Quote: I think that a mature bunch of civilized people can communicate in a way that doesn't involve mean spirited behavior. Enquote

I think that statement/belief assumes that this forum is the 'normal' means of communication and of course, it is not. In one's own home, you can guide, even govern, how communication develops- and when you give up on somebody, out they go.

Here on this forum, we are a diverse group with no control over or foreknowledge of people who read or post. All it takes is one person who is a stirrer and it will send a number of us into a spin. I admit I'm one of them. And I suppose a great deal of my outrage often stems from the judgment that one 'shouldn't' be allowed to do or say that. It takes me quite awhile before I come again to the realization that control is impossible.

The reason I don't welcome mav (still say there's nothing big about him- although I'm willing to have my mind changed) is not because he is right wing, it is because he has been nasty and a bully. I've said in previous threads that I have a brother (4 brothers- 3 are great) who has always handled conflict or differences of opinion in that same way. He outshouts any attempts at discussion or protest. That is what mav does too. That's why I wouldn't have mav in my home in his present mode but hey, if everyone else wants him here, no problem. I do have an 'off' button.

I still say that I hope mav comes to realize that the fun here is not conflict but the sharing of community. And he may. Others have done it. In which case I will be happy to welcome him.

As for the p.p.post, I take it as satirical- there's really no other way to take it, imo, the same as if we had a thread 'welcoming' Josef Stalin or Idi Amin or George Custer or Lizzie Borden. However, if my parents or other loved ones had died at the hands of or through the policies of any of those people or even if I were feeling someone else's pain, I might well have a different reaction.

I do think starting the second pp post after being specifically asked not to use that term again was an act of mean-spiritedness. But some of us do react badly in the presence of hurting people, especially when our reaction is scorn at their taking it literally.

Ebbie