The Watching of ASAH

[kentauros]

I know most of y'all probably don't go to some of the other areas of DU where our kind of thinking is dismissed through the usage of any number of derogatory terms. However, I do lurk at some, skimming what's being said, as well as learning about some personal attitudes.

What I find interesting is the difference between how we approach our fellow members and other people (such as non-liberal family members) and how those elsewhere around DU do. For example, I've been called "sanctimonious" for having the audacity of imploring people here to have some compassion for their fellow human beings (usually in regards to capital punishment.) I'm not implying that we are better than our peers here, yet our attitude towards most people sure does seem to be much better. With rare examples, I can't think of us calling those different from us as "crazy" or "deluded", much less mocking, demeaning, belittling and generally being condescending towards those unlike us in thought and belief.

And yet, it's all out there on DU, allowed because it's "not a personal attack" and just part of the "discussion", or simply is labeled as "snark". The idea that a person's feelings may be severely hurt is chalked up as not having a thick enough skin.

There's a thread in one area that has the sole purpose of pointing to the craziest of the "woo", and it's a rather disgusting display of not only intolerance for fellow members but also shows much about the personalities of those participating. This kind of dismissive attitude towards those of a different mind is one of the major reasons I don't post in the Religion forum (the other is that I'm not a "debater" as is almost required of anyone that posts there.)

I suspect the "watchers" of ASAH will go and report this thread to their cohorts and have yet another laugh at our expense. They’re still welcome to participate in our discussions here, so long as it’s not in a disrupting/mocking manner. Thankfully, we don't usually engage them in the same vein

watchers!