I am just one person in this country of 61 million souls, and of the 6 billion worldwide. I am
nothing special, just an individual like everyone else who is struggling daily with the turmoil and strains of everyday life, trying always to make the best of a bad job.
However although I am a very small cog in this fantastically large machine of life, I believe that whilst I am in this plain of existance I have a duty to express my views and opinions on what I, as everyone else does I think, perceive is transpiring around me. I have been brought up to believe in this right, to defend it doggedly, questioning 'what is', whilst always respecting the view of others even if diametrically opposed to mine.
In the politics of life debate is very healthy if we want our lives, and more importantly those of our children / grandchildren to enjoy a high quality of mortal existance. Sometimes to achieve this you have to debate topics "against the flow", and place yourself in a position of maybe receiving disdain and ridicule because you are arguing a certain position.
On oof the vast majority of those who regulaly post, which in fact is numerically
very tiny compared to the full membership of the Forum, do enter into the spirit of good healthy debate, using counter arguments that I personally may not always agree with, but always respect if promoted in a fashion that respects the feelings and rights of others.
As has been previously quoted on this site, Voltaire (1694 - 1778) is credited with stating "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" (but interestingly was actually first used by S.G. Tallentyre in 1759) Partington, A. editor. (1996)
The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations: 4th Edition Oxford: Oxford University Press.
This is indeed my way so
we all together in debate, and perhaps later action, can as small cogs can start to make a difference in this imperfect world of ours, or at least make us feel that we have a "voice" in our "free society".
Such was the case in a very lively debate over the last few days, which raised many counter arguments and aired many personal opinions from those that wished to post. This was very healthy initially, but then the
very small minority who resort to personal insult when they oppose an argument, or fail to grasp the full implications of it, start to destroy the debate, with the end result that the Admins 'pull it'.
Suddenly, because I was defending an opinion (and that is all it is as I am human like the rest of you and far from being right all the time
) in what I considered to be a worthy debate, start to be accused of being on my "high horse", of being ill, with indeed being "mental", and "aggressive", urgently needing to "get a grip" by the very small majority. Many others were expressing very worthwhile intelligent counter arguments in a polite and dignified manner, but as usual this small minded band yet again start hurling derogatory comment because I dare to challenge what they see as a "joke", even after I explain how involved and knowlegable I am in the subject matter.
As stated before, I respect counter argument and, as in this case, much of it I actually accept and take on board. But when insults are thrown, against the rules of this Forum, I do wonder why I should bother to comment on anything on the Forum, or even continue my membership of it.
This I sure has been the case of a number of "newbies" I have seen depart, even within a few hours of joining, in my short time on the OOF, and maybe a 'consideration' made by the aforementioned vast majority of members who are still classed as "newbies" due to not risking posting their observations, opinions, recommendations and advise as should be possible in any healthy democracy for fear of ridicule and insult.
Sorry to disappoint those who would like to see this strong minded, educated and life experienced muture woman, stop expressing her opinions and observations, along with political statements, and leave the OOF, I am
NOT going to! I will
not be bullied, as I have
never allowed myself to be, by a tiny majority, as I will reserve my right to put forth such topics, arguments and the like if I believe it can
constructively assist public debate in this world (and this Forum is worldwide!).
What I do not expect is to be insulted in
destructrive debate by the small minded minority who find it so difficult to grasp a reasoned viewpoint without resorting to such tactics.
Strongly argue by all means, and that is great
, but do not insult me as you may receive it back, which actually I try not to do, lowering myself to your level, and deeply regret afterwards!
To the
vast majority of OOF members I say a big thank you for making my few months of membership so welcoming and providing much interesting debating material, along with the accompanying debate, that certainly has made me appreciate a few more different aspects of life.
Lizzie
Author
Topic: Debating on OOF (Read 3379 times)