Sigh

[avevale_intelligencer]

I try to be reasonable. I try to be fair. I make every possible concession, I apologise when I've been offensive, I avoid dogmatism as far as I can, and I try to provide some kind of a bridge of understanding so that different mindsets can relate to each other. I try to say useful things, find new slants on ideas that don't seem to make sense, make a difference in some infinitesimally miniscule way to the discussion.

And I always, always, end up disappointed.

Matters not. Life goes on and all that. I'll be back tomorrow, because I am basically optimistic (or stupid, if you prefer). But for tonight I think I'm just done with the net.

Comments

[the-alchemist.livejournal.com]

I try to be reasonable. I try to be fair. I make every possible concession, I apologise when I've been offensive, I avoid dogmatism as far as I can, and I try to provide some kind of a bridge of understanding so that different mindsets can relate to each other...

Personally, I think you're really good at those things.

[earth-wizard.livejournal.com]

Hey buddy, not sure about anyone else, but in my opinion you have always been fair, optimistic, full of intelligence and allowed for that liberal vantage point that always takes in all sides of an issue and tries to hone in on the points that you agree with and disagree with in a egalitarian vision of balance and forthrightness.

I for one admire your tolerance on many issues, and most of the time agree with you on even those very touchy subjects that we all find so trying in these times of darkness. May you always hold up that lamp of enlightened reason and literary excellence that is the heart of our humanity... for your heart is big and a welcome part of this bloggers life and always will be... long live the smallship... haha!

Cheers!

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you are disappointed.

If you're referring to my post, though, I don't see the problem. I do not recall promising I would be convinced by your post(s). I did not call anyone names. I criticized only ideas, and in a mild, polite, cheerful way at that. If it's open minded to say "believe in astrology if you want" it's even more open minded to say "not only that, but pick any sign you like."

I do wonder if perhaps the problem is that you believe, deep down, that someone who holds a mistaken idea is stupid. Someone who believed that might assume that people who criticize certain ideas are automatically saying people who hold those ideas are stupid.

And someone who believed that might keep reacting as though criticizing certain ideas--not people, ideas--is rude. Setting out to demonstrate that people are stupid *would* be rude.

If this is the case, I'm not sure I can help. I myself thoroughly believe that smart people can hold wrong ideas. But I doubt I can transfer that belief to you if you don't start out with it.

The best I can do is--you can accept that a person might be wrong about one idea, but right about others, right? Someone might believe that the pyramids were built by space aliens, but otherwise have fairly conventional ideas, yes? Can you picture this person as being stupid *only* about the wrong idea, and smart about all the right ones, and thus still pretty smart? Does that help?

[rms-butterfly.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I enjoy hearing your opinions and thoughts, just so you know. I read, but don't say much.

[janewilliams20.livejournal.com]

A little lost and puzzled here, but then I haven't been keeping up with all the discussion in your journal. What happens to disappoint you?

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

It's debate. People get heated; people get rude. It's hard to deal with, but it's valuable to do.

Please don't stop.

*hugs*

[bedlamhouse]

I don't often comment. Sometimes that is due to time, sometimes it is just because I haven't got a coherent statement that expresses how I feel.

I want to say, however, that I find your musings thought provoking and important to my daily dose of "intelligent people who don't think the same way I do".

Keep it up, please.