My deepest apologies...

[Caro]

... for having tried to make DUers think.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=649755&mesg_id=649755

I used to think that one of the advantages we progressives have over right wingers is our sense of humor. I'll never make that mistake again.

And what was that about freedom of speech, again?

Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com

[hlthe2b]

1. Far too early...

to click on a supposed apology neatly concealing snarky accusations. I missed the original controversy and am sure you may have reason to feel attacked--but is this the way to address it? :shrug:

As I said.. far too early....

[lonestarnot]

2. hmmmmf... WTF are you talking about?

[JNelson6563]

3. Ok, let's see here....

You post a thread asserting men should be silenced on the abortion issue. It gets locked. Then you start a new thread stating that, because you "tried to make DUers think", you've been silenced.

You didn't urge thought, inspire reflection or share enlightenment, you tried to silence about half of the population. Not to mention that the men you are trying to silence here on DU are those most likely to be women's allies in this battle. If I wanted to silence anyone it certainly wouldn't be my allies.

[Why Syzygy]

4. well thanks for the link

that thread is rather hysterical. But I'm pretty sure this one will get locked too and it isn't about freedom of speech. It is about a somewhat safe community. I think.

So, try again.

[zeemike]

5. I don't get it.

YOu think that post was a failure? it looks to me like it attracted a lot of interest and thee was much back and forth with some notable posters...I think you did great for the first time? But one thing I noticed you never replied to them. Why?

But i actually agree with the idea that you say is humor... I happen to feel as a man i should have no say in abortion at all and, that no man has that right, and SHOULD keep quiet and let the women settle it themselves.
To me it is a great thing if you can unhook half the population from the negative energy around this topic and could be only for the good.

[Caro]

17. I wasn't allowed to reply...

The thread was locked by the time I got back to it.

Hence, the freedom of speech reference.

Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com

[Divernan]

6. "Freedom of speech"? Your heading asked men to "stay out of it".

"It" being the abortion question. The moderator who locked your thread clearly explained to you that since DU is a discussion forum, it was inappropriate to ask male DUers NOT to discuss an issue. The article you linked to was an interesting, if extreme, reaction to the predominantly male legislators pushing the anti-Roe legislation, and worthy of discussion. It was the title of your thread which did you in.

One of the pieces of advice I gave to groups pushing legislation was that they shouldn't expect it to get passed the first time it was introduced, or even the second. They had to be prepared to fight for years. And then, even when it was passed, they would have to be vigilant to protect it from later on being lethally amended or repealed by their original opposition. The terrible beauty of a true Democracy, ie, majority rule, is that no laws are ever cast in stone. The "majority" of majority rule is always on the move as societal values change, evolve, progress and regress.

[annabanana]

7. how is "stay out of it" freedom of speech?

sorry.. the can join the discussion as much as they like... they just can't make THE decision.

on edit: Your contribution to that thread was just the op... 'sup?

[Why Syzygy]

10. I don't think she is going to show up in this one either. n/t

[DoYouEverWonder]

8. Sometimes it's not what you say

but how you say it?

I think I understand where you are coming from? It gets me totally pissed when I see another rich white man signing abortion legislation. I want to kick them in the balls and scream get your god damn hands off my body. Sometimes it's hard to be rational and peaceful about this crap.

Hang in there.

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. Bingo. People never like being preached to. Holier than thou

attitudes tend to rub people the wrong way.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

12. Sometimes it IS what you say, too. n/t

[Nobody]

11. Sense of humor?

Sorry, that doesn't cut it. "You don't have a sense of humor" or "You can't take a joke" is the refuge of someone who is unremorseful about saying something stupid, unwise, or just plain offensive.

Your "apology" is not that you did something unwise, but that we "have no sense of humor". Furthermore, freedom of speech is not defined as telling a large number of people to shut up. You have decided what you will allow people to discuss and that is not acceptable.

That thread was locked for good reason.

[mmonk]

13. I thought

the post was a little dehumanizing but I don't consider you an enemy or anything since we are allies on the same issue.

[cali]

14. Could you whine any louder?

And speaking of senses of humor, yours just isn't what I'd call rib ticklingly funny. You posted something. People here responded as they saw fit, the thread was locked for reasons explained by the moderator, and instead of graciously acknowledging both the right of other posters to speak their minds and the right of DU management to lock your thread, you post an attack on both under the guise of a faux apology. Kind of speaks for itself in a hissy fit way.

[baby_mouse]

15. Apology accepted.

Thank you, I don't need to be "made" to think, I have a fully functioning brain that can handle thinking just fine.

[Atman]

16. Caro! Please!

I enjoy receiving your e-mail news updates; they're like a "Best Of" DU's LBN section!(and the referrals you send to my web site are nice, too!); In fact, I'm surprised you've take so long to make it to DU. But you won't get many here to "think" about anything when you dive in with accusations and admonitions like that. I think the mods were correct in that we do encourage OPEN debate, and regardless of the topic, it simply isn't very "democratic" to demand that people stay out of a debate.

You've done some very good things promoting the Democratic agenda, please keep it up, and don't let this early experience at DU deter you. After all, it is pretty hard to make the "freedom of speech" argument when you're telling half of us to shut the hell up!

PEACE!

[meisje]

18. Don't hate me for my penis

It knows not what it does

[maddezmom]

19. locking

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