Sometimes it just takes communication.

Wow there has been some heated debate here on the forums recently, and I think thats a pretty good indicator that many of the people who post feel passionately about their beliefs.

Trouble is sometimes we get carried away and say things while upset or in the heat of anger. We cant hear one anothers tone, see body language or facial exression, in order to discern true intent.

I just had one of the nicest chats I ever had in SL ...with Nolan. Its so easy to see there are no barriers to communication, and to see how miscommunication can occur, when you are interacting one on one.

So lets proceed with our debates but to cleanse the air I would like to say to the following:

To Nolan, I know you are not a racist and I apologize that anything I said reflected upon you in that way. I asked about a comment, you replied, and I accept the explanation. I sent you a hug and ask that we put this behind us. Friends even in debate! *hugs*

I already spoke privately to Aimee and Cris about this, but i will repeat here that I never ever thought or accused her or Forseti of being racist. My intent was to address the acts at issue in that thread and no comment I made concerning the acts of others were meant to reflect on them.

More than anyone Cristiano understands a passionate belief, and it is people who carry on the debate, and have the courage to speak up who are the ones who protect all our interests. Sometimes I agree with him and other times he makes me nuts. But, that only means he is being effective.

To Panda, you know you will always be special to me, and I know your heart is gold.

To Lecktor, *&#*&$#_)__$ Now I will have to beat you up.

Like many here I feel passionately about certain beliefs and like many get lost in rhetoric at times. I try not to cross the line that I have seen others cross. where the intent of a post is pure personal insult and disparaging ramarks lacking any substantive content.

I see the forums as a platform for debate as well as a community newspaper. There is a way to say it without hatred, no matter what "IT" is.

Hey - what's all this about ? Did I miss something ?
Curses

Thanks for taking the time to post this and for responding to me in-world.

It's always difficult when strong personalities are thrown together from all corners of the globe, as we are here in the forums. I picked the wrong time, place, and wording for the analogy. I would have delivered it differently, if I could have seen the future fallout from it.

I look forward to a fresh start with regard to this issue, and wish you the best.

I've cleared up more than a few miscommunications, misunderstandings and outright needless squabbles via realtime conversation, either on the grid or via IRC. Much easier when you've got immediate feedback.

Thanks for the post katykiwi. Likewise thank you for your in-world conversation where we could discuss each others standpoint like reasonable adults.

Water under the bridge

Weedy, it was sincerely my pleasure!

Thank you for your post, Katy. It pained me to see what was an obvious misunderstanding spiraling out of control. I have always found it best to try to just resolve them one on one - the forums are not condusive to coming to an understanding with a person. If anything, they are responsible for escalating minor disagreements and misinterpretations into major flame wars. Such is the nature of the medium. When it comes to something as incendiary as the topic of racism, I think it is doubly important to not jump to immediate conclusions always, and to recognize that no one can speak for someone else's motivations. It is so easy to get caught up in the moment, and the cause, and forget the individual.

oh pipe down, you racist misogynist

If this was resolved privately, what is the need for the public, name dropping self aggrandizing thread?

Ohh wait, I answered my own question. Good PR move.

Aww, but I love you!

OHHH and hugs to you too ..come on Eboni, smile a little.

Alright katy you can beat me up. I deserve it.

Are you famous?

Nah, its much more fun to kiss and make up...SMOOCH...now change the despicable and disgusting to something nicer.

kitten stop kissing and hugging everyone on the forums or i will have to start fighting with them

ha ha ha you know my real kisses and hugs are for you honey

I have not had the words to talk to you about our disagreement Katy. I know that through this experience, there are some I considered close friends .. that I will now think twice before taking their advice.

I'm just me Katy. I hate to see people wronged, but I also lash out sometimes when I should hold my tongue.

You and I have known each other a while (in the grand scheme). I am sorry for any hurt I may have caused you. And I apologize for not giving you the benefit of the doubt.

I've learned a bit in the past few weeks. I've also learned a bit in the last 2 years. I hope you can forgive me getting "weird". And I am very sorry for what I said.

Pen that touched me more than anything...*hugs* thank you so much for this post.

Nothing like being left out of the makeup to turn a gal into pure, unadultered evil.

EVIL I SAY!

Guess I'm not famous enough to have a public smoozefest with... or something.

Oh well.

In places where it counts, yes.

well Eboni, I for one was really touched and happy to see this post. I happen to see the regular forum go-ers as a community of sorts and think this sort of message entirely appropriate at times. It's only natural that we argue all the time since we're human beings. Ideally the arguments are interesting, fun and enlightening, but there are always breakdowns and misunderstandings. Text really is a horrid medium but we do our best.

thank you Katy, and waves, hugs, and all that mushy stuff to everyone else

P.S. Very nice post, cris

Forseti,


All of the self congratulatory, ego masturbation, patting on the back, and star fuckery threads lately have really gotten out of hand and are becoming truly disgusting. The people on this message board are supposed to be adults, not 12 year olds with fragile egos that need stroking every five minutes. If this was all resolved privately there was no reason to make a new post to draw attention to the fact it was resolved except to garner attention. I am sadly by even posting on this thread I am feeding into this petty bullshit.

Eboni..Maybe having a congratulatory, ego masturbating pat on the back star fuck from me will make you happier...
HUGGIES and SMOOCH to EBONI

I don't like being touched