This forum

everytime you return here there are extreme individuals stoking discord and disharmony.

This is a really tricky one to address in this day and age.

On one hand you have people with a strong view on a subject who want their view to be heard and respected but you can have another group who hold an opposite view with the same rights. Who gets to be heard?

I'm not talking about insults here, but opinions on whatever subjects, whether around drug use (legal or otherwise), dealing with conflict, the tactics of the police force, whether to mask or not, gender identity, approaches in therapy, discipline of children or whatever.

If a fair and open society we should be able to share our opinions, risk being asked to explain or justify them and talk through all manner of subjects that are important to us.

As autists we often can connect with the base emotions of anger and fear which tend to make us poor in arguements but it is worth learning to master these so you can hear others opinions and not be triggered by them.

To want to cancel others because their opinions are not "nice" or not aligned with yours is an approach that appeals to some but is a form of bullying itself.

I would advocate for tolerance, understanding and openmindedness as this has proven to me to be the most effective way to really hear others. Sometimes there is something to be learned even if you didn't initially agree with them.

I drop in for a while then drop out again so far. I'm trying to moderate myself there I suppose as with things generally. Good for you. Yes, hopefully it is. 

Don't mind me, I'm just having another conversation with myself

The only trouble with truly unmoderated space is that the conversation becomes really foul really fast, as most people are pretty dumb and can't make proper arguments but want to have their say anyway.

This format, whilst imperfect like all human creations, gives us all a chance to grow up a bit.

HMO,

I don't know what form your autism takes, but mine tries to make me almost permanaently annoyed as a baseline. 

I choose a self medication/life strategy that makes me just stay annoyed and not get angry with life, other people do NOT make the same choices I do. 

And we all have to share the same air...

I can't stop people posting angry and maybe inflammatory stuff, all I really can control is how I react when it affects me. 

Whilst people hold and express strong opinions, on both sides of any argument, this forum can never be a fully welcoming place for all. 

At the moment the situation is complicated, by strong external turmoil in many spheres of life, so people are CLAMOURING to be heard.  

YOU Mellowjian, have moved a little further away form being purely "reactive" to people you find excruciatingly anooying (YEAH, I know, I'm one of them...) and more towards being "proactive" taking steps to deal with those who you find to be offensive. Calling for better moderation etc.

BUT, you are still giving us your energy!

The next step is acceptance that there will always be terrible people (from your perspective) in a group like ours, and it's O.K. 

Ask yourself this: DO you want Diversity or Homogenetity? Of thought, bone structure, skin colour, language, social class etc. 

What will life be like when we are all coffee coloured fingible consuming units all watching teh same T.V. All bying the same basic products made by the four remaiing companies that provide all that you can consume, providing you play your part and keep providng the data, going to work, thnking and speaing liek everyvbody else, holding the same basic opinions?

Be careful what you wish for.

Desire is the root of all human unhappiness.

This is a forum for ALL Autists, not just your preffered type. 

ME and you had a big argument a while back and there were lessons to be learned on both sides. I think we learned a bit, but not yet how to hate the sin but still love the sinner.

From where I sit, there's a whole group of you people partially or fully poseessed by some really dangerous and stupid ideas!

TELL ME it isn't the same for you?

This forum is like a lifeboat in which we are all seeking to use to stay afloat in the sea of NT crapulance.

Only one group is constantly calling out for the ejection of the other... 

i find arguments are best unmoderated really... for a real argument or debate we need a unmoderated space. the mods do a excellent job of moderating this forum though, contrary to what this authoritarian mellow fellow claims, that guy clearly just wants a really strict authoritarian place where no one is left as everyone is banned, like twitter used to be before elon musk brought it. they had to fill that place with bots due to everyone being banned.

Pegg said:

Nice to see you here Debbie

Ditto

Debbie said:

I'm one of the few females who stick around here and the ones who do stick around tend to be better at staying out of the cr*p than I am.

I'm rubbish at staying out of the carp

But I'm trying! 

Nice to see you here Debbie

hard not to be angry with the state of this country and how people defend it for some reason. virtue signalling for crime and violence as if its virtuous to support crime seems strange. crime is not virtuous, if you have a issue with that then take it up with the cops as they are the law enforcement that determines that crime isnt good lol

also funny that... the state of our country... i thought labour was gonna fix the state of our country so we didnt have to be angry at the government no more? what happened to that?

I wouldn't come on this forum if you are either angry, have been drinking, or both. 

I offer you my scathing and unadulterated contempt on an intellectual, ethical and emotional level. Free speech innit pal.  Note the irony.

Cheers mate.  See you soon.

People expressing different opinions and arguing is healthy.

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

I disagree,  note the irony. 

I agree, and feel the same M.

I'm one of the few females who stick around here and the ones who do stick around tend to be better at staying out of the cr*p than I am.

This post made me sad as I have always enjoyed your sojourns here.

Be safe and well.