Re: Oh geez..........
On another thread Paula (GS administrator GS8 ) reminded us that she spends most of her time researching and writing news stories and articles, arranging and conducting interviews, preparing the newsletter, responding to email, etc. This means that she has a right to expect that the Forum will pretty much police itself, following rules of common courtesy. As Joe says, it does not rise to the level of a First Amendment issue if we take a minute to ask ourselves,
"Gee, maybe this post that I'm about to write is going to sound nasty and mean to a lot of people. Maybe another person will feel that I have belittled his or her opinion or assaulted a value systems that he or she holds dear. Maybe I can make my point a little differently. Or maybe I should save it and post on one of those "anything goes" discussion groups instead."
I know, I know. That's no fun.
I agree with Piel that attacking other people's religion, race, ethnicity, cultural background, etc. should be totally off-limits on this board. No exceptions, no second chances. But Fetal has never spoke disparaging of any race, ethnicity, etc. -- quite the contrary. His broadside diatribes are against the underlying logic of theology and against the foolish and wicked excesses committed in the name of religion. To me, that's fair enough -- I just wish that Fetal would let it go sometimes.
About sex, I wish I could be as shock-proof as Joe. But I have to confess a tiny little sore spot. I think that young ladies who have worked hard to be positive role models for their young fans have earned the right to keep their private lives private. I do indeed cringe when people make off-color remarks about the imagined sex lives of my favorite girls. Sorry, that's just me.
But again, I have to say this. The only time I actually got mad at Fetal was once he said something of a sexual nature about Michelle. (To clean it up, it was something about how happy she looks now that she has a boyfriend.) When I objected, Fetal answered very reasonably and politely (without changing his opinion in the slightest, of course), that sex is an important part of life, and that he for one was pleased that Michelle seems to have found a romantic relationship that makes her happy. I thought that was cool.
Mathman
