America the new scapegoat?

If anyone has talked world politics with me recently, they'll know that I don't believe that America is a positive political atmosphere at the moment anymore than one of the many war-torn countries at the moment.

However -- for the second time in my life I was the victim of (what I interpreted as) bigotry in my life. Now, this isn't some cry-out as I know this isn't a very common occurance by a long shot. However -- despite my relatively low risk of discrimination, I was totally taken aback when the entire basis of my side of a discussion was completely invalidated for false assumptions of my ethnicity.

The person in question thought I was an american... and apparently I sounded like one. Which is apparently... get this... sickening.

Now, I'm not one to pick bones -- so whoever it was that has said this to me: this isn't about you in particular. It is about a recent trend I've seen in my interaction with people recently. The reason for this is obviously that my interactions have been less than satisfactory.

Personally, I don't rule out the fact that it could totally be a matter of my perceptions. We are all prone to be sensitive to certain issues more than others -- and coming from a "bottom of the chain" family, I take it personally when people try to "look down on me." Or in this case, invalidate me on criteria that make absolutely no logical sense.

First of all, I'm not American. In fact... I've only visited the United States of America three times. Two times to New York City and once on a quick road-trip down to Florida and back... from Canada. The sad thing about the whole thing was that other individuals had chimed in that Americans AND Candadians are the same kind of asshole.

Right

My grandfather'd be rolling in his grave.

The pattern I've seen in all of this recently is rather incredulous. First and foremost because this isn't the first time I've been invalidated. Certainly the first time in a while simply because of ethnic discriminations -- and on an assumption at that. Imagine if I was of the same ethnicity as the prosecutor of such an accusation!

Now the purpose of this little tiny miniscule soap-box rant is simple: screw you.

Let's take a step back for a moment and reflect on that.

I said that simply because the whole reason for such derogatory comments to be made, IMO, is simply because selfishness appears to be a highly ingrained characteristic in so many people today. So much so that (and THIS is the cake, people) these very people base their arguments on derision!

There has to be little or no fact -- if you are of the opposing opinion to your opposition, you cannot hope to have a productive discussion... let alone an argument. Instead of engaging in a dialectic search for the truth, expect to be tagged with an insulting assumption of some personal characteristic and blown off.

For example -- a pretend debate.

A: Policy 2 is too weak to properly safeguard our community.
B: Policy 2 already ensures that our community will be free of brigands. Why, A, do we need further restrictions on the already-imposed curfew?
A: Because without our enhancements to Policy 2, not only will brigands be able to walk about in the night, but so will rufians. We can't have that.
B: But rufians do not step the bounds Policy 2 has implemented, and as a society we don't believe rufians are harmful. If we limit the access of rufians to the night, we'll end up limiting the access of other well-meaning citizens. It could lead to continuing restrictions in the future -- and a police-state is not what Policy 2 is supposed to support.
A: But such and such is an idiot and if you can't see that, you're an -insert ethnic slur here- and it's disgusting. Stop having an opinion.

I'm not kidding -- I've had discussions several times in RL, in SL, and here in the forums where the flow of the conversation moves much like the example above.

In remedy of such situations -- I highly recommend that before calling someone stupid, before assuming they are incompetent, and before you start flinging names at them -- consider that perhaps you don't actually know everything. In fact, assume 99% of the time -- NEITHER OF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ANYTHING. Assume that you're engaging in a discussion or an argument to LEARN more about the subject at hand.

I implore everyone -- stop being jerks. It's frustrating.

If you want to go above and beyond the call of duty, go back and read some Socrates/Plato -- specifically on the subject of College and dialectic debate. Also read some Heideggar or Hegel. Practice logic puzzles and memory games.

Just, for the love of f*cking creation itself, stop assuming that you know more than everyone else.

We're all lost on the same damn boat.

But, Icon, you're an -insert ethnic slur here- and it's disgusting. Stop having an opinion.

Sorry, couldn't resist. I agree, people don't seem to be able to disagree anymore without turning into poo-flinging chimpanzees. Politeness is going the way of the dodo, and that makes me very sad.

(It also makes my trigger finger itch, but I've yet to figure out a way to shoot someone over the Intarweb. )

I can sometimes be overly "formal," I know -- but this casual ignorance of other people's worth is just something I had to vent about.

Cheers.

You're the one that's a jerk.

If you're going to troll, at least try to be entertaining.

I'm not a troll. Maybe you should mind your business.

People like stankleberry are what is wrong with America. Here we see a well thought out erudite and intelligent post, and he counters with the phenomonally intricate, carefully weighted, and lets not fotget, polite reply of "youre the jerk".
Bwahahahahahaha

Did he go to the George W Bush school of intelligent debate????

Better than Cote d'Ivoire; man, those people have had it tough!

It was a joke, dippy. Did you see this line in the OP's post?

I implore everyone -- stop being jerks. It's frustrating.

That's why I made my post. So calm yourself, whiny. George Bush owns you.

Ok, so you're just bad at humor. I realize that irony and sarcasm are difficult, so in the future use the following tags to help the rest of us out:

1. [irony] and [/irony]
   
2. [sarcasm] and [/sarcasm]
   
3. The ever popular [snark] and [/snark] tags
   

I consider myself pretty sophisticated in the ways of online humor, but I missed your jest as well.

That and the continued insulting of other posters doesn't help your case. Just put your head down, scuff the dusty ground, and mutter "sorry" and all will be well.

I really don't care if you get my jokes.

[snark]Well, Happy Holidays to you anyway Bill O'Reilly! [/snark]

My name is Stankleberry Sullivan, not Bill O'Reilly. Learn to read.

You're sounding an awful lot like a troll, for someone who isn't a troll. Also, if you don't want responses to your trolling, don't post your trolling. Otherwise someone is going to read them and respond by informing you that you are, in fact, a troll.

The second post I quoted was much funnier, though, in an insult-comedy kind of way, so overall I'll give you points for improving your troll performance.

In 1965, The 42nd high council of Trolls declared that trolls do not "perform" for anyone, but they do dance. Therefore, you should give it points for improving its troll dance.

clip clop clip clop

"Who's that clipping and clopping over my bridge?" shouted the troll.

"It is only I, the little Billy[Scape]goat Gruff."

"I'm going to eat you up!" growled the troll.

"Oh no, don't do that. For I am much too little, wait for my brother to come, he's much bigger."

I think you're confused about what a troll is.

I never said that I don't want any responses to my posts. Respond all you like. Just don't assume that I care about whether or not you like my posts or think they're funny. I don't.

Is this how people here treat anyone that doesn't believe the same dumb things that everyone else does? That's not nice. Open your minds.

I just don't think it's very healthy to start your posting career on an unfriendly note. I remember someone else here who did that, and it never really got any better unfortunately

I dont get it.
Unless that's a "soda jerk"?

Eh, you do things your way, I'll do them mine.

I thought Stank was kind of funny with this quote.

Which Farker are you? Curious.

In an Andrew Dice Clay way...

I'm not from there.