That is one of most vitriolic statements I've heard in a long time. You've just outed yourself for what you really are. You are an angry old white man. That can't stand either the liberal agenda, or anybody that can. You truly are not the man I thought you were, and I'm done with you.
--comment received on a recent post at TOSSING IT OUT.
 |
| Angry Penguin (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
However, after the election when Trump won and it was fairly known that I had voted for him, there has been some crazy reaction to me and to some of my blog posts, which I have tried to present with a sense of intentional calm and rationality. It seems those on the opposition side to mine can say whatever they wish in any disrespectful way they wish while what I say or what others on my side of the fence might say is met with anger and vituperation. It all seems a bit unhinged to me, but what's a blogger to do?
Though I haven't unfollowed any blogs, there are a few that I no longer bother to read for one reason or another which probably works to my advantage from the standpoint of using my time wisely. If a blogger does leave a comment on my site then I will visit their blog and usually leave a comment--that is, unless they've left a comment like the one that opened this post. I don't want to rile anyone any more than they've already been riled. If I do visit a blog and don't leave a comment then that would be highly unusual for me, but it would also mean that there was nothing for me to respond to--and this from a blogger who will typically even respond to a post about knitting or something that I don't do or know nothing about.
And then there are those comments on my posts that seem genuine and intelligent to which I will leave thought out and often extensive replies which I don't know whether they have been seen or not because there is no further response from the blogger who left the original comment. But more on that come Friday's post...
Battle of the Bands Results!
My most recent Battle of the Bands contest featuring renditions of the classic Little Anthony and the Imperials song "Goin' Out of My Head" did not turn out quite like I expected. I thought there was far more disco hate out there, but I guess when put up against an eccentric sounding La Lupe, disco rules. The Queen of Latin Soul in this match was no contest when put up against a queen of disco.
It was kind of close deciding for me, but the disco string section wins me over more than percussive Latin horns, which I do have an affinity for though not enough to sway my vote in this match up. And in agreement with most of you voting in this round, Gloria Gaynor's voice was more appealing than the--how do I put it?--the slightly kooky vocal styling of La Lupe. I never really got on board with that "Disco Sucks" movement and I still enjoy hearing the danceable music that I don't normally dance to. Sorry Lupe, you were kind of fun, but your version didn't have the appeal for me that Gloria did.
Final Vote Tally
Gloria Gaynor 19
La Lupe 2
****************
Next Battle of the Bands on Wednesday March 1st
My next Battle will be continuing on somewhat the same theme as this previous Battle with a bit of an international flair. It's a well-known American artist's pop hit from the sixties that seemed to have caught the attention of the world with renditions coming from somewhat unexpected places. It's another "crazy" tune that will tie in with my post that will appear on Monday February 27th. Before that Monday post though, I'll try to push the envelope a bit more with an absurd post on Friday that might mostly bug some bloggers who might not see it. But what the heck--I've started stirring the pot so I might as well finish the stew.
Have any of my posts ticked you off a bit, but not enough to run you off yet? Do you come back to a comment thread to see if a blogger has responded to a comment that you've left that has included questions? I doubt whether you can do it, but would you like to venture a guess as to my next song choice for BOTB?
Sorry about the comment having met you I know you to be a kind person not the sort that man described you as.
ReplyDeleteI had the winner in the BOTB.
Have a great Wednesday.
Yvonne.
Yvonne, I'm not overly concerned with the comment. I explain more in my Friday post.
DeleteJust about everyone had the winner of my last battle.
Lee
Trump was the "lesser of two Evils" (we did not want that crooked B1T<H either)...
ReplyDelete... wishing you and yours well, good Sir Arlee..
was a very good post on mental illness (we have more than a few.... told that our "Personality Fragmentation" disorder was the most severe that they (Daymark) has had to handle ... and studied 100's of books on abnormal Psychology...
Stacy, psychology is such a fascinating subject so no wonder so many books can be found on this. And in many cases, who's really to say what is abnormal?
DeleteLee
thank you for you pleasant reply, good Sir...
DeleteAll I can think to say about the comment left to you is, WOW!!! I personally have had to take a step back on Facebook. The stuff in my newsfeed the day of the inauguration left me feeling pretty empty with a lot of emotion. The first was thinking, OMG I have close friends and people I know who are talking like they are losing their minds. Honestly, one day I was so concerned for them I posted the number to our local mental health services here. I have distanced myself from many. This is how I feel and probably many won't agree but isn't it wonderful to know we live in a country where we can think differently and choose the leaders of our nation? I think it is healthy that we all have beliefs as well as issues we stand on that are of importance. In any election process in this country I find I tend to connect more with the candidates who stand on the issues that is important to me as well as the issues that are important to our whole country. I too do not unfriend those who don't believe the same as I do. The worst has been that there are quite a few in groups I belong to associated with the heroin epidemic here in my community. Somewhere in between their candidate losing the election they have lost focus. Most of the things they are sharing on Facebook have no room in the discussion on what we stand on as far as issues pertaining to our heroin epidemic. Sorry my comment is long. I enjoyed reading your post today.
ReplyDeleteGossip Girl, thank you. I enjoyed reading your comment as well.
DeleteI laughed at your having left the number for mental health services on FB, but there is a great element of truth in what you point out. The reactions of so many people were so extreme that it was disturbing to a degree, but laughable to another extent. I blame the media for firstly instilling false hopes in many with the prediction that there was no way Trump could win and then the hatred and negativity so many outlets persisted in disseminating after the election and up to the present.
Personally, I like a certain cross section of opinion, but constant negativity and vitriol extended directly towards me and other Trump supporters is absurd and upsetting. With this kind of thinking we are getting nowhere.
Lee
I wouldn't know how to respond to that either. People have really gone off the deep end in the past few months. Get over it, people. It will be all right.
ReplyDeleteAlex, well, I responded by putting the quote in my post because I thought it was so ridiculously extreme. And coming from a blogger whom I thought was pretty level-headed and a nice person this individual exposed their true colors. I think it's going to take a long time for some people to get over this election and maybe never.
DeleteLee
Lee,
ReplyDeleteThere is no figuring out the way the left think. A lot are flighty and rude. Your opening comment is proof of what I say. Those are the ones to cut your ties with and move on.
Well, it looks like I called the winner this shot but it looks like most people went that way. WOW, I didn't see this one coming! Did you think your showdown would be this lopsided?
I do try to return to a blogger's site where I've answered questions. It's easier for me to remember if I get a visit from the blogger after they've left a comment on my site which prompts me usually to check to see if the author responded to my comment. No you haven't ever posted anything that's set me off. Generally speaking, we are a lot alike on these issues and even if not it's not enough to drive me away. You're a kind, respectful friend. I definitely have no clue to what you're going to use in the next BoTB but it won't be long before I find out. Have a good day, my friend and be blessed!
Cathy, I thought the conversation in which my "vitriolic statement" appeared was pretty rational, but maybe my argument was so correct and on the mark the blogger had no where else to go but the cesspool of angry retreat.
DeleteI really thought there would be enough dislike of disco to create a more balanced return in voting. I guess La Lupe's unbalanced singing style through everything out of whack.
Fortunately I still have reasonable readers like yourself who can engage even when there is disagreement. I always, if it's available, check the "notify me" box because I try to leave comments that might encourage further discussion. And I like to see if the blogger whose blog where I left my comment is reading their comments. Sometimes there is no response which makes me wonder if anyone saw what I had to say.
My next song is one that I'd never heard of before I heard it in a film last year so I guess maybe it's kind of obscure though I think everyone knows the original artist. It's a crazy song that I loved when I heard it.
Lee
lol wow, you go, you angry old white man. Hulk out and turn green, then all will love you. Or maybe you'll get to star in Grumpiest Old Men, or the inevitable remake. Own it and get rich. Okay, I'm done.
ReplyDeleteWhere did the angry even come from? Never saw you get angry at anyone. Sounds like the commenter was the angry one.
Pffffft short of hate speech, gloating idiots about stupid things, poorly set up blogs, cruelty to kids, animals, spouses, etc. not much can scare me away, especially when said in a rational way.
Blow out this time with the battle chime.
Pat, my posts have riled more than a few readers even though I think my approach has always been calm and rational. I think the subject matter has had something to do with it. Actually, I don't think, I know. When people are wrong, but think they're right, they often get pissed off when they read a good argument as to why they're wrong and someone else is right. Something like that.
DeleteSome blog posts are practically unreadable--or just kind of dumb. I try to avoid those on other sites as well as my own if I can.
Lee
I have no problem with people differing from my own opinion or voting differently. After all, this is America! We csn have it our own way! A little tolerance goes a long way.
ReplyDeletePop Tart, if we didn't disagree sometimes, our conversations would be terribly one-sided and boring I think. People need to learn to just talk about things from a stance of reason and tolerance for differing opinion.
DeleteLee
Your posts haven't ticked me off....I just avoided the ones that were exclusively political cause I'm just too worn out to care anymore. I did lose a longtime friend on Facebook cause I posted something about 'some amazing people voted for trump, and some amazing people voted for hillary' and went on to say that I loved my friends and respected their opinions, etc. She got on there and basically insulted all my conservative friends and family then she unfriended me cause I refused to hate on them too. Whatever. I'm too tired to care anymore and I have enough going on in my real life. And then of course when I take that position my liberal friends say, 'that's white privilege in action'. I can't win no matter how neutral I try to be.
ReplyDeleteJoJo, I know you disagree with a lot of what I say, but you keep coming back with comments that are fine with me. That's why I love you!
DeleteConversing is a good thing, but obsessing--especially obsessing with an aspect of hatred--can be very unhealthy. I agree--with some people there is no winning no matter what you do.
Lee
Sometimes I do leave questions in blog comments, but I don't usually come back to see if they received an answer. I blame my memory.
ReplyDeleteTamara, if I relied on my memory I'd miss a lot of responses to my comments. That why I try to always check the "Notify Me" box--when I remember to check it.
DeleteLee
Sorry you have people like the above commenter to deal with. :( Never have you sounded angry to me, whatsoever, but subjects like politics and religion often bring out the worst in people. As for the battle, it's surprising that La Lupe got a second vote. Thought for sure I'd be the only one. Seriously not a fan of Disco. I know what you mean about commenters not coming back to continue conversations. Happens to me as well, even though my site sends out email responses to individual commenters. Sometimes it helps if you ask them a question.
ReplyDeleteDebbie D, I don't mind the comment like I got because it gave me a great quote to start my post with. Maybe I should start actually assigning the bloggers' names to the quotes I use, but I don't want to create any more bad feelings than are already there. But on the other hand if a blogger is no longer visiting then they probably wouldn't see it.
DeleteThank you for being one to prevent a shutout on my Battle. I overestimated the "disco hate" that I thought might show up in this contest.
I almost always ask questions in my posts in hopes of stimulating better comments. And I normally watch comment threads on blogs where I leave comments to see if mine is acknowledged. Commenting takes effort and it's nice to be rewarded for that effort.
Lee
Yup; asking questions in a post is always good, but I was talking about the comments, themselves. When you respond to someone's comment and they don't acknowledge your response, it might help to ask them a direct question, assuming they check back. It absolutely does take effort to keep up with comments and I always try to revisit as well. Some people just don't get the concept, unfortunately.
DeleteDebbie D, I responded to this with a long comment earlier and then my internet crashed and it's been out all day. Looks like now I'm back on for while at least.
DeleteShort response--yeah.
Lee
That comment is wrong and bullying( today being national anti bullying day). I think the best thing is to not give it much weight...not worth it...your time or effort. Whe you receive crap like that, delete and bye-bye, they are not worth it. Hmmmm, I know you haven't visited my blog but I just figured it didn't interest you and that's ok. I do read your commments to mine and I do try to respond when there is a question but, I have also thought, often that I will get back to it to think about it and honestly...forgot! Bad of me, I know but that is the truth. I often feel I can't find the right words to properly explain my thoughts. Oh well, hope you don't take it personally because it was not meant to be any slight at all. I still will visit you cos ...I like to:)
ReplyDeleteBirgit, considering that I've always thought the blogger who left the comment that I quoted is a pretty intelligent mild-mannered individual, I'm not going to look at it as bullying, but merely a momentary reactionary response to what I had said (which was something that was kind of out of character for me in a way, but not really all that bad). I thought it made a great lead-in for my topic of the day so it was kind of neat to have that comment.
DeleteGosh, you are so right that I haven't visited your site in a while and I apologize because I really do try to reciprocate those who leave comments on mine, which you do rather often. I have been negligent of late (actually for the past couple of years) so you are not the only one who I don't get around to visiting like I should. It's not that your topics don't interest me, but it's just me not visiting blogs like I used to. And I understand what you're saying about the responses.
I'll be over to visit your blog right now!
Lee
OK...it could be the person just had an off day or had enough and exploded like those little happy emoticons:) That is sweet of you and I know you are busy and have a high amount of people to visit. I never took it personally:) Thanks for the visit:)
DeleteBirgit, hard to say what's happening to bloggers on the other side of the internet from me, but bad days are always possibilities.
DeleteI've had a bad day on the internet today. Been having problems all day and just got off with tech support. Maybe they fixed the problem or maybe it just got better on its own. They'll be coming to upgrade our connection in a few days and my monthly bill will be actually going down. How unusual!
Lee
I always come back to see if my comment has been responded to, otherwise what's the point of commenting? I haven't yet un-followed anyone for their political or religious beliefs. I have mine and you have yours and as long as we are tolerant, it doesn't matter. Freedom of expression is very important to me.
ReplyDeleteDG, I agree that freedom of expression is important, but apparently in recent months some folks have become far less tolerant of the right of others to express themselves. My topics might seem harsh or objectionable to some, but I do try to be kind of nice about talking about them.
DeleteLee
After watching a daily dose of anti-Trump riots, I am thoroughly disgusted and saddened. If Clinton had won, would all the Trump supporters be doing the same??
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your honesty, forthright words, and steady convictions. Write on, dear Lee, write on.
Susan K. I guarantee you that if the election outcome had been different, those who had supported Trump for the most part would be going to work, taking care of their families, and peaceably going about life.
DeleteThanks for your support.
Lee
Leapin lizards! That person clearly sat on a scorpion. The demise of civility is such a shame to see. But you're right, it's a great talking point. Why can't more people talk (like you do) instead of hurling insults at the first sign of a different opinion?
ReplyDeleteIf I comment on a post, I always look for a response. No matter how short they might be, it's better than being ignored.
Before I read the word "crazy" I was thinking of Dion or Dylan for your next BOTB. Now I give up ;-)
I sure hope Alex is right and I liked your response to Dr. Theda. Well, to everyone really. But then, that's why we visit :-)
Diedre, actually considering the person who made that comment and places that person goes, that blogger could have literally sat on a scorpion.
DeleteI was briefly watching a report about recent Town Hall meetings and the shouting going on. People need to calmly discuss things in order to come to solutions. Shouting is tiresome and accomplishes little if anything of a positive nature.
Not Dylan, but Dion is kind of close to the timeline of the era when this "hit" appeared on the charts.
Keep visiting!
Lee
I tend to avoid politics when blogging but never more so than the last election because I found myself in the difficult position of not supporting either Hilary Clinton or Donald Trump. As a middle-of-the roader, I'm appalled by both sides inability to see or even look for any common ground or place for compromise. That's a general observation, Lee, not aimed at you specifically.
ReplyDeleteLD, many feel the way that you do. I didn't do much in the way of political commentary prior to the 2016 election, but this time around I've felt there has been so much dishonesty regarding President Trump that I've felt compelled to correct some of the false claims and beliefs. I wish more sources in mainstream media were doing this, but they are the biggest part of the problem.
DeleteLee
LEE, because of my weird work schedule (Mon-Wed, 0600-1830) it's nearly impossible for me to comment on any of your Mon-Wed posts. I could do it easily from work, but there's some glitch in your settings or in my work computer's browser which won't allow me to post comments on your blog. Literally, ANY OTHER BOTBer's BLOG I can post comments on, but not yours. ...You got me, man. I dunno why.
ReplyDeleteI have A LOT I could say about that comment and the blogger who left it; I have A LOT I could say about these extremist anti-Trumpers... but I won't because this is your blog and not mine, and I don't think you'd appreciate the language I would use. Let's just say that my patience with anti-Trump, pro-Communist people is at negative-160 and counting! (I'm thinking like Olivia Newton-John: "Let's Get Physical!")
Your BOTB outcome is about what I would have expected. As I said in my comment/vote, the La Lupe version was actually kind of comical. And Gloria Gaynor had a nice enough voice and it wasn't too-overly "Disco" sounding, so even some of us from the 'Disco Sucks!' crowd didn't mind it at all.
19-2? Yeah, that seems about right to me. See ya on the March 1st Battle front.
~ D-FensDogG
Check out my new blog @
(Link:] Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
STMcC, don't know why you'd not be able to comment here. One of life's mysteries I guess.
DeleteThe anti-Trump reactions are likewise a weird mystery. I'm convinced it's a sort of mental illness. Kind of scary actually--probably the makings of an interesting political horror story.
La Lupe was very different and a bit "crazy" sounding which worked well into the theme that I was using. The original artists that I wanted to use didn't have videos that could be viewed everywhere, but I wonder how that match would have gone over. If you're interested the match was between: Brian Briggs
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=brian+briggs+going+out+of+my+head
and
Dr John
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_Bw3Ua7vwE
Oh well, it was an interesting match nevertheless.
Lee
Wow!! Now THAT, Lee, would have been a truly interesting Battle. I'd never even heard of Brian Briggs before ["Brian Damage" <-- Ha! I love it.]
DeleteBoth versions were quite odd in different ways, with two completely different tempos. Too bad, because I can scarcely imagine the comments and how some would have voted. I suspect Dr. John would have won but it might have been a pretty tight race.
I hardly even know how to describe the Briggs version. It had a sort proto-Punk sound but with various other elements, like that keyboard riff that seemed almost like a cross between Disco and Bubblegum. Very peculiar but unique potpourri sound.
TRUMP:
I agree. Many of these anti-Trump rioters are really just paid mercenaries for The Wizards Behind The Curtain. But then we have the "regular" extreme anti-Trumpers who seem to have lost their minds. Most of 'em were probably on shaky mental ground to begin with, and losing to Trump tipped the scales. (A certain Cowardly Lion comes to mind immediately.)
But even some folks who attempt to present themselves as the voice of erudite reason are saying some of the goofiest stuffs imaginable. For example, in your previous post, someone wrote the following:
>>... I've written previously that I would give Trump 6 months, which I may extend to a year, to make good or fall on his face.
Ha! What does that even mean? He may extend it to a year, but if Trump fails to meet his expectations, then what? Is he going to assassinate the president? Is he going to start marching in the streets with a "Not My President" placard? Is he going to move to Paris?
No! He's not going to do any of those things. What he IS GOING TO DO is (barring the death of Trump) give Trump at least 4 years to prove himself or to fall on his face, just like the rest of us. This guy has no choice, he's not spe-eee-cial; he's in the same boat with all of us and we've all got Trump for 4 years, at a minimum. Period.
See? Even people who are supposedly educated and rational are saying completely nonsensical things, like there's some sort of disconnect that has occurred in their brains and they simply can't accept the reality that's before them. Weird, man!
I honestly think there are significant S/spiritual forces at work here and that's why a lot of what is being done and said does not make sense in a normal, humanly understandable way.
~ D-FensDogG
Check out my new blog @
(Link:] Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
Brian Briggs is actually John Holbrook who is not only a musician, but a record producer with a pretty incredible list of accomplishments going back to the early seventies. He's had a hand in many well known albums. His releases as Brian Briggs were a lot of fun. I found cassettes of his music in cut-out bins back in the eighties and I enjoyed frequent plays of that music.
DeleteTrump: Many of his detractors seem to be operating on the presumption that he will fail or be ousted in one way or another before his first 4 years are up. In the months ahead I think we'll see an incredible and absurd number of court suits and congressional investigations with impeachment as the main intent. It's incredible really. If Trump does make it through all the crap I think he will go down as the greatest president in American history to date. No one could weather all the turmoil he'll be put through and not come out as great. I think he can and will do it. But we'll just have to see.
If he doesn't make it through then I think that will be the end of America as we have known it because then the divide will probably be enough to lead to civil war.
Lee
I tend not to blog about about potentially polarizing issues, since that's not what my blog's focus is about, and I don't want to run the risk of alienating readers who might hold differently. Every so often, I'll discuss something that's not related to writing, books, music, film, or history, like last year's 12-part series on the transactivist zealots. I just couldn't keep quiet anymore, and was really pleasantly surprised I got so many intelligent, respectful comments and zero attacks.
ReplyDeleteI blacklisted one persistently negative commenter on my secondary blog. I had a sick feeling in my stomach every time I saw her name in the notification of a new comment, since I knew I was about to read yet another chutzpahdik comment. This wasn't politely agreeing to disagree, offering another opinion, or gently suggesting the source I got my information from wasn't so accurate. She only ever commented to tell me the etymology of a name was wrong (including once when a Latin word or name was the result of an uncaught autocorrect and not what I'd meant to type!), or to point-blank tell me my opinion was ridiculous. She never commented on anything but things she disagreed with. For example, I referred to Christmas as a non-name, and went on to suggest more realistic names like Natalie, Noelle, or Holly. She said it was common during the Middle Ages, and would hardly call that a non-name. I told her just because it was common hundreds of years ago doesn't mean the average person would find it realistic in the modern era, just like a lot of the Pilgrims' Virtue names would never work these days. She left those kinds of comments on every single post she singled out for criticism. It seemed like she cared more about pedanticism and shaming me for expressing opinions different from hers than having a friendly dialogue.
Carrie-Anne, my reasoning was much like yours. I just couldn't stay quiet in the midst of all the Trump lies and misinformation that was out there. And I've kind of enjoyed the exercise in argument and reasoning.
DeleteAt this point, though I don't want to alienate readers, I'm kind of apathetic about people who can't disagree intelligently. I've never had to blacklist anyone and very rarely have I deleted comments, but if things got too offensive and out of hand I'd probably have to do it.
Lee
One must have a big sense of humor to even touch politics in a blog post or on social media. It's not easy.
ReplyDeletePatricia, I tend to have a somewhat ludicrous outlook on life so I do laugh off a lot of the reactionary responses I get on this blog and shrug with a somewhat bittersweet disappointment at those who stop following this blog because of what I believe. Oh well.
DeleteLee
I am so sorry, you did not deserve that comment. We've been blog friends for like 6-years and I've learned from and enjoyed every single post. I've had groups rally to bash and unfollow me everywhere & unsubscribe from my blog. I hate to admit it's hurt me deeply because some I considered very close friends. I believe the Trump derangement syndrome is a real thing. The party of tolerance and inclusion looks like a bunch of blubbering hypocrites. Just keep being you and moving forward.
ReplyDeleteDoreen, the current political environment has disclosed things about certain people that I never heretofore suspected them of being like. I didn't like losing as a reader the blogger who left that opening comment, but I morbidly enjoyed the comment because it gave me a good quote to open this post. I can understand the hurt you have experienced on your site. I'm somewhat less affected, but then again I'm kind of annoyed with a lot that is going on right now.
DeleteLee
That much have been a momentary shock Arlee - sorry. Glad you didn't take it personally -
ReplyDeleteSusan S, the comment mostly shocked me in consideration of the source--I wouldn't have expected such from that particular blogger, but of late I've been learning a lot of things that I wouldn't have previously expected.
DeleteLee
We may be on opposite sides politically, but I would never abuse you like that @*&)$£@***** I'm used to disagreement as my brother is a true-blue Tory, while I've been a liberal-green-socialist most of my life. But my protests have always been non-violent as taught by Mahatma Gandhi. I comment when I have anything to contribute on anyone's blog, and I usually see the replies. You normally reply, but missed two of my comments. But I'm continuing to read as the music is good, the debate is interesting, and I'm anxious to read your take on ecological issues - like climate change and organic food (which I used to sell).
ReplyDeleteRoland, we can learn when we disagree with listening ears and thinking minds and disagreement doesn't mean people can't still be friends.
DeleteIf I miss responding to a comment it's probably due to being overwhelmed by either comments or life. Or in some rarer instants I don't feel that there is much more to be said.
Not sure if I'll get to much on the topic of climate change or organic food unless something in the media or elsewhere elicits some response from me.
Lee
I'll be watching this space with baited words, or something.
Delete