We are not allowed to express our own views because others are going to disagree with us or NOT LIKE us because we don't think the same? Wow.

Why would we want to bother even talking if we had to try to choose completely benign topics, then be completely agreeable all the time so as not to shock anyone's sensitive little feelings about the fact we don't feel the same. Why bother communicating at that point at all? How do we find out who shares our ideas, is active in our causes or other interests, and who we would like to work with or completely avoid doing business with if there is no discussion?

There are some people who's real morals and motives come out during a discussion, but I'm pretty comfortable with that - and anyone who is honest should be. Yes some people will not want to do business with us if they don't like our ideas, but I find having to try to please everyone frightening...I find the idea of limiting the ability to discuss issues because people argue a little frightening. The more heated an argument gets, the more you can tell about another's sense of logic, their ability to handle opposition, their knowledge of issues, and even their very moral fiber.

You are also going to find that the more "politically correct" we are forced to be, the more easily the scammers at heart can hide in a crowd.

I got called "paranoid", "Nutcase", etc for about 2 decades for my ideas - but I stood by them and supported them logically in every face of opposition and people know EXACTLY where I stand as well as what I stand for. Some will hate me for those very factors - some will think I'm a kook but know me as honest enough to not have to be afraid of purchasing something from me they are interested in. Most have lost their idea that I am a nut over the years after they have seen many of my positions come to fruitation. Some would expect my walls to be lined with tinfoil. But NOBODY wonders where I am coming from and whether I can be trusted to be honest.

I would sooner buy from someone I feel is an honest dickhead, than from someone who never shows their true colors.

And a last point -- no matter what stance you take on any issue on the globe, there are going to be those in opposition and those that will even be insulting, derrogatory, and completely hateful over it. If you try to please everyone all the time you are going to go completely over the rainbow whacko.

I find the idea of not posting my real thoughts because others might not find them palatable too Big Brother scenario to be comfortable with.

Great reply Sal.

Thank you for your honesty.

Because as Laura Cutler puts it, nice is nowhere.

It's not that hard to go around being completely inoffensive, so everybody thinks we're nice. But that's nothing. If you want to arouse people's passions and get them involved, you have to say something passionate. You have to take a stand. You have to agree with them where others do not.

Which, of course, means you're disagreeing with those others. And that's just how it goes. C'est la vie.

You don't want everybody to like what you do. You want a small, select, elite group of people to absolutely freakin' love it. And the other 99% of the world can go hang.