General Discussion

The Doctor.

(17,266 posts)

127. Making an open committment to be *honest* and open

Tue Dec 20, 2011, 11:12 PM

Dec 2011

Only gives others something to hold over our heads.

It means we choose to hold ourselves to a higher standard and not be what they wish to characterize us as. It also means we expect to be held to that standard.

Normally, one would imagine they would love to be able to bludgeon someone they don't want to hear with such a promise, but then why this intense aversion by critics to supporters promising to be more receptive and thoughtful?

I know the answer, but I'm curious if you have an idea.

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I Have a Pledge to Make. Who Will Join Me? [View all] The Doctor. Dec 2011 OP

Ooooo....A "Pledge".....how , how republican ! comipinko Dec 2011 #1

So a thoughtful pledge to be reasonable is 'Republican'? The Doctor. Dec 2011 #3

"pledges" only deter actual thought. Yup, very republican. comipinko Dec 2011 #7

I just tried to tell my wife that the pledges we made when we got married ... JoePhilly Dec 2011 #101

MRS. JoePhilly IS MY KIND OF GAL Skittles Dec 2011 #166

NEVER, NEVER ... mess with Mrs. JoePhily ... trust me. JoePhilly Dec 2011 #176

You're lucky she didn't put any grits in there for you Hutzpa Dec 2011 #181

Pledges stiffle? Is that because of the pledge or because the pledgee took viagra? nt stevenleser Dec 2011 #104

Post removed Post removed Dec 2011 #105

It also occurs to me that you must believe all physicians are 'Republican'. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #9

Your silly pledge can not be compared as you have done. comipinko Dec 2011 #11

How disappointing. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #14

Now you resort to personal attacks?? comipinko Dec 2011 #23

What personal attack? The Doctor. Dec 2011 #26

Typical. comipinko Dec 2011 #33

This really is amusing. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #43

While I fully support your pledge Aerows Dec 2011 #69

I am laughing because i_sometimes Dec 2011 #49

That was hardly a personal attack. emcguffie Dec 2011 #112

I took a pledge to my cat snooper2 Dec 2011 #59

So you think you can speak for all "good Democrats"? pnwmom Dec 2011 #86

I will join you in that pledge. polmaven Dec 2011 #2

You'd think it wouldn't be necessary. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #4

Post removed Post removed Dec 2011 #12

Wow. I could not have asked for a better example of thoughtless belligerence. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #16

Take two aspirin and call me in the morning! comipinko Dec 2011 #20

Yep. That's the stuff. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #25

Again, it breaks it's own pledge. comipinko Dec 2011 #29

Again, "How?" The Doctor. Dec 2011 #44

Where is a pledge weak minded? Sheepshank Dec 2011 #109

You are calling a poster "thoughtlessly belligerent"? Is that within community rhett o rick Dec 2011 #106

I am NOT overly critical of President Obama Dorian Gray Dec 2011 #31

you noticed that , too? comipinko Dec 2011 #35

Post the pertinent excerpt. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #39

"Those like you." Dorian Gray Dec 2011 #89

So what you're saying is that it's wrong to point out when someone is lying. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #93

Okay... Dorian Gray Dec 2011 #164

Do you honestly not see that -- emcguffie Dec 2011 #114

My thoughts exactly. Old and In the Way Dec 2011 #151

No, I saw that Dorian Gray Dec 2011 #165

Pass Sherman A1 Dec 2011 #5

Applause. Major Cheers. n/t Yo_Mama Dec 2011 #6

This message was self-deleted by its author seaglass Dec 2011 #8

And when it is, it should be pointed out. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #10

Have you read "Catch 22"?? Lately? comipinko Dec 2011 #13

+1 It feels like bullying to me. tblue Dec 2011 #97

I pledge to speak freely. UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2011 #15

+1 pintobean Dec 2011 #17

Now THERE is a pledge !! LOL comipinko Dec 2011 #21

+1 andlor Dec 2011 #162

a pledge? piratefish08 Dec 2011 #18

Take the damn pledge. comipinko Dec 2011 #22

K&R quinnox Dec 2011 #19

It's very interesting to see The Doctor. Dec 2011 #24

Civil discourse? pintobean Dec 2011 #27

Post removed Post removed Dec 2011 #30

CRASH goes the "pledge" comipinko Dec 2011 #37

Reading comprehension fail. pintobean Dec 2011 #38

Given that it's the same set of readers The Doctor. Dec 2011 #51

What? Seriously? emcguffie Dec 2011 #116

i pledge to not commit to civil discourse regarding the taking of pledges. piratefish08 Dec 2011 #178

He can't answer you pintobean Dec 2011 #179

Ahh....so nice to see you again...massive wall of text... tjwash Dec 2011 #28

Keep smokin'. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #32

Again with the personal attacks. comipinko Dec 2011 #40

So, you are suggesting the post to which he was responding is...? emcguffie Dec 2011 #118

Wow. Bluenorthwest May 2012 #184

Nope, because I'm not an Obama supporter...third party... joeybee12 Dec 2011 #34

.... i_sometimes Dec 2011 #36

Post it. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #41

Stop it. You're killing me. UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2011 #45

Amazing. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #47

Lol... i_sometimes Dec 2011 #48

Pick one. Post it. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #50

Huh? i_sometimes Dec 2011 #62

The request was in English. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #63

Nope... i_sometimes Dec 2011 #64

Bwhaahahahahaaaaa! The 'copycat game'??!? The Doctor. Dec 2011 #67

Try harder. i_sometimes Dec 2011 #70

I think I know why you found DU 'toxic'. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #76

Ah, no. i_sometimes Dec 2011 #91

Whatever excuse you need to avoid any kind of substantive discussion. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #94

So true. Union Scribe Dec 2011 #128

But you've said plenty, in your short little post. emcguffie Dec 2011 #120

Nope. Union Scribe Dec 2011 #129

I judge Obama on his actions, not on what he says in "black and white" print. Laelth Dec 2011 #42

Again I have to encourage someone to read for meaning: The Doctor. Dec 2011 #46

Sigh. I suspected you were asking for careful, literal readings. Laelth Dec 2011 #52

If that's too much to ask, then I am most certainly disappointed. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #56

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar? Fearless Dec 2011 #135

Mwen pral pran angajman an UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2011 #53

so anyone who criticizes obama is dishonest. aletier_v Dec 2011 #54

Illiterate liars suffering from paranoid schizophrenia pintobean Dec 2011 #57

You're being too hard on them. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #61

Another one who simply 'makes shit up'. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #58

Thanks you - and I agree bhikkhu Dec 2011 #55

Yes, and just look at all the examples in this thread. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #60

Yes, you are whining about DU. nt EFerrari Dec 2011 #65

By that standard, so is every post The Doctor. Dec 2011 #66

Whine: "To utter a plaintive, high-pitched, protracted sound... Fearless Dec 2011 #138

K & R Aerows Dec 2011 #68

Please read post 60 and reconsider that rec. Union Scribe Dec 2011 #72

It's just an interesting side effect. Not really much of a 'motive'. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #74

So, you've taken a pledge to insult the hell out of people. Union Scribe Dec 2011 #71

If you would bother to read it, you'll see that's not the point. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #73

Your OP and this entire conversation pscot Dec 2011 #78

What you're saying would have validity if I called anyone an 'idiot'. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #81

It was your 1st sentence pscot Dec 2011 #113

Jesus...that's a really fancy way to start a loyalty oath DisgustipatedinCA Dec 2011 #75

Wow, another one who doesn't bother to read or understand an OP. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #77

Just to watch the hypocrisy spew from your keyboard, in direct contradiction to your OP. DisgustipatedinCA Dec 2011 #80

Yet you can point to no such hypocrisy or contradictions. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #82

Run along. I believe we've concluded any useful discourse. DisgustipatedinCA Dec 2011 #83

It never began. But at least I tried. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #87

Yes, and you got all the material you were trolling for DisgustipatedinCA Dec 2011 #88

You mean the proof that so many The Doctor. Dec 2011 #90

Here are a couple of your posts that I believe push the community standards envelope. rhett o rick Dec 2011 #108

Good post, I appreciate it. I would like to emulatorloo Dec 2011 #79

What are we a Republican primary? TheKentuckian Dec 2011 #84

If DU is about seeing Democrats and getting Democrats elected, it can't be one big steady Obama or deacon Dec 2011 #85

Good point ... Getting Dems elected is the 2nd section of the DU ... JoePhilly Dec 2011 #99

Definetly. And that really defines the problem, a site identity crisis. n/t deacon Dec 2011 #139

I Pledge to remember to not be as full of myself A-Schwarzenegger Dec 2011 #92

Now you done it. UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2011 #95

Good for you. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #96

Yeesh. It's really getting weird around here Doctor_J Dec 2011 #98

What "Loyalty Oath"? The Doctor. Dec 2011 #102

Dear The Doctor, tblue Dec 2011 #100

K&R because of your good intentions. Zalatix Dec 2011 #103

Thanks Tblue and Zalatix. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #107

having read this entire thread eyewall Dec 2011 #110

Yet nothing specific to point to. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #125

Why are you right? Fearless Dec 2011 #136

Asking others to take take your solomn pledge sad sally Dec 2011 #111

Yeah, asking people to be honest and open is certainly a form of censorship. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #126

God you're an ass eyewall Dec 2011 #143

Does that mean you're not taking the pledge? A-Schwarzenegger Dec 2011 #144

Pledges? We don need no stinking pledges. eyewall Dec 2011 #147

Muy bueno. A-Schwarzenegger Dec 2011 #148

sounds reasonable - count me in, although I try to do those things all the time. nt cry baby Dec 2011 #115

No thank you. Texasgal Dec 2011 #117

Hey Doc... I take this pledge. vaberella Dec 2011 #119

Making an open committment to be *honest* and open The Doctor. Dec 2011 #127

Can you quote a specific instance where there has been... Fearless Dec 2011 #137

Grammar police here - "...affect change" not "...effect change" jimlup Dec 2011 #121

Actually, no. ChadwickHenryWard Dec 2011 #122

I didnt even know effect could be a verb. A-Schwarzenegger Dec 2011 #123

It can. I have an article on my grammar & usage site tblue37 Dec 2011 #134

Hey, thanks. A-Schwarzenegger Dec 2011 #141

You're welcome. nt tblue37 Dec 2011 #142

Gimmie the gist... Taverner Dec 2011 #124

Well this paragraph is very well said and I'd like to Maraya1969 Dec 2011 #130

I think democratic party has decided that the a-hole "independent" who voted for McCain scentopine Dec 2011 #131

A big +1 UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2011 #149

Let me put it more succinctly BanTheGOP Dec 2011 #132

You left something out. UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2011 #152

Maybe I just want my pony but... Fearless Dec 2011 #133

Wonderful. UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2011 #154

Funny stuff, but I'll decline. (nt) (nr) T S Justly Dec 2011 #140

Damn! jbpdx Dec 2011 #145

Nice idea but pass. ObaMania Dec 2011 #146

I have a suggestion MFrohike Dec 2011 #150

I pledge to never use the word "strawman" eyewall Dec 2011 #153

Well, UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2011 #155

My understanding MFrohike Dec 2011 #156

I see what you're saying. UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2011 #159

Actually, you're right MFrohike Dec 2011 #180

Nice try Doc. Old and In the Way Dec 2011 #157

I am not an Obama supporter Martin Eden Dec 2011 #158

Mission Impossible tatfreak79 Dec 2011 #160

Damn, I miss the "unrec" feature. Jokerman Dec 2011 #161

Grover . . .is that you? Vinca Dec 2011 #163

I PLEDGE TO SAY IT LIKE IT IS Skittles Dec 2011 #167

Sorry I missed this one yesterday. Bolo Boffin Dec 2011 #168

Are you saying the voices in my head are telling me you think I'm a liar? hootinholler Dec 2011 #169

Don't sweat it, hoot. I got the key. pintobean Dec 2011 #171

I was wondering how the OP could hear my voices. n/t hootinholler Dec 2011 #173

. pintobean Dec 2011 #174

They don't like eavesdroppers hootinholler Dec 2011 #175

Only read the first few responses of clusterfuck replies JNelson6563 Dec 2011 #170

I think he got the reaction he was looking for. pintobean Dec 2011 #172

Yes, especially coming from i_sometimes Dec 2011 #177

That presupposes the OP is correct. Fearless Dec 2011 #182

Bumpsky UnrepentantLiberal May 2012 #183

You're a very silly man. UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2012 #185

Pledges are either for holding or breaking liberal N proud Dec 2012 #186

This message was self-deleted by its author intaglio Dec 2012 #187

I wish I had so much time on my hands obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #188