my point of view I have not personally attacked anyone. I certainly have not cursed at anyone (that cannot be said for all). I admit to having been rather sarcastic in a few instances to prove a point, but I don't think I did anything worse than that. If I offended anyone, then I am sorry and that was not my intention.
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My concern is that you don’t seem to realize that you’re being offensive (or you don’t care). When I made my post, I knew exactly what I was saying – then I contacted Greg and told him that he needed to step in. Have you ever done that about one of your own posts?
Here’s a example of one of your past comments, that I’m sure you didn’t intend to offend with:
“As for some cops being corrupt, most entire police precincts (not individual cops), are corrupt to some extent. Most accept money from organized crime, drug distributors, etc, and that money is divided up among the cops at the precinct.”
Do you see that that is offensive to police officers? Do you understand that even attempting to relate retired military to terrorists is offensive to people in the military?
You claim to have been offended by a supposed comparison between you and Hitler. That’s fine, I’m not saying you were lying. My point is, why can’t you see how similar “comparisons” could offend others?
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Originally Posted by Eric5273
If we are going to discuss controversial subjects related to the Military and to War (i.e. War on Terror/Terrorism, Iraq, etc.) then everyone is going to have to be willing to have discussion with those who they do not agree without taking it personally. And I don't mean those who you disagree with slightly, I mean those who you disagree with 100%.
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Concur 100% That’s the basis of our Federal Republic. Freedom of speech is about allowing those that you don’t agree with the right to air their views publicly – not just the ones you agree with. You do realize that I’m sworn on my honor (no small thing for me) to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States” right?
Just stop being insulting – think about the comparisons you make.
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Originally Posted by Eric5273
In war there are two sides, and usually not everyone in the world thinks the same side is in the right. If it were that simple, there probably wouldn't be a war in the first place.
Yet, it seems that any time I suggest that perhaps the American military is in the wrong, I am told that I have insulted some members who are part of the military.
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I never say you’re insulting for suggesting the military is wrong – sometimes the military is. Don’t you also see that sometimes you are wrong, or insulting?
You have made repeated insults toward the military. Remember this one:
“The soldiers are obviously brainwashed to the point that they don't know what is going on. Does that poll not indicate that?
So if they know so little about their mission, then how can you trust their analysis of it?”
After comments like this and others, please forgive me if I don’t believe your “I support the Troops” comments. Someone who did wouldn't make the immediate assumption that the military is brainwashed.
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Originally Posted by Eric5273
Well, that is not my intention. I'm pretty sure that most soldiers of all millitaries worldwide are brave and patriotic and believe they are doing good, or else they probably would not be putting their lives on the line. So if I compare an American soldier to the soldier on the other side of the battlefield, that should not be taken as an insult. But somehow it is.
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Perhaps this is where we disagree. I do not, and don’t foresee ever, viewing Hezbollah as a military organization. They are terrorists. If you were to compare the American military to the French military (or any other actual military), that wouldn’t be the least bit insulting. Within the military, we do that all the time. It's called training, and it's important to us.
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Originally Posted by Eric5273
My understanding is that this is an International forum, not specifically an American forum. I can only imagine the chaos there would be in these discussions if there were any forum members from the Middle East or Central Asian countries. Then you would be dealing with people who don't have centrist views like me (I tend to think both sides in most wars are equally wrong), but they would be 180 degrees opposite of what is normal for this board (they perhaps may think of American troops the same way most Americans think of Al-Queda).
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I’m not going to touch this one.
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Originally Posted by Eric5273
If you are going to participate in these discussions, then you have to be civil and not insult people for their viewpoints. If everyone wants me to stop posting in these threads, I will. Then these discussions will no longer be debates and will instead just be cheerleading sessions except perhaps for blondboi occasionally saying how much he hates George Bush. Perhaps that is what most of you want, I'm not sure.
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Do you view yourself as the only one here that isn’t a “cheerleader?” I think 6to among many others would find that interesting.
I’m more than happy to discuss any topic in a civil (and hopefully a light/amusing) manner. When the line is crossed however, don’t expect me to turn the other cheek every time. I try to be mature about these things, but as a human being, I have human failings.