QUOTE: .." "Stop fucking whinging you greasy lump of bat shit take your stupid ideas and stick them up your putrid arse".
Now is that an example of what you were referring to in you opening post?....If so I would appreciate you giving it a mention, or the whole thread becomes a complete waste of time.
I realise that in the application of "therapy" you find it counter productive to be on one side or the other, but that begs the question, why start the thread to begin with? "

Whew!   When I started this thread I had no idea it was going to take off like that. In fact, for the longest time nobody responded. Then Dave pointed out how mentioning two specific instances (and ignoring others) was singling people out....and he made a good point.

As I go through this thread I'm realizing that there are many types of disrespect.....some of it which is on a continuum.

I guess the most 'normal' is the refusal to really listen to what another person is saying and to explore it. It's having no curiosity whatsoever because not only do we *know* the right answer, but we *know* what his motivating those other 'idiots' to say those things they're saying.......and we closer ourselves off.

And this provokes more blatant disrespectful comments, which are all over this thread.

At the same time........everyone who has posted disrespectful comments has also debated in a way that is much more respectful.   If we took out all the examples of disrespect....just got rid of them.....we'd actually have some pretty interesting discussions.

And some of you are consistently respectful even as you address very controversial issues. I think that we would get good examples of 'respect' by reading the posts by M the GM, SJL, McGrath of Harlow, Janie, Bill D, Rapparee, Jow Offer, Spleen Cringe, Ebbie, Clarie M, and Susie Sock puppet.

And (I know this is controversial) I think Akenaton is trying....but there is a lot of that first kind of disrespect.....which comes from a lack of curiosity and too much focus on self-defense.

And......I'm not in a role of 'therapist' here. Sorry if sometimes I come across that way. My intent is to explore what is meant by respect and disrespect.......and I haven't really come up with an answer.

I respect the comment made earlier by Spleen Cringe, when he wrote "I do think that odious shite wrapped in pretty ribbons is still odious shite".   And I do think it's important to point out it's odour for those who may be unaware of it. (And if some like the smell of shit....well so be it).   

As for myself.....I'm actually fascinated by the discussion about racism. I do have some opinions about it....ones that I've gone back and forth in exploring.    And interspersed within the right wing influence that some of you have pointed out, I think GFS has made some points that are worth considering.   I think that 'racism' truly is a very complex issue......as in some respects the fear of 'differences' is an issue for most of us.

As soon as I think that people are truly open to exploring it, then I'll put some of my own comments.

I welcome my comments being (1) debated....and even hearing strong responses.   (2) But I also want them to be respected.

And I realize that for some of us, those two concepts are mutually exclusive.   Which is too bad.

And yes, Akenaton, the quote about the 'greasy lump of bat shit'. is exactly the type of thing I was referring to at the beginning. But I'm also coming to realize that there are other forms of disrespect as well.

(And I'm glad that it was able to evolve into a brief discussion about bats......a great and humorous example of rolling with resistance).