I generally feel comfortable posting here at RF, and I suspect some of those who don't feel comfortable of just wanting an echo chamber without the bother of posting in DIR areas
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Do you feel comfortable openly expressing yourself on RF?
- Thread starter Dawnofhope
- Start date
Thanks for your response @Nakosis . Its really helpful.
Politics is a very broad topic. Did you have in mind a specific area of politics such as North American politics or politics generally? How uncomfortable are you expressing your personal political perspectives?
nPeace
Veteran Member
I personally don't believe it is a matter of feeling welcomed, as I don't believe anyone comes on a debate forum, with the idea that the must feel welcome. However, this is my view, as I cannot speak for others.
Do I feel comfortable openly expressing myself. Why or why not?
I don't usually worry about expressing myself, as I don't feel like I have any reason not to.
However, I don't feel comfortable expressing myself to a few religious people, because I get the impression that it is not acceptable to express a different view, especially if using a source of reference supporting that view.
What I find interesting about that, is that it's not that you did not say, I feel / think / believe, because 1) the one you are speaking to, is saying "A B C is the case", and 2) you are saying, "according to this source A B C".
I normally don't have that problem with Atheist, or skeptics, because they will, argue their point, but they don't behave as if you have no right to say something contrary to what they believe.
Of course they will call you all manner of ill - ignorant, uneducated.... (the ones who get really abusive usually gets put on my ignore list) but one can get used to being called ignorant, when one realizes why they feel that way. I think some people are ignorant too. Each one of us is ignorant about something. That's not a big deal.
To me that is better than wanting to restricting another persons speech to something agreeable.
I have never felt unwelcome, nor have I felt that my group is not welcomed.
People just have different opinion / feelings / beliefs. so it is expected that not everyone will like you, or agree with you.
That's life. We cannot change that fact.
Can I say one last thing. I think some people take offense quite easily, and in my opinion, for no good reason.
Throughout my years as an minister of the good news, this is behavior pattern that reveals a lot about a person. It's usually a good indicator to me. ..
I don't think there is a need to take offence when someone has not insulted you... like calling you a monkey.
People on these forums have called me an animal. I could ... in fact I should feel insulted... "How dare you."
but why take offense? Does not the scriptures say, "The taking of offense lies in the bosom of the stupid one"?I just tell them, "I am not an animal. If you are happy to be one, go your way rejoicing".
nPeace
Veteran Member
I just want to say, thank you for that.
Secret Chief
Very strong language
nPeace
Veteran Member
I didn't know how to rate your post. It was informative, and I liked it, but I think it was mostly informative. So...Do you feel comfortable openly expressing yourself. Why or why not? Most of the times, but since I'm also a mod I have to be extra careful and make sure I follow the rules. Ths business of giving a good example is hard sometimes
Has there ever been a time when you haven't felt welcome here, and what do you feel was the reason? Some participants make me less at ease with their unkind comments and quick judgements, but that's on an individual basis and has nothing to do with RF itself.
Are you part of a particular group that you feel is less welcomed and why? JW are frequently judged based on information that is not accurate, rumors and misinformation. It makes me sad but that comes with the territory. Being different in this world always comes at a cost.
Secret Chief
Very strong language
Yes. If I couldn't then I wouldn't be here. The rules and moderation seem reasonable in their aims.
No. It's not an echo chamber so it's not always going to be a love-in.
If I'm in a group I'm unaware of it. Opinions my own, as they say.
Yes, i feel comfortable here, simply because i only respond to threads i am confident of my comments. I sometimes have to throttle back for fear of breaking rules, and it seems that too often i don't throttle back far enough, sorry about that mods.
Erebus
Well-Known Member
On the whole, I'm more open to expressing myself on RF than anywhere else online. Obviously there are things I won't talk about (I'm not telling any of you where I hid the bodies) but that's to be expected.
I would rather share my views and thus open them up to criticism on RF than on Facebook for example. I'll talk about a wide range of topics here, including some fairly personal stuff. Elsewhere, I use social media and forums solely for talking about specific hobbies.
I would rather share my views and thus open them up to criticism on RF than on Facebook for example. I'll talk about a wide range of topics here, including some fairly personal stuff. Elsewhere, I use social media and forums solely for talking about specific hobbies.
nPeace
Veteran Member
Feel very comfortable and am completely open. Doesn't matter if someone doesn't like my positions or my faith. It is a free country (which I am happy we live it) - so far. It may end up not so much a free country.
EDIT:
And I don't mind other people thoughts and opinions - don't like it though when they put words in my mouth
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exchemist
Veteran Member
I feel completely comfortable expressing myself on this forum, but then I am not part of a group that is made to feel unwelcome. Of course there are some groups with a degree of antipathy towards people like me, but that's to be expected.
I'm of an age now at which I care more what I think of other people than I care what they think of me. I recall reaching that crossover point around the age of 40 - and very liberating it was.
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Reminds me of an Italian elderly man whose son was in jail. The dad sent a letter, "Son, I so miss you and more-so now that it is springtime. I miss when we would break the ground together for a spring planting and I'm getting older, so it's becoming harder".
He received a letter from his son, "DAD, DON'T DIG UP THE BACK YARD, IT IS WHERE THE BODIES ARE AT".
Two days later, the law enforcement came and dug up the whole back yard... but found nothing.
Another letter from the son came in two days later. "Dad, I hope I helped you dig up the ground. It was the best I could do in light of correct situation."
Secret Chief
Very strong language
I'm of an age now at which I care more what I think of other people than I care what they think of me. I recall reaching that crossover point around the age of 40 - and very liberating it was.
Spot on!
Spirit of Light
Be who ever you want
Yes i would
I feel about as comfortable here as I do in real life, which isn't very comfortable. I dislike getting people angry, so often will hold back on my views somewhat. It's much harder to read from words on a screen than it is in real life. There are many personal things I won't talk about at all here. My professional association had a code of conduct that most teachers tried to abide by. That is mirrored here by the rules.
I'm not sure what can be changed, or of the purpose of the moderators looking at this.
I'm not sure what can be changed, or of the purpose of the moderators looking at this.
1 vote Yeah
I see it is for me,personally, very easy not to be involved in those threads.
Regards Tony
So you already ignore them, in a way?