Woe is me

Seems the concept of educating yourself isn't allowed on my vestibulopathy chat list. After I posted the refutation, this appeared from the guy who owns the server the list lives on. He's not the moderator or the list owner, but sort of keeps it up and running.

Anyway...

Right Wing List Maintenance Man wrote:
> I asked that politics not be discussed on this forum. Lorri, if you continue
> finding it necessary to ignore this request, I'll shut the forum down.

I was initially upset because of his singling me out, when I've never been the one to start these discussions. My role has only been to respond back with the other side. Here's what I originally wrote, intending to send it privately, because I don't believe in embarrassing people in public unless they really deserve it...

Right Wing Maintenance Man, I find it extremely unfair that you single me out as the precipitator of the political blathering. I have *never* been guilty of starting it -- all I've ever done is present the other side so there is a fair and balanced presentation of any political discussion.

I didn't post the original list of lies -- Health Reform Idiot did. Where's your threat to Health Reform Idiot? I didn't try to put a political spin on a couple of sci-fi movies -- you did. All I did in the case of the list was refute the points one by one, straight from the original bill. All I did in the case of the movies was (1) post the two movies Stupid KY Cow was conflating and (2) ask that one of them not be politicized after your snarky "government-run" comment regarding "Soylent Green".

(Ed. This woman had gotten "Soylent Green" and "Logan's Run" mixed together. I straightened them out, and RWMM felt it was necessary to point out that the suicide clinics in SG were government run, noting that "Lorri neglected to mention" this overwhelmingly important point...)

Seems to me that if politics is off-limits, then it should be off-limits to ANYONE who posts about it, especially if it's a clearly partisan post. Most especially if all the post does is spread lies, hysteria, and fear.

Personally I would LOVE it if people would never ever post a political or religious post. Both are supposed to be off-limits, but they seem to be allowed as long as they conform with YOUR views. Let someone disagree and all of a sudden they're being disruptive and you jump all over them.

I await seeing a personal spanking directed at Health Care Idiot, Loudmouth, and everyone else who has trespassed by posting initial posts. Or do you only spank those whose political views differ from yours?

I figured I should send this to a couple of my liberal buddies on the list to make sure it isn't over the top. Here's what I actually posted on the list (haven't heard back regarding this private email yet):

Gary, you know it's not just me. It's not fair to single me out. I don't and won't discuss it as long as everyone else plays by the same rules.

So there it is. I may end up finding my butt kicked off the vestibulopathy chat list. Oh well, it's better for my blood pressure if I don't see all the stupidity that's sure to start raging there. I think it's a shame though that people can't stand to hear a dissenting voice. It's like a mini-town hall meeting.

I really thought better of the people on this list. Guess it just goes to show that, just because we share a disability, it doesn't suddenly make us more tolerant.

Last Word from Right Wing Maintenance Man

Remember this?

Here's his response to my tiny little protest on the list. He sent it private; guess he didn't want anyone seeing just how unfair he is...

Yes I know it's not just you. There's an old saying that a person brings two buckets to a fire. One with water and one with gasoline. You chose which to throw on the fire.

On the occasion that someone posts a politically oriented message, if I
catch it, I'll respond asking the group not to discuss politics. You should
note that since the election, I've kept my political opinions to myself.
Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a conservative and that I have strong
opinions about current events. Respecting the diversity of the group
however, I choose not to air them on the list-serve.

You on the other hand, have taken such occasions under the guise of
"truth-telling" as an opportunity to espouse liberal democratic
talking-points. If you were less interested in your own agenda and more
interested in the well-being of this group, instead of getting in the last
word, you'd respond (as I do) asking the other parties not to post
politically oriented messages.

As I usually work seven days a week, I don't have time to research and
prepare counter-points to your "truth-telling". Additionally, since correct
that you're not the only one posting politically oriented messages, I can't
in fairness just kick you off the list. That makes the logical recourse to
shut down the list-serve.

If you want to "play by the rules", when someone posts an inappropriate
message, please leave your soap-box at home and either remind them of the
rules or contact me so that I can remind them of the rules. Though I agree
with practically nothing you've posted, I have at least tried to be fair
with you. After the original post, you responded with links for further
reading. After that, I posted a message asking that politics not be
discussed. You in turn, could not leave the matter alone and felt it
necessary to post another message making your political arguments. That's
when I decided I've had enough.

Remember, all I said was

Gary, you know it's not just me. It's not fair to single me out. I don't and won't discuss it as long as everyone else plays by the same rules.

So I'm going to do exactly what he suggested. Anytime anything remotely religious or political is posted, I'll have a canned response to post and CC: it to him. Hope he enjoys it. Wonder if he'll jump down the throat of his right wingnut cronies as far as he jumped down mine...

This is it:

Please remember that religious and/or political topics are off limits on this list. Please do not post or reply to these sorts of topics.

Thank you.