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Post by millring on Jan 15, 2016 19:08:25 GMT -5
Hey, I'm Canadian . We're nothing if not polite. I remember being kidded for thanking the waitress for bringing the cutlery ... er ... utensils. I'd be right there with you, thanking the waitress for the silverware. When I was a teenager, I went out to dinner with my mom. She read me the riot act when I didn't acknowledge the waitress. I've made a point of it ever since.
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Post by Fingerplucked on Jan 15, 2016 19:39:22 GMT -5
I agree with you Tom, up to a point. I like open discussions. Of those who usually shy away from freely discussing touchy subjects, most, IMO, are simply smarter than you and me. They know where most of those conversations lead. They don’t lead to agreement, they may or may not lead to understanding, and they often lead to bitter arguments. That won’t stop you and it won’t stop me, but I have wondered why I can’t follow their example and just keep my thoughts to myself. Add to that that people have different opinions on what is acceptable for public discussion, both in subject matter and the terms used. (Do you want to talk to your mother about your sex life or post details of it on Facebook? Do you want to hear the guy at the restaurant table next to you discussing the quality of his bowel movements as you’re trying to eat? Using the N-word in public? Using the N-word on the south side of Chicago?) It’s one thing to talk about sensitive subjects in public, watching for clues that you’ve offended someone, then trying to adjust and better explain yourself based on the feedback you’re getting. It’s something else altogether when you’re broadcasting sensitive comments on public forums or in the media. In those cases, you either have to be sensitive to possible reactions before you even get started, or live with the consequences. All things considered, I think claims of non-PC behavior are a good thing. Some of them are frivolous and should be ignored, but many are not. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being sensitive to other people’s feelings. You must know that's not what I'm talking about. Simply being boorish is something pretty much deplored by everyone. However, if anyone actually believes that there are people who get mad enough to kill over a cartoon rather than that being a premise to excuse violence or put certain subjects beyond discussion, I have a bridge to sell them. Sorry, I misunderstood. There was Bruce’s comment, which I thought I understood, and then you responded to that, and apparently I took a wrong turn.
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Post by Russell Letson on Jan 16, 2016 19:41:31 GMT -5
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