Not really fitting in...Anywhere, including here.

[Mae]

I have been a nerdfighter for several years, but have never really felt at home on this Ning, or in this community. Several times I have spoke up about my opinion, only to be insulted, or made to feel worthless. I am definitely a nerd, but I don't really fit in to any of the nerd categories. I love controversy, and a good, respectful, debate. However, whenever I speak up on an issue that is important to me, someone immediately jumps down my throat, generally attacking not only myself and my argument, but also my grammar. I am very highly dyslexic, and use voice recognition software, so as you can imagine, those remarks hert!
This discussion was not made with the intention of gaining sympathy, but with the intention of reminding you all to be a little nicer, kinder, and more respectful! Your words have affect, sometimes much greater than you could possibly imagine, use them with care, and don't be so quick to judge!
Does anyone else share my experience?

[Rebecca B]

I don't fit in anywhere either.
Nice to meet you. :)

[Mae]

Nice to meet you too. :)

[Kenny]

Your words have affect, sometimes much greater than you could possibly imagine, use them with care

*ahem* Fuck that.

[Leanne]

This isn't the place to be a douche, Kenny. I can understand if you like pushing buttons, but have some sort of respect and save it for someone who will appreciating bantering back. You know perfectly well that that's exactly what she's trying to avoid, and you're just being a dick. Behavior like that is what's driving people away from this site. That's what's killing the ning. Not the ningmasters, not the Harry Potter discussions. It's bullies like you. Grow a spine and stop kicking the puppies.

[Ultimate Schnitzel]

Hmm... I'm with Kenny. Everyone has the right to voice their thoughts, douche-ish and dick-ish as they might be. I think others who are easily offended just have to learn to ignore those people and deal with it.

[Leanne]

This isn't a question of rights. It's a question of tact. Telling people to fuck off when they're only asking for a friend is like putting on your steel toed boots so you can kick some puppies. He had full rights to be a dick, and I had full rights to call him out for it. Can we please stop bringing up freedom of speech whenever someone criticizes someone else?

[Ultimate Schnitzel]

Nah, I'm not talking about freedom of speech, I'm talking about how certain opinions are socially unacceptable to voice. Sure, technically it's legal, but still frowned upon. ALL opinions should be given equal opportunity, including those of the steel-toed-puppy-killers.

[Leanne]

I can't view everybody's comments with the same amount of approval, if that's what you're suggesting. I'm not tofu. I have to have some sort of opinion.

[MisterShadow]

We gave his opinion equal opportunity. We read his post. It's his fault that his argument was literally "fuck that". His attempt at being edgy was just childish and rude. If you're suggesting that I should hold his opinion in high regard, just because he said it, (which I don't think you are) then I'll go ahead and pop that bubble right now. It's not going to happen.

I don't respect Fred Phelps for the same reason that I don't respect Kenny most of the time. They both have a point, which I'm sure a lot of people actually agree with, but the lack of tact in an attempt to just make people upset and get their opinion noticed is childish and petty. If you want me to respect your opinion then make a good argument. Making a declarative statement that comes down to "I'm not going to follow that" isn't a good argument and makes me think that you can't present a good argument. Yes, you have the ability to not abide by the request made. We already knew that. The question isn't whether or not you have to, but why wouldn't you? What is the point in attacking a person instead of their opinion unless it is to try and harm them emotionally? If that's what you're after, I can't respect you.

[Kenny]

If you want me to respect your opinion then make a good argument.

As there is literally nothing in the whole entire universe, or even the whole entire multiverse, that would make me happier than having the sheer force of wonderful awesomeness that is MisterShadow respect my opinion, I shall hereby commit to change my ways and do whatever I can to earn your respect, which is by far the greatest prize a mortal could ever hope to even imagine, let alone obtain.

[MisterShadow]

Well, you're pretty damn near right on that one.

However, I was addressing a point that I saw being raised (kind of) in the exchange between US and Leanne.

[Ultimate Schnitzel]

What I was trying to say is don't be hypocrites (sorta). The original point of this thread was to promote being nice, and not shooting someone down when they voice their opinion, though it may be controversial. When Kenny said "fuck that," the response was slamming him for it, and though he was very rude, tsk tsk, just because he stated his opinion that way shouldn't elicit your hate. It's the same response that Mae talks about, but with a different trigger.