Do you avoid posting comments about certain topics?

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As difficult as it might be to believe, I often avoid commenting in certain topics because of my perceived experiences of attempted intimidation by others about my comments. While this has decreased over the last couple months, I wonder if other WP members feel that they, too, avoid certain topics intentionally because of past experience with less-than-respectful disagreement by others.

I have made a 32-year political career IRL out of speaking out about all sorts of things, so it surprises me to see that certain topics on Wrong Planet (with and without my commentary involvement) result often in disrespectful claims, statements or innuendo by one or more antagonists based solely on the idea within the OP.

So, is it just me or are there others who let the chance of intimidation determine whether or not they comment in a topic?

In general on the Internet particularly on forums where anonymity is the rule instead of the exception and people can easily hide behind avatars that do not display their true human nature, some folks use this as an opportunity to bully others as they have been bullied in life and they believe they can get away with it now hidden with both their Avatar and anonymity.

And overall without the non-verbal expression of human communication comprising at least 60 percent, overall, much is lost in the way of emotional intent in communication even when folks are sincerely doing their best to get along with each other, online.

Put the two elements together and there will always be conflict.

But when it is egged on by moderators the problems become severe for all those except those who fit whatever conformity may be the flavor of the moment.

There is no longer a third problem here, but there will always be the first two, as it is just the nature of this particular medium for discussion.

And notice I didn't mention anything about this forum as a support site for folks who are often functionally disabled in any social communication environment with substantial difficulties with reciprocal social communication.

That part is not going away either.

So, it's either choose your poison or tough skin.

I'm fortunate as I have weathered life with extremely tough skin.

But no, not all have skin like this, and I shiver a little bit to see how some folks are treated here, but truly it is much better in the last couple of months, in my opinion, too.

Last edited by aghogday on 20 Nov 2014, 6:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

The only thing that a few seconds of searching my mind could throw up was my views on how we should treat paedophiles who haven't actually abused anyone.

IMO if you're attracted to children then you should have no reason to fear seeking help. I think that would prevent children from actually being abused. We should also legalise child pornography where the children in question do not exist (e.g. if they are animated or merely written). This might provide a harmless outlet and again prevent child abuse.

Generally I'm pretty certain that I'm right when I post, unless I add qualifiers (see above). If someone proves me wrong then fine and I like to think I would adjust my views, if someone fails to prove me wrong then I don't care too much if they don't like my views. Some people on here have expressed strong, often personalised opposition to some of my views - on abortion, on trans rights, on taxation - but I don't care, because they're wrong.

I do care what others think of my posts--but I don't restrain myself too much. Rather, I aim towards diplomacy.

I was liberal when young, then I made politics my special interest for a few years. Then I was conservative.

I dont bother posting about gay rights,trannies, or religion

This sounds interesting , care to elaborate a bit?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Nel ... ctivist%29

UPDATE: I am a proudly unaffiliated voter for the last several years.

quite an interesting career, a lot of conservatives are anti-gay but I dont see how their claims that 'it caused the decline of the Roman Empire' are true.

Yep. The Roman Empire collapsed through bankruptcy by its own weight. Corruption and graft for the last 100-200 years of its existence killed it, not the all-night after-parties. Hehe.

I avoid posting replies in The Haven because I'm more of a problem-solver than a hand-holder.

Basically, after the Golden Age (i.e., Hadrian, Trajan), the Roman Empire began a steep decline. Even in the early 200's, the Empire was noticeably weak in all areas

I avoid topics I don't have the energy for, I wouldn't say I'm intimidated by anyone tho. I think it is pretty silly to get too worked up over words and feel that I can find some common ground with most people.

I'm the one who knocks.

I just really don't care about politics, so I don't talk, think or post much about it.

I also almost never read the "do I have autism/AS" threads. Like I can possibly know the answer to that after reading one paragraph on-line. It's not even worth my time.

Heh, I had to learn that one myself, no one in there seems want any actual advice, they're generally just venting. It's also a pet peeve of mine that some people will be rude and obnoxious here in PPR, but run to the Haven when they get spanked for it, complaining about the meanies and bullies in PPR abusing them, and get support and validation from people who never saw the originating thread and the complainer's role in creating the situation, while I'm barred from responding by the rules of the Haven. It's also really hard not to snark in there sometimes, especially when people are being extraordinarily self unaware, even for Aspies.

Yes there are things I have stopped posting about because there are people who are in denial and cannot handle reality and it is no longer worth my time trying to rationalize with irrational people.

No ? there are topics (like guns) which I'll pretty much leave to those more knowledgable, and of course there are many topics in which I have little interest. But if a topic does interest me and I'm in the mood, I'll drop in my two cents without hesitation. I'm not here to gain the respect of those who disagree with me; in most cases, they've done exactly nothing to earn mine. And I'm really not capable of being intimidated by some stranger in a discussion group. The ones who get all emotional and abusive are precisely those who haven't a logical leg to stand on, and when they put up strawmen, fling ad hominems, or impugn motives they merely advertise the fact.