What values do we share?

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Originally Posted by rkzenrage

How tolerant are we of those who are racists or anti-Semitic? That is tolerant as well... if we don't tolerate them we can't change their point of view. I know this because I have done it. They thrive on the feeling of being ostracized. I have recently seen a great deal of intolerance in this area a few times in here. Hating them just makes us what they are.

I can only speak for me, but I don't come here to battle hate-mongering nitwits. Or to gently persuade them. There's a thousand different forums out there with people who are chock full of hateful and extremist views, if I should get a hankering to walk on the weird side. It's interesting to see other points of view, but this is not so much a public street as it is a... coffee shop with no coffee... and I don't know about you, but I'd be upset if a group of neo-nazi's or gang-bangers staked out my favorite hang-out place, not because they have no right to be there, but simply because there's a time and a place to have to deal with the ninnies of human nature. The cellar is not necessarily that place for most of us, I think. (I pretty much just took Skysidhe's point and rehashed it, didn't I... )
We could almost, in fact, change the cellar's tag-line to: "The Cellar. 99% Asshole Free." (Unless you're talking about funny assholes, of course; that's different. People pay to listen to funny assholes.)

I come here to deal with intelligent, reasonable, funny people, most of whom seem to have a good deal of common sense- and whose opinions differ from mine, often, but not to the point where I reject them out of hand (e.g., declarations of racial superiority of any sort... except the Jews. Israel rules.) Unless you're highly charismatic and articulate, you've got to have a little in common with someone, be able to build up the trust, before you start the brainwashing.

Which reminds me, the membership drive for the Freemormons has started. Check your free will at the door, please.