Name:   MAJ USA RET - Subject:   put down that stone Date:   12/31/2018 5:20:51 PM

If it gets too over-the-top, I just move on. 

Sometimes I stop to ponder “why would someone say something like that” or “how can someone harbor so much animosity.”  In most of those cases, the writer is demonstrating “displacement behavior”… also known as “acting out” (in a child).  They do not know what to say… or do… so, they say or do something else which conveys emotional stress and/or confusion. Epithets are often symptomatic of an inability to understand the opposing argument… or inability to express one’s own argument.

I have a relative who is very intelligent but, has become so cynical that she cannot hold any job where she has to interact civilly with others.  She has often expressed how crooked or corrupt are her bosses, co-workers, doctors, insurance agency… etc. And so, she treats others as if they are indeed “out to get her.”  Things have not gone well for her because of this.

Our forum has its share of cynics.

Also… look to see what time of day in which the post was written.  It says much about the writer’s circadian status at the time of composition (and, also if they’ve had too much to drink). A politically driven individual will compose more strident discourse immediately after watching… say… Madam Secretary - more strident than watching… say… a Hallmark movie.

I truly believe that people are watching too much television… and are having trouble managing their suspension of disbelief.  They may be turning off their television… but, they did not turn off their suspension of disbelief.  These people have difficulty discerning the difference between creative license and reality.  There is only so much truth you can fit into 30 second sound bites and still keep the viewer’s attention.

My advice… I am pretending that you are asking:

- Do not block anyone

- Do not suppose that Karma is something YOU can assign

- Understand expression for what it is (mine included, thank you).

LMF Curmudgeon