Should I self-delete an earlier post because it seems to be annoying people on DU?

[bondwooley]

Or should I leave it?

I find it rather disconcerting that:

(a) it offends some people for reasons I don't understand,

(b) what I thought was a very savvy DU crowd feels that the title is the position of the author as opposed to a commentary on the prejudice of the subject of the article, and

(c) I'm confused that the negative comments are about the obvious generalizations in the post but are being backed up by other generalizations.

I'm honestly wondering what other people would do. Self-censorship on DU feels contradictory to the forum, but I don't want to piss off people. How have other people handled situations like this?

[TreasonousBastard]

1. Leave it and ignore...

trolls just trying to start a fight

hair-on-fire types who automatically get upset over their personal triggers

people who just can't read, or think

People with no sense of humor

Now, what was that post (it fits so many posts around here...)

[bondwooley]

6. Thanks for sane words.

Here's the post. I was trying not to present it because at this point I'd be accused of god knows what. But you asked. So people can bring it on.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025024890

[valerief]

29. Sometimes I just don't understand people. I saw this post earlier and not for a moment did

I think it would offend anyone. All you have to do is read the post to understand the issue.

Don't let the concern trolls win.

[bondwooley]

33. Thank you for that reality check

For five years and over 100 posts, I've never posted anything that had ill will toward anything other than inexcusable stupidity in politics or just general hypocrisy in society.

I'm glad that some of DU has said in one form or another that they see that.

I've seen DU as a haven for discussion and opinion, and I was mortified today by the misunderstanding of the point of this particular OP. I felt as though DU suddenly had turned into a narrow-minded, humorless thought police force and I might as well be posting on Breitbart.

I don't think anyone would necessarily notice my absence from the community and I'll probably step away from it for a while. Not because I'm thin-skinned, but because I'm disappointed and can probably put my efforts into something more productive. But your challenge to not let the trolls win might change my mind.

I'll sleep on it, but thanks again for the encouragement.

[Eleanors38]

2. Umm, no. But you should delete your next one.

[bondwooley]

7. Yeah,

this might be my exit from DU. Which I regret since I've had a lot of insightful and constructive comments over the years.

[defacto7]

37. Oh don't jump off the bridge now...

The post was really pretty good and many did like it, more good comments than bad. I think your doing pretty well in that regard.

Forget the overly sensitive, they will always be here and it's up to them to learn some tolerance and to be able to better their reading comprehension. It's good to be aware of sensitive people and try to be kind but you did not even begin to approach the button of reproach.

Your post was fine. Don't delete and don't edit but the over the top reaction would be to leave over such silly people. It gives them too much power when they are the extreme minority in this debate.

Brush it off.

[Union Scribe]

3. Maybe edit to put that title in quotes?

I guess that could be a compromise. I'd expect people to be capable of reading things for context, but a lot of posters exist in a state of hair-trigger outrage response.

[bondwooley]

9. Honest question here

Wouldn't quotes imply that the title was written by someone else? It wasn't. Seems like that would be insincere. I wish there was a way to designate "air quotes."

[Gravitycollapse]

4. The problem with the title is it is completely unnecessary.

I realize you personally had no control over that. But it's still rather odd and kind of offensive. I remember my parents using "Ellen Degenerate" as a slur when I was a kid.

As to whether you should delete the OP, I would not. I would however be more careful of that in the future.

[bondwooley]

10. Thank you

the title actually refers to the slur. Your parents may have gotten it from Jerry Falwell -- who might have been the first to use it. Sometimes, slurs are used to make a point. It's a device that was mastered by the likes of Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor.

Oh well. Thank you for encouragement to let the post float. And, yes, will be more sensitive to people's nearsightedness here in the future, assuming I ever post again.

[defacto7]

38. It was perfectly understandable.

Reading comprehension is relative and shouldn't be your concern in this case.

[pinboy3niner]

5. I saw the title and didn't open it, thinking it uncharacteristic of you

For what it's worth, I didn't even take a peek, so I can't comment on the content.

[bondwooley]

11. Thank you for being honest. nt

[pinboy3niner]

36. Now that I've just looked at it, I see no problem

Carry on.

[johnp3907]

8. I saw the title and didn't give it a second thoiught.

I "got it." Some people can't tell the difference between Archie Bunker and Rush Limbaugh.
But it sounds like it's more trouble than it's worth, and it's bothering you, so I'd say delete it.

[bondwooley]

12. Thank you for that analogy.

Meaning Archie/Rush. That's the exact point I was trying to make on the post. Maybe if I had made that analogy it might have resonated with someone.

I'm leaning toward letting the post die a natural death, but it I think I'll take your advice and remove it if it gets further comments and becomes visible to more people.

[johnp3907]

14. Mind you I'm saying to remove it to save yourself agravation.

I wouldn't say to remove it because it annoys people who don't get it.

[bondwooley]

17. Thank you for the clarification.

It's truly against my nature to remove it even if I'm aggravated by the responses. None of my role models in history would do that. I'm just feeling dumbfounded and really let down. I bet MLK felt that way when he got feedback on "Letter from Birmingham Jail." But he didn't rip it up.

For the record, I am not, of course, comparing this thin article to that masterpiece.

I'll just suck it up, let the post die, set aside my disappointment in the community and move along.

[Leme]

13. I was thinking to say something in the thread, decided not to. Your post #21 said enough.

[bondwooley]

15. I'm pretty sure now

that if Mel Brooks posted the script of The Producers on this site, he would be stoned to death for writing "Springtime for Hitler in Germany."

I find it very sad that the liberal community that I thrive upon, spend money on and volunteer for might have gotten to that point.

Things change. I couldn't accept that basic fact I'd be a Republican. So I'll accept it.

[yewberry]

16. Nah, I'd stop worrying.

DU is really tense right now. There's a lot simmering and many people are on edge, quick to judge and ready to pounce at any perceived slight (especially from a poster they're perhaps not familiar with).

I saw the post, and I got it. If someone takes offense, let them know honestly what your intent was. If your intent was malicious or cutting, I'm pretty sure people will let you know what they think!

If you're truly worried, sure, delete. Your call, of course.

[bondwooley]

18. Thanks for the feedback

As I just replied to someone else who kindly gave advice, it's just not in my nature to self-censor unless I've said something that I didn't mean.

This article that I posted was thin and was only intended to provide some thought and amusement for people who could grasp the hypocrisy of the situation. Didn't work on this forum.

Such is life.

[Eleanors38]

26. ^^^. On review, my comment above was made with the assumption...

your OP was about DU posting attitudes with no substance or link, hence a joke. So I played it that way. Then I read the link downstream from my post. I get your drift, and see little problem with the linked OP.

[alcibiades_mystery]

19. Sooooooooooo meta

[blkmusclmachine]

20. I'm Hard Left and unapologetic. F the "Centrists" & their GOP cronies.

[bondwooley]

23. If I believed in God

I would say Amen.

[JI7]

21. maybe put quotes around it so people know it's from the piece

[bondwooley]

22. I do think that would have helped

but in some ways it would have been disingenuous since it's not a direct quote - it is a commentary on the way that crazy people think. Tough decision. Seems like I would be accused of misquoting or not taking responsibility rather than being accused of being a jackass by people who don't understand irony.

[JI7]

24. it is from the piece itself isn't it ?

[bondwooley]

27. Actually

it's an original title with some cultural references in it that is supposed to be taken ironically.

[JI7]

30. so i don't think the quotes would be a problem

i believe it says that in the link itself.

[arthritisR_US]

25. I see nothing wrong with the OP piece in question. I'm not a fan

of the title of your piece but that to me was no biggie because after reading the entire thing I see the title as more tongue in cheek. I think you need to go easier on yourself. We are not going to be everyone's cup of tea and your intent in your posts (from what I've seen) are not ill willed, so I think you're fine mate

[bondwooley]

28. Thank you for that. nt

[liberalhistorian]

31. If people get annoyed, then they don't have

to click on the thread or read it. We're adults here, this is not Romper Room or kindergarten. People here can be really hypersensitive at times.

[bondwooley]

34. Alas, some common sense. nt

[jberryhill]

32. I know I'll regret this, but no

Don't edit yourself.

I've said things bluntly, or which have not been taken with the intended meaning, pissed people off, and thought about deleting. But, it's what I said in that moment, and you can spend a lot of your future trying to change your past.

Has anyone you love ever said something that pissed you off? Probably. Did everybody live through it? Yeah.

[bondwooley]

35. Very good point

and I appreciate it.

[intaglio]

39. No need to delete when a headline edit would be sufficient

Basically don't use a bigoted slur as your headline, I know that was the title of the original article but this GD is not LBN, you do not need to use the original title in the headline, it could have gone in the body of the text - with a warning.

[Iggo]

40. Meta!

(And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that OP.)

[Corruption Inc]

41. Nope, it's called freedom of speech

If people don't like it they can ignore it or refute it.

[dembotoz]

42. many of us can not remember what we had for breakfast today

lots and lots of posts with lots and lots of comments.

would not worry about it too much

i have found that the more profound i think i am here the less attention my post gets paid.

it was a hard lesson to learn because i really to think i am rather brilliant and my enlightenment can serve all of mankind....