I still think we all need to talk.

Never have I harbored the illusion that this is the Symposium, but I need to know if I'm in the Forum (a marketplace) or the Coliseum. What are the rules, really? Is the accusation of cowardice for refusing to be used as target practice too much? Obviously, we know what's too much for you now, and why. Perhaps we all need to know a little more about each other personally to avoid this kind of blow-up in the future.

Or is that too PC? Or not anonymous enough for the 'Net?

The reason I left was because I know it's a violation of my beliefs about free speech (as well as pointless) to demand that people speak in a certain way, but I began to feel like I was an accessory to my own verbal assault. This is an experience I have had in real life, and to repeat it here in the virtual world, where I come for recreation, was more than I could bear. The only way I know of to stop such behavior is to stop participating. It had nothing to do with ideas. It had everything to do with name-calling reaching critical mass for me. As I put it in a private conversation, I felt like the well-liked Jew in the office whose co-workers were trying to explain that the exclusion of Jews from the private club they all belonged to was nothing personal, it was just to keep all those "other Jews" out. Well, meant that way or not, it is personal.

In the course of several exchanges with various regulars here, I became apprised of the fact that discussion had become more thoughtful on the other boards, even though the exchanges here heated up. People were twigging to the idea that a person expressing an opinion in the press was a person expressing an opinion in the press, and not a statement on behalf of all [fill in your favorite ethnic, religious, political or economic group here]. It became possible to talk to people again, so I have.

Also, I found it pretty interesting that several lurking "liberals" decided to speak up. How much more interesting and enlightening would it be for the regular posters to have these people express their opinions freely and frankly, and not to just read, sigh, and click away, believing that if they post a thoughtful reply they will be landed on by several pair of hobnail boots? Could it be that they all posted on this topic because it touched a sore spot that they felt for some time, that they were only welcome as equals in the "less controversial" discussions about space?

Just thinking out loud --
Mary Anne (who's gotten in trouble for thinking out loud here before)