IMO, many people are far too quick to call “troll” when the read a post that disagrees with them in a harsh manner. I’ve been lurking here for a couple of years, and I’ve yet to see any real trolls. A few rude people, sure, and probably some real trolls that you erased before I saw any sign of them, but mostly this forum seems troll-free.
Youtube, facebook, news forums, etc., yeah, full of trolls, mostly poor ones.
These are the only true trolls, all others are wannabes
Yeah brother! 
(on the talking alot part) But your really good at it! 
But I have seen cases where something was said, negatively, nobody engaged, and it went on being ignored. Rare as it is, it happens. I try very hard not to engage! It’s just not worth it! :innocent:
To me what WalkIntoTheLight says here is priceless.
He sums it up perfectly and we would all do well to really think about what he says. 
Trolls usually get identified sooner or later, and don’t last long, even on a very free-speak forum like ours. Rude people remain rude, and fade out more slowly. Neither are an asset to this very brotherly forum. Those engaging the rude and/or trollish are usually trying to keep BLF as it has been, and as it should be.
People tend to police and censor each other and themselves by default, and to great degree, in the name of righteousness. But it is complicated… convoluted… because freedom of opinion, expression, and of lifestyle is regarded as good, but at the same time, a complete lack of discretion in this regard is hedonistic and vulgar. Where to draw the line? It can only be a matter of personal opinion and principles, for others will do as they do, and have their own line, or no line, always.
Live as you want live, and avert your eyes from the rest.
You know, I kinda agree. Sometimes on some forums it takes 5, 6, 7 years before some ‘members’ finally get called out for there rude and “trollish” behavior. It has always amazed me how they flew under the radar for so long………….
Very good teach. Maybe you’ll be here 5,6,7 years, and your point will then be well taken.
Hoop, your last line is great, and something to learn from.
Live as you want to live, and avert one eye from the rest and the other on your six!
That……………. is good. :+1:
Appreciate the vote of confidence cabfrank. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t; none of us are promised tomorrow.
But, I am here now. And depending on who you asked…. I’ll just bet ya’ some of my points are “well taken” presently.
Very well taken…………
teacher, I’ve been avoiding this, but your arguments with ReManG could have died much earlier. The famous last word syndrome. We all have to watch that, in trying to make our point, we don’t end up leading the argument or turning a discussion into something more agitated. It should stand to reason for any educated person anywhere, once you start calling someone names and calling them out in public, it’s all downhill from there.
Benchmade has a logo that says “Held to a higher standard.” I’ve always liked the thought of that, the very idea that perfection exists and is worthy of striving for. When you call yourself teacher, you’ve given yourself a moniker that carries some burdens… it’s expected of you to be exemplary in behavior as we expect all of our teacher’s to be. Under the microscope, as it were. So name calling and open forum arguing really make you look bad, especially with that name. Doesn’t help your case much that Gary is well known and widely liked around these parts.
I’m not meaning to single you out, per se, but this example is one we can all easily fall prey to. It’s the bane of social behavior, the need to prove oneself righteous and worthy.
Many these days would apologize up front for any unintended offense, I won’t do that, as I am merely calling it like I see it. I think we can all agree, open forum arguments are completely worthless to any productive effort.
I know I’m long winded, and for that I do apologize, but I’ve always felt a complete explanation helps further a deeper understanding. That said, I’m here so much because I have a physical disability in the name of a Conversion Disorder. Stress or even cold causes me to have muscle spasms, very often excruciatingly intense ones. This has been going on for nearly 16 years. In being here, and working on lights, there is a focus and a certain avoidance of issues that is relaxing. I have found that there are many here suffering something, some with very severe issues. So it might pay to consider that a great many people with the time to be on any forum are going through a lot in their lives, suffice it to say they’re not at their best all of the time. Once some of that is taken into consideration, it may be easier to be patient with what someone says, or how they said it, or that they even said it at all.
Keeping it civil is sometimes difficult to do, what is Civil in Bangladesh, as compared to Alabama, USA? We’re a world wide family, it takes a bit more compassion than normal to keep it peaceful sometimes.
While for me, this quote is religious, it can apply to anyone anywhere… “As is the strength of thy conviction, so shall be thy salvation.” Let’s all have conviction in doing right, be strong in that commitment, and continue trying to make the world a brighter place, for the benefit of our children and their children.
2021 and beyond. We shall see.
thats awesome!
I struggle with last word syndrome myself. There are members I hold in highest regard not because of what they say but what they don’t say or how they refrain from getting sucked in, you simply don’t ever see them participate in that kind of verbal sparring. I think this is the ideal that SB would like us to strive for. However, most(many?) of the rest of us want to be seen as “telling it like it is”, sometimes hoping to correct a misunderstanding but often with just an edge of “I’m right and I’m sure of it”. It’s when I’m most certain I’m right that I’m most likely to err in how I try to be convincing. It goes downhill from there when insults are added to somehow strengthen an arguement. This doesn’t work too well so if you really are trying to be convincing then avoiding that descent is a must. By now we’ve reached the threshold where threads can get locked, warnings issued, and possibly bans as well, it’s not very far away and is easy to reach. All it takes is thinking you’re right. Showing restraint is harder but is the goal.
Very true sir! :+1: :+1:
Exactly! very well expressed.
:+1: ……. Well said Dale.