Dark Knight in Aurora Colorado

[Velokid1]

You get a little abrasive at times, Colin, but we all do. And the ironic thing is that usually the people who get the most offended by it are people who I consider to be the more abrasive people here.

They applaud others for being abrasive... When they agree with them.

[RussellK]

Its been a discussion and I thought there had been some pretty good points made from both camps. I've never understood it when a discussion particpant suddenly gets mad and quits because their view wasn't shared by the majority. Are they here for discussion or affirmation. Getting mad and calling names? That's just juvenile.

Occassionally I've made the observation some people come here for the sole purpose of mentally arm wrestling with Colin. Then they get mad if they don't feel they scored points. Then the bully accusation comes. Then come the crying a moderator shouldn't participate. It's stupid. So Colin presents good arguments. So he's wordy. So what. As moderator has he ever denied anyone here the right to respond? How many people have actually been banned from here? You can count that on one hand. And on at least one occasion it was after he polled the members. What a bully.

This is the fairest most polite forum I've ever participated in. You should see how they are in the kayak group

[airkooledchris]

Fri Aug 03, 2012 2:13 pm

i'm done here in free speech....again.

Sat Aug 04, 2012 11:49 am

I am so done here.

Sun Aug 05, 2012 11:56 am

those are my last words on this topic

.....getting this quitting thing all wrong.

I don't care what side anyone is on this - that's just a lot bratty drama and the kind of overreacting that doesn't serve anyone's arguments any good.

keep calm and keep discussing or don't. save the drama for your momma.

[BellePlaine]

Feelings on internet forums, especially of the political kind, are kind of like road rage. Speaking for myself, it’s an effort to remember to use tact.

[poptop tom]

^^what these two said^^

[Amskeptic]

Feelings on internet forums, especially of the political kind, are kind of like road rage. Speaking for myself, it’s an effort to remember to use tact.

So I have these conversations with people about wide-ranging topics not only on the forums but in real life while we try to resuscitate their old Volkswagens. I love it all. I feel blessed.

The shock for me is when people I have visited,
had lunch with,
shared mighty Vanagon cylinder head travails with,
had deep conversations with,
had enjoyed years of interaction with,
people I consider to be friends,
who know that I sometimes get a little hyperbolic,
when they detonate a bomb in my trust I will push back.

In the pathology lab, peering over this recently dead friendship with Lanval
(heck, we had this amazing moment at the grill when it caught on fire and he had to get the extinguisher and clouds of smoke just enveloped the house, but his utterly cool calm spouse just switched to a hot plate and we had a . . . conversation about gun control and government and education too), he knows me so why this kaboom here? of all places? He too is a pontificating phony asshole just like me! I can even imagine a good conversation with Bill and Lanval at Buster's Last Stand.
ColinOnwards!It'sStillABeautifulDay

[dingo]

i dunno..i never saw anything close to 'abrasiveness'..just stick to your true nature and push forward...when the insecure ones have all blown their 20A fuses and gone home, then maybe some sort of actual progressive conversation can take place....

[Bleyseng]

I'm pretty insecure so I'll hunker down, load the AK47, set the trip wires and watch Foxnews to see when the takeover happens.

Actually, had a great day at work painting/finishing cabinets for a big job (Done!). I'll feeling lucky so its off for free food and drink at the casino plus maybe I'll win again.

[RussellK]

How is it we aren't coming unglued that a known hater could legally obtain a gun which he uses to kill people in a temple? Ironically the name of this idiot's band say's it all. End Apathy.

[Amskeptic]

How is it we aren't coming unglued that a known hater could legally obtain a gun which he uses to kill people in a temple? Ironically the name of this idiot's band say's it all. End Apathy.

I am, but I don't know what to say to the people who defend major fire-power. Somehow, hanging your hat on the 2nd Amendment makes the terrible toll "OK" or at least beyond the reach of discussion.

I am open to any decent research on our actual gun death rate/history/trends. I heard that it has actually dropped in the past decade or so? Is there any association with the laws against assault weapons/ repeal of laws against assault weapons?

I feel bad for those Sikhs. One wrote a piece in the NY Times about how turbans are actually traditional representations of peace, yet are bulls-eyes for rabid intolerant idiots screaming about how this is a Christian nation.
Oy,
Colin

[Bleyseng]

I agree with you Colin, this argument that the 2nd amendment is above any revisions, limits or restrictions is ridiculous. There has to be some changes in gun ownership in this country or this insanity will continue.

[BellePlaine]

If you must limit something, I think that you'd be better off banning hateful actions, thoughts, and communications. The real problem isn't the tool.

[Bleyseng]

I have no idea how you ban such hateful actions. I start with myself and encourage the people around me to be a better persons.
I don't think the tool is the problem its just that there are so many tools in the USA and easy to get so when someone is messed up they lash out with these tools.

I do think that the 1% have brought this upon us all with their greed and pushing the middle and lower classes down the road of poverty. A good education, a good job and a future for most people solves a lot of problems. If you have nothing, lashing out at everyone can happen.

[Velokid1]

It's true.
People do desperate things when theyre pissed.
Hopeless.
Hurt.
Lost.
Powerless.
Hungry.
Feeling protective of their family or neighborhood.
Unfairly persecuted.
Subject to stricter laws than others.
Sick, unhealthy, dying.

Fixing those problems may be a monumental task, but when you don't even see your leaders at least TALKING about helping you and other suffering people and families- and instead pointing to you as if you're the problem with America- it can be devastating emotionally, I'm sure. Many will handle it ok and just keep pushing on or give up completely, but some people will crack and do some pretty surprising things out of desperation.

[BellePlaine]

It's impossible to ban an emotion, but at least we can name "hate" as the motivation behind some of these mass killings, right? The people in our government can't resolve hate, gosh, they can't even get along with themselves. Sure they can ban a tool or two but that's just going to cause more hate. I'd like to suggest that each of us, as individuals, figure out how to manage our emotions. Some self-reliance and an healthy understanding that shit happens. The shit, I'm suggesting, is relative. It can be a crappy boss, an underwater mortgage, living with a POTUS that you don't like, or whatever. Shit happens and you take control over your general day-to-day attitude. You change what you can change about yourself otherwise live and let live.

On an unrelated note; anyone going to Madison for the Great Taste of the Midwest this weekend? Sped?