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Many of us, including me, sometimes make posts that many will disagree with. In fact, some posts are such that most thinking people will be alienated.

So why do we do it?

Please don't post about specific examples, since that will result in a constant back of forth of you-said she-said type of discussion. Let's keep it on the philosophical level if we can.

I would really like to know if people are so devoted to a position that they would risk alienating potential customers by their posts, since the same people reading their posts are also looking at their WSO's or signature links.
  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    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.
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

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  • Profile picture of the author Ron Kerr
    Great reply Sal.

    Thank you for your honesty.
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    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      Sometimes it is to express a view that is designed to make people think.
      Most times is is because I enjoy annoying people
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      Life: Nature's way of keeping meat fresh
      Getting old ain't for sissy's
      As you are I was, as I am you will be
      You can't fix stupid, but you can always out smart it.

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      • Profile picture of the author myob
        At the risk of not alienating anyone, I totally agree with Sal. (This time.)
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        • Profile picture of the author HeySal
          Originally Posted by myob View Post

          At the risk of not alienating anyone, I totally agree with Sal. (This time.)
          Oh oh. What did I say wrong this time?
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          Sal
          When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
          Beyond the Path

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          • Profile picture of the author myob
            Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

            Oh oh. What did I say wrong this time?
            You have said absolutely nothing wrong at all this time, Sal. Everything was just perfect, as it is a model case study and demonstration of Paul's Principle. You must understand now and forever that Paul's Principle has been proven to be a universal truth; an absolute principle not open to argument or debate, as proven once more right here in this thread.

            Over a period a time (albeit what may seem eons), there is a cycle of high probability of harmonic convergence in the dimensions of fact, logic and conclusion. This dimension, often confused by unenlightened people as mere agreement, is actually a force of the higher consciousness in light and truth. And this force, which permeates the entire universe as energy and light, may on occasion enter into the dark minds and orifices of ignorant low-lifes where the sun does not shine.

            When a cycle of harmonic convergence occurs, you have thus seen the light, and agreement has once again broken through the darkness. This experience is often proclaimed expressedly by "eureka", "aha", "duh", "whoa", or "now I get it" as an outward manifestation of an inner phenomena that is mundanely referred to as agreement or understanding. Someday all will understand and agree with Paul's Principle. The harmonic convergence of these cycles will become more frequent as we approach the year 2012.
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  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    Originally Posted by Ron Kerr View Post

    So why do we do it?
    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.
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    "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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