Reply #58: Well overall I would dispute your percentages [View All]

[Tom Rinaldo]

Though I can see why you might think this last batch top heavy in a manner that you seem to find offensive, I think you are way over the top in describing what you think I am doing. I am sure that others must feel the way you do, and I am just as sure that not everyone does. Were you party to the ramping down of the Dean vs Clark flame wars on DU AP? There was an open intentional effort made by supporters of both men to change the tone of the ongoing discussion at that time. One of the means that was knowingly used was positive feedback to those who held different loyalties yet made efforts to stay positive while continuing honest debates. It was seen as helpful at a time when the board was being consumed by back and forth attacks between the camps.

But I'm not trying to promote a grand effort here AP. You will notice that I don't post on most pro Edwards threads. I'm not looking to mix it up and impose a code of conduct. OK, I winced a little when I saw topics posted about the rivalry between Clark and Edwards supporters. I think there were two threads, I dunno. Given that that issue was put squarely on the DU table, I have commented more on it in the last two days. Sure it's my position that it is stupid for us to fight each other now over things that happened in the primaries. And that is not an irrelevant position to take. It is a perfectly legitimate position to have, as bad blood easily gets established, and often lingers, and clearly both Clark and Edwards can't get the VP nod.

From my perspective I don't know why you are so "overly sensitive" about this (that's how I see it, it's subjective I know). Like I said above, I get it that you don't like it when someone seemingly tries to shut down a discussion about something. I can see your point there. But I don't get why it puts such a burr up your butt for me to acknowledge a post that I appreciate. I think that's your problem, and I don't know why you have it. I guess I seem false or forced or whatever to you, but even were that to be true, that has to rank among the most minor of sins regularly committed on this message board.

I think there is usually a point to expressing agreement with something one finds fair or thoughtful. I am not the only person to do that here, and I am not the only person who does that in reply to things said by someone who they might otherwise disagree with. I'm sorry that my "style" bothers you. Again, I think you can find two posts where I was negative about someone saying something when where and how they said it, and I already explained what happened, and acknowledged the problem with that. I think you should look at why you were so prone to jump all over someone who tried to give you credit for being fair and thoughtful. How suspicious are you, and why?