A thoughtful and rational post. I don’t agree with all your points but you present your position in a polite, cohesive and reasoned mannerWhat a clown!
I know what a troll looks like; we’ve collectively endured more than a few. You’re no troll sir. Not now. Not ever.
IMO, the problem with “troll” is the same problem with “racist”. Overuse and attempted universal application has sullied the word such that it loses both meaning and impact.
Couple things... The righteousness of the causes of 1A and 2A are undeniable. Moral and legal bedrock. Patriot Picket has done themselves and our community proud in their on site professional and “mostly” restrained demonstration in support of our rights. They have demonstrated, for lack of a better word, patriotism in an above and beyond manner. How they do what they do is up to them. That’s from their organizing to their demonstrations.
The how is what has rubbed some folks the wrong way. Again, IMO, they have amended their organizing from what I can see to move away from what I’ll call “strong arming” and or “guilt tripping” folks to join them...or to support them. This is the intersection where folks who have been uncomfortable with previous perceived practice get sand in their craw. I will say that it’s human nature to observe what I’ll call “zealotry” with at least discomfort. Personally, I believe there’s only a couple other key moral purposes that merit true zealotry...God, family and country. Innate human rights are worth fighting and perhaps even dying over.
I’m gonna go out on a limb here (I don’t FB for a reason...) and guess y’all are assigning this particular use of “troll” to ZzzzMan. He’s as entitled to his opinion as any of you or indeed, any of us. If you don’t like it or don’t agree, so be it. I’m guessing he has his reasons for disagreement. Again, just a guess but if somebody’s fur was rubbed the wrong way regarding how PP chose to recruit, organize and motivate, then it’s no surprise that same someone might be less than comfortable with PP fundraising efforts. The righteousness of the cause can never supplant the righteousness of the individual to disagree with or doubt the methodology.
Online communities are full of all kinds of causes. Our MDS community has a preponderance of good shit folks. Our core principles are mostly about appreciating, protecting, defending and understanding our human and Constitutional rights. We will always share that. These are very passionate topics. That we employ passion when we discuss them is no surprise. It’s the control of that passion and our ability to comport ourselves with a wee bit of class or even dignity where we occasionally fall short.
Disagreeing with someone is de rigeur in life and on line. On line flat out sucks as a medium for dialog. It remains mostly monologue and as such, is lousy for any type of effective discourse.
We can disagree without being disagreeable. We are either a community or not. Polarizing about the how’s of our precious passionate issues is neither smart nor effective. Value input and move forward. Spending energy with passive aggressive name calling...is trolling unto itself.
We can do better.
An aside: given Jeff’s health, I trust there’s some sort of “trust” set up (eg, legal defense fund) wherein the funds are safe in the event he cannot administer them himself. Confirmation of that will draw my modest contribution into the kitty.
Thanks.