I'm a mongrel. My Dad's family is supposedly pure Irish (ha!); my mother's French/Scandinavian -- although she has always said, American. Unfortunately, I inherited my father's side of stubborness even when horribly wrong. When I first started practicing law, I met a wonderful attorney who is brilliant, acerbic and patient. He didn't know it, but I tried to emulate him in the court room -- don't react with disdain or barbs. I wasn't always successful because I don't have a poker face.
On this site, unbeknownst to him, I am starting to emulate Jerome a Paris. I have admired his responses to assoholic criticism. He responds calmly and intelligently, ignoring personal criticism. Damn, I hope I am a good student.
I have read numerous diaries here which are lightening rods for flame wars: I/P, LGBT, Obama Administration issues and race. Offensive comments are fair game, but I have recently found that many intelligent or personal responses to be viciously attacked. Ok, this is the intertoobz and you have to have a thick skin. I'm not worried about the assholes -- I'm concerned about folks I respect who may go off the rails once or multiple times because of utter frustration.
Recently, I made a personal comment that resulted in an extended attack and counter attack. I honestly am too old and battle-worn to care what anyone says about me -- even those whom I respect. What does concern me is that some few individuals who are frustrated, might be subject to stringent rebuke or even banning. I'm not talking about vigilantes; rather, those who have contributed mightily to this community and are going through an extremely rough patch.
I've written about my situation before: I have bouts of depression -- those times can be horribly stressful for those who actually like or love me. I've been blessed that most of my loved ones have weathered the storm. Here, we are virtual acquaintances but literal strangers. We don't really know each other. Sometimes, folks need to work through the severe anxiety of our general feeling of impotence related to how our government functions. We are afraid that no one is listening to our pleas about prosecutions for torture, desparate need of health care, drowning in debt, desparation for a job and discrimation against our LGBT sisters and brothers. That makes us "crazy."
We already easily can identify trolls on this site -- we're geniuses! What we are not as terrific at is recognizing when someone, who is a long-time member (contributing great value) is going through a rough patch. It is easy (as I well know) to keep confronting these folks to increase inflammatory comments. Perhaps the better approach is to back off for a cooling period -- recognize past contributions and express hope for more reasoned discussion.
Ok, yes, this is probably a bullshite diary, but there are folks here I would love to stay, heal and contribute their wisdom. If I am naive -- fine, I've been called worse.
Peace and blessings to one of our valuable and long-time contributors. I want your voice here -- without it, I think I'd be somewhat diminished.