Ferguson

holyguacamole79 · November 2014

PrettyGirlLost said:

Maggie0829 said:

pinkrevenge said:

I literally have to go cry.

Overly dramatic much?

People can't even post about Christmas songs they like without it devolving into an argument about the analysis of the freaking lyrics and outrage, and everyone being offended. . . . who the fuck thought this post was going to be a good idea and who the fuck thought participating in this thread was an equally good idea?

Nopenopenopenopenope.

I started it.. And maybe I'm naive, but I thought it was / is a good discussion. I know I learned from it.

I'd like to think that we can take a few minutes out of discussing bridesmaid dresses and B-lists to talk about something that has a deeper impact.

PrettyGirlLost · November 2014

holyguacamole79 said:

PrettyGirlLost said:

Maggie0829 said:

pinkrevenge said:

I literally have to go cry.

Overly dramatic much?

People can't even post about Christmas songs they like without it devolving into an argument about the analysis of the freaking lyrics and outrage, and everyone being offended. . . . who the fuck thought this post was going to be a good idea and who the fuck thought participating in this thread was an equally good idea?

Nopenopenopenopenope.

I started it.. And maybe I'm naive, but I thought it was / is a good discussion. I know I learned from it.

I'd like to think that we can take a few minutes out of discussing bridesmaid dresses and B-lists to talk about something that has a deeper impact.

That would be great if the discussions didn't devolve into personal attacks and immaturity. . . which in my experience these very contentious topics always end up going that route when discussed via social media.

My FB timeline is living proof of it. It's sad, but it's why I don't touch shit like this online.

PrettyGirlLost · November 2014

Shit I know very few people IRL that can have a mature discussion on this topic!

holyguacamole79 · November 2014

PrettyGirlLost said:

holyguacamole79 said:

PrettyGirlLost said:

Maggie0829 said:

pinkrevenge said:

I literally have to go cry.

Overly dramatic much?

People can't even post about Christmas songs they like without it devolving into an argument about the analysis of the freaking lyrics and outrage, and everyone being offended. . . . who the fuck thought this post was going to be a good idea and who the fuck thought participating in this thread was an equally good idea?

Nopenopenopenopenope.

I started it.. And maybe I'm naive, but I thought it was / is a good discussion. I know I learned from it.

I'd like to think that we can take a few minutes out of discussing bridesmaid dresses and B-lists to talk about something that has a deeper impact.

That would be great if the discussions didn't devolve into personal attacks and immaturity. . . which in my experience these very contentious topics always end up going that route when discussed via social media.

My FB timeline is living proof of it. It's sad, but it's why I don't touch shit like this online.

Out of the 270+ comments on this thread, I'd venture to guess that less than 10% of the posts were personal attacks / immature. And I can get pretty sensitive about shit said on the Internet

kat1114 · November 2014

holyguacamole79 said:
I started it.. And maybe I'm naive, but I thought it was / is a good discussion. I know I learned from it.

I'd like to think that we can take a few minutes out of discussing bridesmaid dresses and B-lists to talk about something that has a deeper impact.

That would be great if the discussions didn't devolve into personal attacks and immaturity. . . which in my experience these very contentious topics always end up going that route when discussed via social media.

My FB timeline is living proof of it. It's sad, but it's why I don't touch shit like this online.

Out of the 270+ comments on this thread, I'd venture to guess that less than 10% of the posts were personal attacks / immature. And I can get pretty sensitive about shit said on the Internet

I agree. For the most part, I feel like my fellow Knotties (and hopefully myself) were civil, especially considering how discussions on these topics usually devolve on social media. Sure, things got heated, but heated doesn't necessarily equate to disrespectful.

SBmini · November 2014

From where I started to to take part in this conversation- I've seen zero arguments, just thoughtful debate. Just a bunch of ladies politely discussing what happened and sharing their views, with a few emotionally charged moments. I get that politics and debate isn't for everyone, but you don't have to take part in the thread if it isn't your cup of tea.

holyguacamole79 · November 2014

FWIW, I started this because I know this is a very diverse group of women with views that mostly differ from my own. I didn't want to stay in my sheltered bubble on this one - I wanted to hear what other people think.

PrettyGirlLost · November 2014

SBmini said:

From where I started to to take part in this conversation- I've seen zero arguments, just thoughtful debate. Just a bunch of ladies politely discussing what happened and sharing their views, with a few emotionally charged moments. I get that politics and debate isn't for everyone, but you don't have to take part in the thread if it isn't your cup of tea.

Yep, and I'm not.

I must have seen only the emotionally charged shit when I stopped into the thread.

ETA: I love having these types of discussions, but not on social media.

sarahufl · November 2014

holyguacamole79 said:

PrettyGirlLost said:

holyguacamole79 said:

PrettyGirlLost said:

Maggie0829 said:

pinkrevenge said:

I literally have to go cry.

Overly dramatic much?

People can't even post about Christmas songs they like without it devolving into an argument about the analysis of the freaking lyrics and outrage, and everyone being offended. . . . who the fuck thought this post was going to be a good idea and who the fuck thought participating in this thread was an equally good idea?

Nopenopenopenopenope.

I started it.. And maybe I'm naive, but I thought it was / is a good discussion. I know I learned from it.

I'd like to think that we can take a few minutes out of discussing bridesmaid dresses and B-lists to talk about something that has a deeper impact.

That would be great if the discussions didn't devolve into personal attacks and immaturity. . . which in my experience these very contentious topics always end up going that route when discussed via social media.

My FB timeline is living proof of it. It's sad, but it's why I don't touch shit like this online.

Out of the 270+ comments on this thread, I'd venture to guess that less than 10% of the posts were personal attacks / immature. And I can get pretty sensitive about shit said on the Internet

***BOXES***

As one of the fairly dissenting opinions, I think this was a great conversation. We are intelligent women from different backgrounds. RSVP cards and flowers can only stay so interesting.

I like seeing where different people come from and how they see the world.

ashley8918 · November 2014

Sugargirl1019 said:

I realized the discussion tottaalllyyy changed but bear with me for this random throwback off topic piece.
"Noone is being targeted because of how they grew up. I grew up in a mostly white town. But I take the time to read and talk to people and understand that other people don't grow up with the same benefits I did. I am not saying I am perfect or have totalll (an ave tquesion how we grew up and how it effects our world mador shooting and killing a white teenager who was armed with a screwdriver and threatening to kill his mom in a hostage situation. No two crimes are directly comparable but we have to at least start asking questions- why the two different outcomes? What does it mean for our society?

Privilege is a great thing to have. Serious, not sarcastic. But its like being born rich. You need to recognize you are rich. It doesn't mean you have to give away all your money, it means you have to be able to look around you and realize "hey, I realize other people weren't born rich. I got a headstart on a lot of things." And then when you see tangible ways you can help, you do that.“
----------------------
So, I discovered some missed posts a ways back and wanted to thank southernbelle, QueerFemme, and a few others for addressing how white privilege can, or really, cannot be corrected. This has made me realize why some of you are being rude about me showing "white privilege". If I understand correctly, I have been giving off the impression that I don't know that I am better off than others and that I do not see any trouble with the black citizens of Ferguson "bettering their life". I am sorry to have made you guys think that is what I think.
I am also sorry for being so,.. Argumentative about my idea. I was made to feel that you guys were saying it is impossible for the blacks to want to do anything like that, or it is impossible for them to better their lives. I was angry wondering why you were putting down a whole race and giving up on them and not hoping that there would be a way to change things for them! I kept thinking, it's not impossible for them! There is always hope! Because i thunk thus way, there is hope for them! I will try to help! If that thought is what makes you angry and disgusted at me, then I will say I will never change that. I do know that I am privileged. I have been pondering since last night what it could take to help blacks overcome the racism and also how to help them better their community (like applying to the police force at some point). I understand that as of right now, that appears to be impossible due to perception from both races. And a lot of you think that is a useless, pointless thing to happen because you don't think it could happen or change things. I am always hoping and thinking of ways people, if not me, could help provide and make transitions in society easier. I wish i could personally go there and talk to people and discover more things. When my patients remark about the news that those citizens blah blah something negative, I remind them that it is such a sad situation that these people feel so oppressed that the only thing they can think of now is rioting to draw attention to the inequality, and that we must not judge them for their actions. I have never agreed with the negative remarks made from my patients. So, I hope I can change your opinion of me because I'm just always hoping, always thinking of ways to better the situation without accepting what has happened. I am totally the embodiment of white privilege in a privileged bubble, but I hope I'm acting in a positive way with white privilege and not just completely ignoring what I have and others so severely lack. I do not believe in the word impossible. Change is always on my mind.

Can we stop calling people "the blacks"? It's derogatory and dehumanizing. They are people (black people, african american people, people of color, whatever).

abbyj700 · November 2014

Maggie0829 said: abbyj700 said: SBmini said: abbyj700 said: SBmini said: kat1114 said:
Can't speak to where QueerFemme is getting her definitions, but I posted this a few pages back and found it helpful regrading the definitions: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/07/15/884649/-Why-there-s-no-such-thing-as-Reverse-Racism#
An opinion piece by a liberal blog is hardly definitive proof of the theory that you cannot have reverse racism. Racism is simply the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races. I believe as a society we throw around the word racism a lot when what we mean is discrimination or prejudice.
None of us know what is in the hearts and minds of those involved her. Was Wilson being racist? Was he being prejudice? Or was he simply looking for a suspect and Brown fit the description? Was Brown being racist when he assaulted Wilson? Was he being prejudice? Was he angry at continuing to be stopped... or was he angry because he didn't want to be caught. What about the rioters? I don't know, you don't know. Only they know what their intentions are. Frankly- I think most of them are just opportunists taking advantage of a volatile situation to cause mayhem.
Upon reading some of the evidence presented, I do believe that there was reasonable doubt that Wilson's motives were racially charged- or even inappropriate use of force. I, nor has anyone else in this thread, read the thousand pages of evidence that was released with the verdict, however. So none of us know as much as the grand jury knows and none of us, jury included, knows what was going on inside the minds of Wilson or Brown. So forgive me, but I feel it's a little arrogant for anyone to think they know more than the jury did, or that they would have come to a different conclusion after being given all the information. And that would be great if this were about one kid, one police officer, your decisions and one case. But it's not. It's about a social unjustice that haunts millions of black Americans. It costs some people their lives, or the lives of their family. It's about an epidemic amongst the police force and minorities. Millions of Americans - both black and white are standing up against this and saying enough is enough. It's not just about reading CNN about the Michael Brown case and deciding your the authority. You think these millions of Americans who are standing in anger against this decision are just all completely uninformed? Or do you think racsim is alive and well in this nation - and our police force struggles with it just like any other profession - except their job allows their issues to end up deadly? Let me clarify something for you here: the grand jury was only deciding one case, between one teen and one police officer. It was not the grand jury's job to rule on race relations as a whole or police actions as a whole. That is a debate far outside of their scope and it something that we as a nation will unfortunately struggle with for many years to come.
There are a vast array of social, economic and physiological factors that created the situation in Ferguson. It is not a simply problem with a simple solution. Having police carry cameras will not solve it (although I think it is a great idea). And convicting one police officer in one shooting will not solve it. We need to do WAY more. We need to help more people get out of poverty and break the revolving door of incarceration. We need to give people better opportunities through improved education and support. We need to rewrite the current narrative so when a police officer stops to question a young man- it is so obvious that he is doing so because he has a question, not because of the young man's race. And the young man is happy to cooperate because he hasn't faced discrimination and stereotyping by the police and others all his life to lead to anger and mistrust.
No indictment would even come close to solving those injustices. It has helped to continue a conversation, but again- this problem goes way beyond simply perceived/real racism by police officers.Even if we fix that portion of it- there will be a lot more work left to do.

Yes. And the people aren't just mad about that one case. It may have been the straw that broke the camels back - but it isn't just this case that people are upset about. It isn't just this family that we mourn and fight for. It's all the families, all the cases, all the missed opportunities to change the conversation, to update laws, to save us from these social injustices.
And you're right - one indictment wouldn't have fixed it all. But one indictment would help the conversation. One indictment could have caused a change in laws. Perhaps the shooting of the man in NYC will help to fix the huge issues in the NYPD? One can only hope. It's sad to me that oppression continues and justice can't be served. So should the grand jury have indicted the officer just so that it would help things to change, even if the evidence presented pointed to him not being indicted?
I understand that things need to change, but someone should not be indicted on charges just to help elicit those changes. _________________________________________________________________
Look up statistics on indictments. In 2009 162,000 cases in the US were taken to the grand jury with hopes of indictment. Wanna know how many people weren't indicted? ELEVEN. And these statistics speak nothing to police - as they are often never even taken to the grand jury to begin with. They are given a free pass.

And I get it - most police officers are awesome. They protect and serve. They put their lives on the line. But police officers are not gods. They are just people - like you and me. Some are bigots and some have mental illnesses, some beat their wives and some are suicidal. Wouldn't you rather they get help? Wouldn't you rather the good cops out there don't have to stand next to the bad and hope they have their backs? How many more dead innocents without indictments do we need before a change is made?

Just in the past week, to name a few-

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/los-angeles-police-admit-accidentally-killing-tosh-0-production-assistant/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/21/akai-gurley-nypd-shooting-dead_n_6199428.html

Edited for damn boxes!

FiancB · November 2014

Whenever something like this comes up, I end up being really shocked at how dumb a lot of people in my circle are. Damn. Not referring to TK but facebook and stuff.

lilacck28 · November 2014

Most people on my facebook wall are saying and thinking the same things I would. I do occassionally see comments/ arguments made on walls of friends of friends that really sadden/ sicken me. Part of me thinks, man, I have an awesome circle. I keep good company. But then the other part of me thinks, I don't have to argue with anyone... maybe my brain is atrophying and Maybe I need a more politically diverse group of friends (i.e. get some conservative buddies)...

FiancB said:

Whenever something like this comes up, I end up being really shocked at how dumb a lot of people in my circle are. Damn. Not referring to TK but facebook and stuff.

ashley8918 · November 2014

FiancB said:

Whenever something like this comes up, I end up being really shocked at how dumb a lot of people in my circle are. Damn. Not referring to TK but facebook and stuff.

This. I have unfriended SO MANY people in the past 48 hours.

QueerFemme · November 2014

ashley8918 said:

FiancB said:

Whenever something like this comes up, I end up being really shocked at how dumb a lot of people in my circle are. Damn. Not referring to TK but facebook and stuff.

This. I have unfriended SO MANY people in the past 48 hours.

Me too. I put a blanket statement out on my facebook that if ANYONE on my FB even remotely agrees with the decision not to indict, they should just delete their asses offa my page. My patience is gone.

AlexisA01 · November 2014

QueerFemme said:

sarawifenow said:

QueerFemme said:

sarawifenow said:

I also have the very unpopular opinion in this case. I won't go into it.

I agree with @sarahufl--the fact that Michael Brown lost his life that day is tragic. Loss of life is always a tragedy IMO.

I grew up in a community where I, a white person, was the minority and have been on the opposite end of racism. It is a terrible feeling and I hate racism across the board.

My family is a family of law enforcement. DH is in law enforcement. The outpouring of "cop hate" has been making me really sick to my stomach over the last several months. I can't even go onto my facebook this morning because it is just flooded. I think people have the right to be angry. I do not think people have the right to loot and hurt their community. All this hate (across all spectrums) really gets to me and hurts my heart.

Ok, that is all I am going to say about this.

You have never, ever, ever, ever, been on the opposite end of racism. You may have been on the end of prejudiced and judgement, but racism exists within a power structure. If you are white, you own the power structure. There is no such thing as reverse racism. It does not exist.

Do not tell me what I have and have not experienced. You have no idea and it is inappropriate. That would be like you telling me what you have experienced FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE and then me telling you that you have never, ever *insert unnecessary use of "ever" to prove a point* experienced it.

ETA:
Here is the definition of racism:
rac·ism
ˈrāˌsizəm/
noun
noun: racism
the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.
prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior.
"a program to combat racism"
synonyms: racial discrimination, racialism, racial prejudice, xenophobia, chauvinism, bigotry, casteism
"Aborigines are the main victims of racism in Australia"

This isn't an issue from my perspective. It's fact. Racism in the UNITED STATES (and most other countries) is perpetrated against people of color. White people have the power. People of color don't. Racism is the perpetuation of power and domination. Living in a mostly black community as a white person did not cause you to not be able to get a job, or housing, or get profiled by police, or having a child that you knew might end up dead at the hands of police. Having white privilege means being able to walk away from "racism" whenever you feel like it.

Being in a black community, you may have stood out like a sore thumb, and maybe people didn't like you, but you were not systematically oppressed. You can claim reverse racism all you want, it doesn't make it true.

^^^ This!

SBmini · November 2014

QueerFemme said:Me too. I put a blanket statement out on my facebook that if ANYONE on my FB even remotely agrees with the decision not to indict, they should just delete their asses offa my page. My patience is gone.

You would lose friends over a difference of opinion like this?

holyguacamole79 · November 2014

SBmini said:

QueerFemme said:Me too. I put a blanket statement out on my facebook that if ANYONE on my FB even remotely agrees with the decision not to indict, they should just delete their asses offa my page. My patience is gone.

You would lose friends over a difference of opinion like this?
----------
I have. Not for Ferguson, but for another friend who made racist comments and did not apologize.

AlexisA01 · November 2014

holyguacamole79 said:

QueerFemme said:Me too. I put a blanket statement out on my facebook that if ANYONE on my FB even remotely agrees with the decision not to indict, they should just delete their asses offa my page. My patience is gone.

You would lose friends over a difference of opinion like this?
---------- I have. Not for Ferguson, but for another friend who made racist comments and did not apologize.

I have noticed many people on my facebook and on twitter call Michael Brown an N and how N that "are thugs deserved to be gunned down by a cop doing his job. People need to quite allowing these N be in with those who are civilized because they are going to fall by bullets..." <-- That is one of the statuses. The rest are filled with comments about how many "gorilla Ns need to stop pulling the race card." Many of the people who are commenting are family friends and some are high professionals. I haven't blocked and unfriend a person faster before in my life.

SBmini · November 2014

holyguacamole79 said:

QueerFemme said:Me too. I put a blanket statement out on my facebook that if ANYONE on my FB even remotely agrees with the decision not to indict, they should just delete their asses offa my page. My patience is gone.

You would lose friends over a difference of opinion like this?
---------- I have. Not for Ferguson, but for another friend who made racist comments and did not apologize.

It depends on what they are doing. If they are saying ignorant, racists things that's one thing. But if they simply think that the Grand Jury was right, then I think that a blocking people out for having a different opinion closes your world to other viewpoints. You create an echo chamber. And echo chambers lead to ignorance.

[Deleted User] · November 2014

sarawifenow · November 2014

SBmini said:

holyguacamole79 said:

QueerFemme said:Me too. I put a blanket statement out on my facebook that if ANYONE on my FB even remotely agrees with the decision not to indict, they should just delete their asses offa my page. My patience is gone.

You would lose friends over a difference of opinion like this?
---------- I have. Not for Ferguson, but for another friend who made racist comments and did not apologize.

It depends on what they are doing. If they are saying ignorant, racists things that's one thing. But if they simply think that the Grand Jury was right, then I think that a blocking people out for having a different opinion closes your world to other viewpoints. You create an echo chamber. And echo chambers lead to ignorance.

I completely agree with this. Deleting friends who are racist is one thing, but getting rid of friends because they don't just smile and nod along with your opinion is a very different thing. I would not want a group of friends who all thinks the same way.

sarawifenow · November 2014

AlexisA01 said:

QueerFemme said:

sarawifenow said:

QueerFemme said:

sarawifenow said:

I also have the very unpopular opinion in this case. I won't go into it.

I agree with @sarahufl--the fact that Michael Brown lost his life that day is tragic. Loss of life is always a tragedy IMO.

I grew up in a community where I, a white person, was the minority and have been on the opposite end of racism. It is a terrible feeling and I hate racism across the board.

My family is a family of law enforcement. DH is in law enforcement. The outpouring of "cop hate" has been making me really sick to my stomach over the last several months. I can't even go onto my facebook this morning because it is just flooded. I think people have the right to be angry. I do not think people have the right to loot and hurt their community. All this hate (across all spectrums) really gets to me and hurts my heart.

Ok, that is all I am going to say about this.

You have never, ever, ever, ever, been on the opposite end of racism. You may have been on the end of prejudiced and judgement, but racism exists within a power structure. If you are white, you own the power structure. There is no such thing as reverse racism. It does not exist.

Do not tell me what I have and have not experienced. You have no idea and it is inappropriate. That would be like you telling me what you have experienced FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE and then me telling you that you have never, ever *insert unnecessary use of "ever" to prove a point* experienced it.

ETA:
Here is the definition of racism:
rac·ism
ˈrāˌsizəm/
noun
noun: racism
the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.
prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior.
"a program to combat racism"
synonyms: racial discrimination, racialism, racial prejudice, xenophobia, chauvinism, bigotry, casteism
"Aborigines are the main victims of racism in Australia"

This isn't an issue from my perspective. It's fact. Racism in the UNITED STATES (and most other countries) is perpetrated against people of color. White people have the power. People of color don't. Racism is the perpetuation of power and domination. Living in a mostly black community as a white person did not cause you to not be able to get a job, or housing, or get profiled by police, or having a child that you knew might end up dead at the hands of police. Having white privilege means being able to walk away from "racism" whenever you feel like it.

Being in a black community, you may have stood out like a sore thumb, and maybe people didn't like you, but you were not systematically oppressed. You can claim reverse racism all you want, it doesn't make it true.

^^^ This!

No. Not this. I still think that saying only white people can be racist is a racist comment. I am not going to back down from this opinion.

holyguacamole79 · November 2014

SBmini said:

holyguacamole79 said:

QueerFemme said:Me too. I put a blanket statement out on my facebook that if ANYONE on my FB even remotely agrees with the decision not to indict, they should just delete their asses offa my page. My patience is gone.

You would lose friends over a difference of opinion like this?
---------- I have. Not for Ferguson, but for another friend who made racist comments and did not apologize.

It depends on what they are doing. If they are saying ignorant, racists things that's one thing. But if they simply think that the Grand Jury was right, then I think that a blocking people out for having a different opinion closes your world to other viewpoints. You create an echo chamber. And echo chambers lead to ignorance.

I had a friend go on a rant on 9/11 claiming that Islam is a cancer that must be destroyed. I tried to rationalize with her and it did no good. I was so disgusted that I could not continue to associate with her.

sarawifenow · November 2014

holyguacamole79 said:

SBmini said:

holyguacamole79 said:

QueerFemme said:Me too. I put a blanket statement out on my facebook that if ANYONE on my FB even remotely agrees with the decision not to indict, they should just delete their asses offa my page. My patience is gone.

You would lose friends over a difference of opinion like this?
---------- I have. Not for Ferguson, but for another friend who made racist comments and did not apologize.

It depends on what they are doing. If they are saying ignorant, racists things that's one thing. But if they simply think that the Grand Jury was right, then I think that a blocking people out for having a different opinion closes your world to other viewpoints. You create an echo chamber. And echo chambers lead to ignorance.

---- I had a friend go on a rant on 9/11 claiming that Islam is a cancer that must be destroyed. I tried to rationalize with her and it did no good. I was so disgusted that I could not continue to associate with her.

Again this is something different than just getting rid of people because they don't share your opinion. I 10000000000% agree that you should have ended that friendship because what she was saying was horrible.

abbyj700 · November 2014

FiancB said:

Whenever something like this comes up, I end up being really shocked at how dumb a lot of people in my circle are. Damn. Not referring to TK but facebook and stuff.

SBmini said:

QueerFemme said:Me too. I put a blanket statement out on my facebook that if ANYONE on my FB even remotely agrees with the decision not to indict, they should just delete their asses offa my page. My patience is gone.

You would lose friends over a difference of opinion like this?

You're truly friends with all of the people on your facebook?

I've unfriended clearly racist and bigoted people on my facebook page all week. Mostly acquaintances that I throw darts with or small minded idiots I went to high school with. Unfriending some racist I haven't seen in 10 years isn't "losing a friend".

ashley8918 · November 2014

abbyj700 said:

FiancB said:

Whenever something like this comes up, I end up being really shocked at how dumb a lot of people in my circle are. Damn. Not referring to TK but facebook and stuff.

SBmini said:

QueerFemme said:Me too. I put a blanket statement out on my facebook that if ANYONE on my FB even remotely agrees with the decision not to indict, they should just delete their asses offa my page. My patience is gone.

You would lose friends over a difference of opinion like this?

You're truly friends with all of the people on your facebook?

I've unfriended clearly racist and bigoted people on my facebook page all week. Mostly acquaintances that I throw darts with or small minded idiots I went to high school with. Unfriending some racist I haven't seen in 10 years isn't "losing a friend".

Exactly. Racism isn't a "difference of opinion".

sarawifenow · November 2014

ashley8918 said:

abbyj700 said:

FiancB said:

Whenever something like this comes up, I end up being really shocked at how dumb a lot of people in my circle are. Damn. Not referring to TK but facebook and stuff.

SBmini said:

QueerFemme said:Me too. I put a blanket statement out on my facebook that if ANYONE on my FB even remotely agrees with the decision not to indict, they should just delete their asses offa my page. My patience is gone.

You would lose friends over a difference of opinion like this?

You're truly friends with all of the people on your facebook?

I've unfriended clearly racist and bigoted people on my facebook page all week. Mostly acquaintances that I throw darts with or small minded idiots I went to high school with. Unfriending some racist I haven't seen in 10 years isn't "losing a friend".

Exactly. Racism isn't a "difference of opinion".

I completely agree that racism is not a difference of opinion. I bolded what I was questioning. In this case, friends were "lost" because they agreed with the jury's decision. Agreeing with the jury's decision to not indict does not a racist make.

VulgarGirl · November 2014

I deleted 3 people from FB because they posted they "support traditional marriage". They probably aren't homophobic dickbags but I wasn't gonna wait around to find out. They weren't people I really hung out with in real life and only one of then ever asked about being unfriended.

And I've blocked someone who posts a lot of prolife stuff. In real life we hang out and have fun together. But online? I just don't want to see it. Abortion rarely comes up in our real lives together.

I'm mostly just reading along with this thread. Just wanted to give my own anecdotal Facebook stories.

SBmini · November 2014

This is an excellent read about what can happen when you do associate with people who have extremely different opinions than you do. Meet Daryl Davis, the African American man who befriended several high up members in the KKK. After DECADES of friendship, three high ranking clansmen retired, and gave him their robes because they realized that they could not continue to believe what they believed because of Daryl. 20 people in total left the klan as a result of meeting him.

He single handedly took down the KKK in Maryland not through anger or violence or anger and isolation, but through friendship: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2512411/When-enemies-talking-theyre-fighting-Meet-man-career-befriending-members-KKK.html

I'm not saying all of us need to do this, but when I see people post about pro-life this or traditional marriage that, I tend to ignore it or just offer a thoughtful comment on the other side. Not to start an argument, but just to leave them with something to think about. In time, perhaps, they'll see things differently. But no one will have an opportunity to learn and grow if we only engage with people who share the same world views as our own.

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