Ginny,
Must bullies voice their opinions respectfully? Who decides what is allowed and what is not allowed?
No, bullies may voice their opinions however they see fit and often do. My statement is that those bullying methods would not go UNCHALLENGED, at least not by me.
"Judge" is a fat word with many meanings and nuances. I wish I'd chosen a better word, but I can't think of one that exactly suits what I want to say. I associate judging with my life as a JW and think of it in terms of condemnation and punishment, treating someone harshly, without tolerance for their own beliefs.
That's a nice way of defining the nature of the word "judge" -- fat. It's why I avoid its use (along with "worldly"). Having spent many years as a JW, certain words have a distaste in my mind, let alone my mouth. Surely with your fondness for the dictionary you'll be able to discover a workable alternative to it.
I feel I have a right to form my own opinions, and a right to express them. I don't feel I have a right to dictate the choices anyone else makes in their life. I don't feel I have a right to speak authoritatively about anyone else's motives and intents other than my own. I don't have a right to determine how other people should behave. I don't have a right to dictate to anyone else what is right and what is wrong, what they should do, or what they must do. In this sense, I will not judge.
Every once in a while you give indication of one with a firm grasp of reality. (<---- joke)
Me: You are saying something other than what JanH actually said. He never said that "some people's thoughts are superior to others." Are you making that inference? In the meantime, what do *you* mean by "superior"?
You: I was working from your guess about JanH's intent: "I believe it was his intent (I could be wrong) to show that certain ones of his liking offered thoughts and opinions that were somehow superior to everyone else's." I also said, "Let's suppose you are right [about JanH's intent]," so this is a theoretical case.
"Working from my guess" .... "working from my guess." Let's see... does that mean that you were, uh... guessing?... or otherwise forming an hypothesis based on a guess? Shame on you, Objective Ginny!
You're smart to ask me to define my terms.
Me? teejay? Smart? Damn! I guess we *all* have our good days...
Dictionary definitions usually work well for me
Do tell...
I don't really like the idea of "importance" because each of us decides what is important to us. I was thinking more along the lines of quality and excellence, but even that is subjective.
Keep going, Ginny. You're making fine progress...
As I see it, JanH can tell me what he thinks is excellent and of highest quality. I am free to look at the same thing and say, "I think that's a piece of shit."
Well I'll be!!! That's kinda what *I* thought months ago with respect to JanH and years ago otherwise. Go figure. You better watch it, G... you're starting to think like *me*!
If [JanH] forms opinions about quality and excellence, his thinking does no harm at all.
The problem, of course, is when those *opinions* move beyond the thought stage and become potentially damaging words and acts as has happened.
Is it wrong to denigrate opposing views? Are some views less valid, worthy, and worthwhile?
On the first question, I'm not sure -- denigrate might be too strong a word. On the other hand, what's the harm in calling a stupid idea a stupid idea? I'll have to think about that one.
On the second question, aren't we back to a matter of personal opinion? Subjectivity? I believe so.
Me: No, and I'd thank you to not put words in my mouth please. I never said that Jan's THINKING was elementary and backward. What I said was that his opinion about board luminaries was.
You: Substituting "thinking" for "thought" was careless of me. It was not my intent to twist your words.
I take that as an apology. You are forgiven. Don't let it happen again. <---- joke
I could have worded my reply more carefully: Have you considered offering him a strong logical argument to prove that his thought that "those who have attacked me in this case aren't exactly the luminaries on this board" is elementary and backward?
No. JanH can have a deathgrip on whatever elementary, backward, dumbass and stupid idea he wants. I didn't care then and care even less now to correct what I feel is the erroneous thinking of JanH. I'll leave that up to others who are better qualified and waaay more interested. His thoughts were never the issue. What he SAID was.
I want you to know that my opinion of you since then has changed. I now see redeeming qualities, and you no longer disgust me. I have seen that you are tenacious and stand up for what you believe in. You admit when you are wrong. You care deeply about your friends and family and want to protect them.
Please accept my opinion for what it's worth.
As was the case with your "laughingstock" comment and your "you disgust me" comment and your "I see no redeeming qualities" comment, I
always have taken your opinion for what it's worth, Ginny! I always have.
