Question to the Project

[Mandolin]

You guys know I don't generally approve of this kind of thread, and I know it won't be long before it gets locked, but I'd really like an answer before that happens. I'm just a bit confused here because lots of you seem to think that I'm somehow attacking when I want to post an opinion. And I'm well aware of how whiny this sounds as I type it, but I can't think of another, better, way to say it. For example, currently on the Kappa Mikey thread, most of you disagreed with me. I'm sure you don't expect that to make me happy, because everyone likes to meet fellow fans of something, but when I reply with my reasons on why I disagree with others' reasoning it is invariably regarded as a direct offense. I don't mean that. I hold no bitter feelings for anyone when I begin to type things of that kind; I just want a friendly debate that involves reasonable arguments. I don't post sermons and I don't know what to do so you guys won't think they are.

To me, it's perfectly natural in the course of a debate to want to either convince the other side that one is right or to prove that the other side is wrong. When the subject matter is as inane as it was in this instance, I thought neither that things would get as heated as they did (am I a heat magnet or something?) or that anything at all that was said in it was somehow a serious slight. (and, by the way, I thought the "clobbered over the head with a blunt object at least three times just to learn ya" thing was just ludicrous enough that no-one could possibly think I meant it) I want to make it perfectly clear right now that as far as the Project is concerned, I want nothing more than to get along with everyone and never react offensively to anyone unless I have been deliberately offended first. With one exception, anytime you thought I did was a misunderstanding, and you have my word on that one. I don't want this to keep happening; you react more furiously, much sooner, to my posts than to anyone else's, although my topics are usually among the most frivolous.

I just want to ask those members here that bear no ill will... what am I doing wrong and how can I improve?

[Andre]

No, we don't like you.

[wkw427]

I like you..

Originally Posted by Andre

No, we don't like you.

I don't

[firealpha]

There are a lot of people here who seem to overreact to a lot of remarks.

I like you very much, Mandolin.

[Avarice]

You're fine, Mandolin. Don't always take arguments and such as personal attacks.

[Mandolin]

I appreciate (and will appreciate) contributions from anyone actually trying to help.

Originally Posted by Andre

No, we don't like you.

Excuse me if I don't cry over that, Andre.

[Hakey Wake]

A lot of the responses in that thread (read: responses) were completely retarded and could've been worded a lot better in most cases, I don't think you really did anything "wrong" to begin with!

[SSJ3 Gogeta]

I dunno, I don't have a beef with you. I will admit though, some of the stuff you say is, well, weird. Sorry if I'm being a little harsh, but I'm just trying to help.

[Soulreaper41392]

I'm sad to say you've found your way onto my ignore list. You're childish, snobbish, and really all the blog-esque posts are annoying. But keep reading.

And you just won't let it go when someone disagrees with you. You try to prove them wrong and argue against them in the most arrogant way, and it's annoying as hell. It's not like:

Kid1: Vista sucks cause every time I go to do something it asks me a million times if I really want to do it or whatever.

Kid2: Well you can actually turn that feature off if it bothers you.

It's like, you go and say "NO your opinion is wrong and you just don't get it cause you aren't as smart/holy/awesome as me" and then provide some BS argument about it all. Look, the person doesn't like it, stop trying to change that fact. Not everyone is going to like the show. You can't say someone's opinion on a show is wrong, because it is an opinion, and not a fact.

I don't know what else to say. You should consider yourself lucky, I'm one of the people that doesn't like you right now, and I just explained why I don't like you instead of saying "you suck".

[ConkerKing]

Originally Posted by Shakey Bakery

I don't think you really did anything "wrong" to begin with!

Filler.

[The Jinjo Jinjo]

Originally Posted by Andre

No, we don't like you.

Well, somebody had to say it,

[Kaz da Breegull]

I know I've had a few outbursts at you before, but now that I look back I was just jumping into a situation without thinking. :/

I know I don't agree with everything you say, but you at least try to give a lot of detail and insight to your posts. In any case, that's a great thing and I wish more people would do it. I see nothing wrong with you.

[Bottles98]

Originally Posted by Andre

No, we don't like you.

Pretty much this.

[Banjo's Banjo]

Originally Posted by Mandolin

To me, it's perfectly natural in the course of a debate to want to either convince the other side that one is right or to prove that the other side is wrong.

No one is going to debate this one at all because, yeah, that's the entire point. The fact of the matter though is that you have to pretty much understand that not everyone is going to agree with your PoV and you have to respect that. Especially since the topics are...well, definitely inane as you put it.

(and, by the way, I thought the "clobbered over the head with a blunt object at least three times just to learn ya" thing was just ludicrous enough that no-one could possibly think I meant it)

As I put in the topic that got nuked back before the holidays, this is your biggest problem. Since you seem to whip up into a fervor when it comes to anything you are talking about, it's hard to discern what the hell is a joke or not. When you first joined the RWP I figured a lot of your stances were sarcastic...only to find out that you were serious later down the line. There's like this razor line you've created and frankly it's too thin to figure out what you are trying to get across.

More importantly your target audience is pretty much wrong. You have a tendency to argue either 1) Animation or 2) Social indoctrination (or some jazz along those lines). As someone who studied animation for over 4 years, I don't mind debating it, but arguing semantics here is not something that's going to spur a lot of deep conversation. Going full circle on this, it seems whenever someone doesn't agree it ultimately adds up to you responding in a way that, although kind of friendly, lacks depth and is just a long drawn out way of saying "NO U " As stated by others you don't give solid reasoning to back it up, just a load of what really amounts to logical fallacies.

Work on it, ponder what we've said, what have you, but remember this: We aren't here to stroke your ego. You speak heavily of free thought, remember we're just exercising ours.

[Porky]

you've done nothing wrong, don't worry