Should Anyone Join the Military

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scan · #31 Unread post by **scan** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 4:24 am

Yeah, once again, this is the soapbox and is designed so everyone can talk about non-bike stuff. Sure this is a bike site, which means anyone in the soapbox should be a biker or a fan of bikes, but other than that, religion, politics, sex, cooking, and many other topics are fair play.

But the site is suppose to be friendly, helpful, and useful. This is the mandate of the owner of the site. We as moderators try to uphold that standard as best we can.

With that in mind, if you can't express your opinion without violent ideas, or hints of violents, or threats, it really is best to stay out of here. Someone from another country has a right to comment on our country, and he said nothing that hinted a threat. Just an opinion. You are welcome to tell him you don't agree, but you are not welcome to suggest you'd like to take a tire iron to him.

Thanks,
scan

badinfluence63 · Tue Nov 06, 2007 4:46 am

scan,

That is my opinion. An opinion is how a person feels. I don't feel a person from another country should slander anothers country, albeit politely. Thats not friendly, helpful or useful just because its polite. It should not be allowed. Me wanting to smack him with a tire iron might be a little over the edge, how about paddle his hind end with a switch..thats my opinion which doesn't happen to be as polite as it is honest.

To hear you express it, apparently an opinion can only count here if it falls within the parameters of your criteria? My opinion is that violence is a tool of the ignorant and every now and then it needs to be shown for the useful tool that it is. Thats my opinion. While you may not agree with it, its still my opinion.

I noticed you're a bit of a nancy yourself. I saw you lock a thread for no good reason really. Probably cause you could,eh. You seem to over step your boundries as a MOD. Whats up with that? What is the criteria for locking a thread? Getting slightly highjacked and taken off topic a bit? Thats a little harsh. Doesn't the admin have to aprove it first? I thought it was a pretty good thread despite one poster getting upset over nothing. Your locking the thread seemed a little heavy handed don't you think? Sends a bad message. Your're not one of those bully type MOD's are you? Are there any posted TMW forum eitiquet rules that I failed to notice and read.

If so please point me in their direction.

This is just my opinion, you don't have to agree with it.

jonnythan · Tue Nov 06, 2007 5:07 am

"Slander" doesn't mean what you think it means.

Everyone has the right to express any opinion they want. Being a veteran, you fought for the right for anyone to express any opinion, even a distasteful one. After all, opinions that people want to hear don't need protecting - the ones that are unpopular and distasteful are the ones that need protecting.

Calling someone names, though, especially a moderator of this board, is a little excessive on this board though. Direct personal insults are pretty pathetic.

badinfluence63 · Tue Nov 06, 2007 5:15 am

jonnythan,

Everyone has the right to express any opinion they want. Being a veteran, you fought for the right for anyone to express any opinion, even a distasteful one. After all, opinions that people want to hear don't need protecting - the ones that are unpopular and distasteful are the ones that need protecting

Including my opinion. This category smacks of not necessarily being a place for someones opinion, only of the opinion you and others like you think are acceptable opinions.

While what I say rubs you the wrong way it is my opinion. And "unpopular and distasteful are the ones that need protecting" accept not mine huh.

jonnythan · Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:27 am

badinfluence63 wrote:jonnythan,

Everyone has the right to express any opinion they want. Being a veteran, you fought for the right for anyone to express any opinion, even a distasteful one. After all, opinions that people want to hear don't need protecting - the ones that are unpopular and distasteful are the ones that need protecting
Including my opinion. This category smacks of not necessarily being a place for someones opinion, only of the opinion you and others like you think are acceptable opinions.

While what I say rubs you the wrong way it is my opinion. And "unpopular and distasteful are the ones that need protecting" accept not mine huh.

I will support your right to express any opinion you like in public.

This is not public, though. This is a private space. And if the owners of this private space don't like violent or insulting opinions, they are free to boot you out.

badinfluence63 · Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:47 am

Funny how you keep changing the rules of engagement to fit your opinion. I feel like I am having a battle of wits with an unarmed oponent.

While the rest of this web site is awsome this soapbox category is a can of worms. Have an opinion but but but as long as its what? Sometimes an opinion is one of anger. It happens. While politics and religeon may not be off limits they are highly inflamatory and anger comes with the territory. Especially when some arse bag from another country thinks he has a handle on someone elses country and then the person from that country thats being slammed takes offense. Not surpised, disapointed yes to see fellow Americans take up for some foreign slag railing against our country about stuff he hasn't the slightest idea. But let one American stand dowen and oh hell he is a bad guy.

Yeah okay,sure. I'm not a robot, programmed to be PC. Too bad patriotism is not considered acceptable. It would be nice to see the draft and have you and scan get "enrolled". That would be the best! It would make men out of you and even teach you how to fold your underwear and socks.

And perhaps you would learn to appreciate your country and the men/woman who have died to protect your right to be ignorant and extremely misguided.

scan · #37 Unread post by **scan** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:29 am

First, you don't know anything about me, really, or my system of beliefs. If you'd like to know, I welcome you to ask me questions, but don't paint me with your broad brush.

Mike LePard is the owner of this website and he has entrusted myself and several others to watch over the site. His user name is totalmotorcycle, and you are welcome to complain about me to him. I grant you, we may not always act in agreement with everyone on what we decide to do as moderators. I don't lock threads because I think it is fun. I don't lock threads to show I'm the boss. I lock thread to try to keep it peaceful around here. That was the directive I was given by the boss. I try to keep the keel even, as best I can. I am human, and may lean towards my own opinion from time to time.

Look around, and you will notice that on locked thread there is usually periods of time given for things to run their course. We have not been given an amount of time to allow that, but we make a judgment. The way this specific conversation has run, it is a good one for a lock-down, but I'll let it ride, and maybe we can return to civil discourse.

The opinion that violence or insults are simply a way of expressing your opinion IS allowed, but when you come off as an angry guy, who simply wants to flex you muscle by acting threatening, and saying nasty and insulting things, you WILL be censored. Is that free speech? Nope. It is a privately owned webboard that has members who like coming here and mostly enjoy each other. We even like to argue sometimes. You will see arguments that ended peacefully, and some that just ended to stop the fighting.

I have been a member of this board for almost 5 years. There are many other who have also been here a long time. We welcome anyone to join and be a part. We expect a friendly and helpful slant. Insulting attitudes towards a person or threats (even empty) will certainly lead towards being shunned from this community, and eventual banning. That is the way it is.

Just so you know, you may not have seen it, but I have a brother-in-law in Afghanistan in the Army. I respect what he is doing, and respect what all the men of the military do. They carry out with honor and valor what they have pledged to do. I respect you for your service to this country as well. I also understand what makes people mad about guys having to die for a cause that is unclear at best. It is clear that the leader of Iraq was a crook. It is clear those terrorists are criminals of the world that need to be stopped. What is not clear is if we know what we are doing, and if we are actually making this situation better. I pray for my brother-in-law. I thank God we have men who are willing to sacrifice for our freedom, but I'm not sure they are fighting for my freedom right now. They are fighting for someone else's freedom, and I'm not sure they want it. AND it may make our world more unsafe having them fighting for freedom right there. Opinion. Notice I'm not calling you names or wishing I could smack you in the head to get it through to you.

Finally, if there was a draft, I'm too old to go, but be assured, if there was a draft I would step up and do my part. I will serve this country proudly however I can. I'm 42 years old, and I know you are older, but I'm not some punk you need to talk down to. Again, I won't attack you verbally or physically, but I ask you to please stop attacking in that manner. Can't you state your ideas without being verbally violent?

To end on a friendly note, and relating to your motorcycle background, I sure did enjoy your take on choppers. I hope we can have you as a part of this community. It sounds like you might have a lot of biker experience to share.

#38 Unread post by **sv-wolf** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:14 am

badinfluence63 wrote: I didn't say anything negative about England

Hiya badinfluence

Frankly, I wouldn't care if you did. I'm not a patriot. I'm not a nationalist either. I gather from what you say that you are. I don't have any time for patriotism, which I regard as a totally idiotic point of view, but as I'm a democrat and a realist I'll shuffle along with anyone. What matters to me more than patriotic posturing is the immense amount of human suffering that the invasion of Iraq has caused. And it's pretty clear to me, too, that the responsibility for it lies in commercial interests, predominantly American but European also.

So, you are right, I'm not a respecter of other people's 'allegiences', be they nationalistic, religious or whatever. And if I was faced with a lot of flag waving and self-congratulation on the one hand, and the lives of millions of people on the other (Iraqi, American and British), I know which I would choose, because I know which I think is the most valuable.

As you may have noticed, the British state is partnering the US state in this ongoing slaughter in Iraq, so whatever you may think, our disagreement is not a nationalistic one, at least not on my side. Any prejudices you may have about 'other nations' are entirely your own.

matthew5656 · Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:29 am

wow....

High_Side · Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:27 pm

badinfluence63 wrote: The fact it is allowed over here in America and that we speak English in America and not German or Japanese or still pay taxes to England is a testement to the American soldier. (I state that because I am pretty sure this is a Calgary based web site)

Looking out the window here in Calgary and I don't see an 'merican flag anywhere....