In a bad mood? come here and rant till you feel better

[Fiddlers Green]

I'm from a violent culture.
You mouth off at someone, you are likely to be struck. You slander someone, you are likely to be struck. You lie about someone and they catch you, well, you'll wish they stop after the first strike. It is important to note that criminal assault does not occur unless it is unprovoked or involves a weapon.
Children in this culture are raised with the understanding that reprisal for wrong doings will be swift and painful. The matter will also be considered done afterwards.

It took me a long time to adapt to other cultures, I initially thought that they were consequence free environments, as people were atrocious to each other, lied, slandered and perjured with apparent impunity. I would eventually understand that the consequences were entirely social, and would often keep cropping up for years after the fact.

The large difference is, my home culture does not consider physical harm to be worse than harm to reputation. It does not consider small acts of violence worse than the blaspheme of lying and slandering one's neighbor. Respect is consider just as vital as health. In other places, I have observed, it would seem that physical violence is considered the worst thing one can do to another person. This was jarring and counter intuitive to me.

I personally despise whisper wars, but that is entirely a subjective call. It would behoove many people to remember the difference between what is objectively true and what they would prefer to be objectively true.

Edit:Also, do keep in mind, we exist in a very delicate state. Violence has a long history in humanity, and it isn't disappearing. The relatively peaceful portions of modern society are not adamant nor comprehensive. Love it or hate it, violence is a very real part of the human experience. Living in abject revulsion and fear of it may leave one unprepared to deal with it if it does break out around one.
Also, be mindful of calling people out on their cultural mores. Some of them may be divinely mandated. That is not a point of consternation that is easily put to rest.  

[Taliah]

Just so you know Fiddler, I always appreciate your input on things. You seem to give both sides a fair amount of thought, and said respectfully while being informative. The world needs more people like you.  

[Esiris]

Violence may be part of our culture, but that doesn't make it right.  

[Wrath of Ezekiel]

All I will say to the debate on the last few pages, which while I wanted to somehow contribute, is that I agree to disagree with Fiddler and Shearaha.  

[Satyr Prince]

so, i've got an ex of an ex stalking me online now, trolling me everywhere i go. i keep blocking it and ignoring it but it keeps coming and i dont know what to do. i thought if you didnt feed trolls they'd go away, i guess that was wrong.  

[saint dreya]

Esiris

Violence may be part of our culture, but that doesn't make it right.

My barracks is co ed. The second deck is for males, the third for females.

The males used to get into some pretty nasty situations with each other, so as an attempt to diffuse those situations, they would engage in something akin to "Fight Club" and have at each other on the second deck. They'd come away after with the situation solved and both parties could work together, might even be joking with each other and partying the following weekend.

The females seem to have larger spats and they continue to fester, gossip and whispers being the primary weapon. There might be some yelling matches, or even some pissing contests, but nothing as physical or violent as the males. This tends to tear any cohesion on the female deck as those who "allied" themselves with a particular party are forced to choose a side. These spats might last months at a time and have on occasion affected work.

I sometimes wonder if a "Fight Club" on the female deck might improve the cooperation...

Strega Mama

so, i've got an ex of an ex stalking me online now, trolling me everywhere i go. i keep blocking it and ignoring it but it keeps coming and i dont know what to do. i thought if you didnt feed trolls they'd go away, i guess that was wrong.

Some trolls tend to be a bit more stubborn and live off of their own fecal matter for an extended time. They'll eventually find less and less nutritional value in it.  

[Esiris]

saint dreya

My barracks is co ed. The second deck is for males, the third for females.

The males used to get into some pretty nasty situations with each other, so as an attempt to diffuse those situations, they would engage in something akin to "Fight Club" and have at each other on the second deck. They'd come away after with the situation solved and both parties could work together, might even be joking with each other and partying the following weekend.

The females seem to have larger spats and they continue to fester, gossip and whispers being the primary weapon. There might be some yelling matches, or even some pissing contests, but nothing as physical or violent as the males. This tends to tear any cohesion on the female deck as those who "allied" themselves with a particular party are forced to choose a side. These spats might last months at a time and have on occasion affected work.

I sometimes wonder if a "Fight Club" on the female deck might improve the cooperation...

The whole thing sounds unhealthy.  

[Maze]

I think the majority of the world sounds unhealthy.  

[Esiris]

Maze

I think the majority of the world sounds unhealthy.

I think you're right. I'm hoping that we can change it though.  

[Shearaha]

Esiris

saint dreya

My barracks is co ed. The second deck is for males, the third for females.

The males used to get into some pretty nasty situations with each other, so as an attempt to diffuse those situations, they would engage in something akin to "Fight Club" and have at each other on the second deck. They'd come away after with the situation solved and both parties could work together, might even be joking with each other and partying the following weekend.

The females seem to have larger spats and they continue to fester, gossip and whispers being the primary weapon. There might be some yelling matches, or even some pissing contests, but nothing as physical or violent as the males. This tends to tear any cohesion on the female deck as those who "allied" themselves with a particular party are forced to choose a side. These spats might last months at a time and have on occasion affected work.

I sometimes wonder if a "Fight Club" on the female deck might improve the cooperation...

The whole thing sounds unhealthy.

Sounds like a healthy group of soldiers to me. The males anyway.  

[Esiris]

Shearaha

Sounds like a healthy group of soldiers to me. The males anyway.

It strikes me as typical, not healthy.  

[saint dreya]

Demented Beauty

Mark my words, if this petition [to remove a racial slur from an item name] is carried through and you guys actually WIN, I will make a petition to change it back to the way it was.

This...this makes me...

I question my reasoning to defend asshats like this. I question my reasons to volunteer in a military that has these inconsiderate shitlickers behind me, back home. I question my service when it's people like this who make peace an imaginary quest.  

[Wrath of Ezekiel]

Esiris

Shearaha

Sounds like a healthy group of soldiers to me. The males anyway.

It strikes me as typical, not healthy.

Stereotypical probably.  

[Esiris]

saint dreya

Demented Beauty

Mark my words, if this petition [to remove a racial slur from an item name] is carried through and you guys actually WIN, I will make a petition to change it back to the way it was.

This...this makes me...

I question my reasoning to defend asshats like this. I question my reasons to volunteer in a military that has these inconsiderate shitlickers behind me, back home. I question my service when it's people like this who make peace an imaginary quest.

I think people who serve in the military (like most of my family and friends) do so for people like you and those who signed in favor of the petition- for all the good people here at home.

You can't blame yourself if jerks get to share in the benefit you give the rest of us.

Wrath of Ezekiel

Stereotypical probably.

Maybe- I've known a lot of military, family, friends and other people who lived on base. I haven't served myself, I'm not able to- but I've heard a bit about what it is like. It's a little hard to believe that all of them have similar experiences without there being a common thread of truth to it.  

[Esiris]

Ugh. Talking to Mama is a bit like a kick to the chest.
At least there's a chance I might get a sponsor for NaNoWriMo.