I was wrong.

Posted by Robbie53024 9 years, 10 months ago to Culture
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Last evening I submitted a comment on the thread dealing with the Mohammed cartoon contest. It was my intent to present something that those on this forum would find offensive, as a corollary to how Muslims might take the conduct and output of this "contest." In order to be offensive, I felt that I had to use offensive images and language. Upon reflection, I decided that this was more incendiary than it was worth to try to make the point and I attempted to delete the comment. Unfortunately it had already been captured by at least one other board member, and shared with several others.

I am sorry for this incident and regret that I made the posting to begin with.

For those who may have captured those words, I ask that you not repost them. Not because I cannot take the justly deserved arrows, but because there is no reason to expose others to those comments, particularly without context and intention being noted.


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    Posted by Eudaimonia 9 years, 10 months ago
    Robbie, I deal in satire, so I "get" when someone is going for a reaction.

    While I appreciate the apology, I wanted to point out that you inadvertently made the point which the Muhammad cartoon contest was trying to illustrate.

    You gored our ox.
    Some people shrugged it off.
    Some people got offended.

    But *nobody* sent a death squad to your door to shoot you in the head, or immolate you in a cage, and then rape your family in the public square before stoning them to death.

    The most you'll get from people here is an unkindly worded dismissal.

    And *that's* the point.
    Savagery, especially savagery which is perpetually offended for the sake of leverage, deserves ridicule.

    Me, personally, I've got a thick skin.
    If you want to gore my ox, go right ahead.
    Just make sure that the point you intended to make is the one that you are actually making.
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    • Posted by 9 years, 10 months ago
      Euda: I appreciate your comments. I don't think that the intent was understood, at least not by most.

      My intent was that those who advocate 1st amendment rights, often back off when as you describe, have their own "ox gored." Those who will use this passage will do so as an example of my beliefs, even though that is not the case. I merely tried to present an example of a similar case of offense. But those that find offense are often incapable of recognizing similar offense that others might find. Not citing you, specifically.
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    • Posted by 9 years, 10 months ago
      Euda: Thanks. I appreciate the comment. Thought that I'd let this settle for a while.

      It wasn't a matter of "scoring" anyone's ox, but rather an attempt to demonstrate that "free speech" while permitted isn't necessarily appropriate.

      As for the death squad, is that the standard? There have been innumerable instances were death squads haven't been sent.
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  • Posted by sdesapio 9 years, 10 months ago
    RE: "... regret that I made the posting to begin with."
    Thank you for that Robbie.

    RE: "... justly deserved arrows"
    I agree. Justly deserved.

    Robbie and I privately spoke (wrote) at length last night. It was a dumb remark and an error in judgement - and he knows it. Robbie values being part of the Gulch community.

    I am certain Robbie regrets having said it, that he understands why it was a bad move, and that - while he most certainly will continue to misinterpret Ayn Rand's ideas and "challenge" us - he will not be so dopey in the future.

    - - - - -

    EDIT: A word for clarity
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  • Posted by Zenphamy 9 years, 10 months ago
    Yes, you were wrong and disgusting, and I'm not an easy man to disgust.

    I don't buy your attempt to apologize. As you note, you feel it was 'unfortunate' that it was seen and captured and shared, and you're now 'sorry' for the 'incident'. And then in asking that I not repost the comments again, you still try to justify the comment by referring to 'context and intention'. Apparently, you still don't comprehend the disgust that slammed me when I read that comment, and recognized the thought processes that generated it.

    You are a destructive poster, with intent, on this site. You purposely detract from any discussion with your continued proselytizing and your attempts to place all of us in the box of atheism. In those instances that you're not, you're just trying to aggrandize your self with points.

    As i've already said, I'm done with you. What the rest of the site decides is up to them, but please stay away from my comments. I for one, have no interest in what you think of my comments or my philosophy.
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    • Posted by conscious1978 9 years, 10 months ago
      Agreed. I think he is "sorry" he got caught and "regrets" that he may have jeopardized his 'pulpit'. His comments consistently contain a contempt for a philosophy of reason and the attempts by others that try to engage him in a rational manner.
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  • Posted by Mamaemma 9 years, 10 months ago
    Robbie, I agree with a lot of what you say, so it drives me nuts when you fall apart and lose all reason.
    For whatever it's worth, I truly don't care about your faith, and you have a big chip on your shoulder about it. I've only been here a month, so maybe you have reasons for that chip, but I don't think so. Just wanted to let you know. By the way, I admire someone owning up to a mistake and accepting the consequences.
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    • Posted by dbhalling 9 years, 10 months ago
      Mamaemma most likely when you agree with Robbie it is coincidental, not fundamental. Robbie has been clear that he is against reason and for faith, his is against Rand and Objectivism and wants to see them destroyed. That is why he constantly loses all reason.
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      • Posted by Mamaemma 9 years, 10 months ago
        Wow, there's a big difference between losing all reason out of ignorance and doing it to be destructive. I do get the feeling that Robbie is trying to prove that he is right, and I wonder who he is trying to convince- us or himself? Cause he's not going to convince us.
        Obviously Scott must think there is more going on than destructiveness.
        I'm a newbie, still gathering facts, so I appreciate the info.
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  • Posted by richardp 9 years, 10 months ago
    I didn't see the comment and only became a member today but one great thing about the philosophy that brings us together is that your mistakes along with your successes are yours to make and live with. We all make mistakes and more often than not i'm afraid, simply leave them out there hanging. I'm excited as a new member to see this post and the comments, as it gives me hope that there are others out there that believe in an individuals right to his/her own mistakes and triumphs. Way to own up to and announce that you realize you made a mistake and are sorry for it. And to all the commenters, y'all are awesome to have accepted it as gracefully and tactfully as y'all have.
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  • Posted by $ Susanne 9 years, 10 months ago
    I find myself (surprisingly) typing out a long and potentially inflammatory diatribe (Me? Long Posts? Naaaah, couldn't be me) and then deleting it before hitting the post button - After getting whacked from a board I liked and enjoyed (many moons ago, and upon reflection, deservedly so) I learned to moderate myself before I posted.

    I do appreciate the "manning-up", apology - and the deletion - and while you and I may not agree on some things, I do appreciate your point of view on occasion.
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