Please Read

[tesco samoa]

AT you must also consider if we were all living near each other this would occur as well but in conversation.

We are friends here. Some people will take offence and leave. Some will stay. Some will not take things personally. I have been upset ( never mad ) a few times over the years. There are a few people who can really get under my skin. So i had a choice. Become friends with them to understand why they think that way or leave. I decided to become there friends. As an oppertunity to learn must never be missed. As is the oppertunity to gain a friend. I have contacted the people privately and resoved the problem before it became an issue.

You know I would rather have some one post something and have people find it offensive than people not posting anything at all or white washing everything.

As long as we keep the personal flinging down. That is all I ask for. For I like to read what people are thinking. I do not always reply. And I have written stuff and then just hit the back button instead.

But you cannot leave because your part of the core group now.

And what brings you back is the real reason we post here. SE gaming. When I take a break I skip the OT topics and just read the SE topics.

It is all the evolution of our relationships with each other.

This is a hump we need to get over as a core. Some will make it some will not. To some people this is the only place they can post what they think. That is an honour in itself.

[Cipher7071]

Good points all around, and I tend to agree. I don't come to this forum for that kind of argument. I can handle an ideological discussion, so long as it's civil. I even tried to stamp out an impending flame-war in one thread, without success.

As far as I can see, this is an English-speaking forum. But what you have to realize is many people who post here have English as a second language. Those people will often not understand the nuances and idiosyncracies of the language as spoken in other parts of the world.

Even among England, the United States, Canada, and Australia there are differences of expression that are difficult to understand from one place to another. So it stands to reason that one must be very literal in any sort of serious discussion in order not to be misundertood.

That's my two-cents worth.

[Atrocities]

Well spoken everyone.

I agree Tesco, 100%.

[President_Elect_Shang]

Those are all great points Tesco, and I am inclined to agree with you for the most part. I can’t speak for Atrocities but feel that he was implying something similar, but unspoken in his post.

One point I don’t agree with is the first line, I didn’t read that you meant it literally, but I felt that I should touch on it anyway. Since I or my family has been with the military for over a decade we have moved around a lot, Korea, Texas, Germany, France, Italy, Turkey, Luxemburg, Georgia, North Carolina, plus several deployments including my wife’s current one where the family did not tag along. It has been my experience that (regionally speaking) communities share a common theme and thus a common view on topics. I can even see it here with the Germans sharing a similar view, the Texans, etc. Of course it goes without saying that there are always exceptions to every rule.

Edited in: I guess I was preparing my post at the same time as you Atrocities, my apologies to everyone as it now reads out of order. Cipher, I know you have been hard hit for sharing your views, if I recall right I even stood with you on one fight with Ronan, my apologies if I every shot rounds down range in your direction.

[ January 09, 2004, 15:46: Message edited by: President Elect Shang ]

[Cipher7071]

No problem President Elect Shang. I came away from that topic without animosity (I wasn't referring to that one anyway). In fact, I had forgotten that particular discussion until you just mentioned it...And hey, I am occasionally wrong, you know.

[David E. Gervais]

Well, spoken Atrocities. (and I'm a very good listener, so I should know)

I really enjoy dropping by here every day, and although some of the discussions get a little heated, I would find it very hard to leave. The quality of people here is second to none and I am proud and honored to be a part of this community.

"From a common interest we discover that we are among friends, and that our passion extends beyond any single topic." We are all lurkers by nature, but as we feel more at ease within these forums, we share our thoughts, ideas and every so often our sense of humor. We are "The Good, The Bad and The Silly." I for one would not have it any other way.

Here's to diversity, humor and good freinds, Cheers!

Thanks again Atrocities for this refreshing post.

[gregebowman]

President Elect Shang, now that you bring it up, where in Texas do you live? I lived in Wichita Falls for 4 years when stationed in the Air Force, and being from Oklahoma, I lived in that area for about 24+ years. Also, I have an aunt & uncle who live in Amarillo. Just curious.