Could someone peek at this for me...?

[bliss_eternal]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2399420&mesg_id=2401533

and check out my response, please? Is my response appropriate?

I'm not trying to encourage a dog pile or flame war by any means...just making sure that I'm not overreacting in my response to a questionable poster on our boards. I don't post much in GD anymore, so I want to be sure I'm not out of line.

That and it always riles me when I see alleged Dems, (or at least people posting on these boards) that don't seem aware of the facts facing women...or perhaps they just don't care. Because of course you know, we are all neurotic harpies with axes to grind, and merely imagining this attack on women's rights. They could never dismantle Roe V. Wade, because it's a wedge issue for the right. :eyes: :sarcasm:

Thanks,
bliss :hi:

[ThomCat]

1. It's a very good response.

Clear, factual, and you do it without sounding angry. (I need to be better at that.)

[bliss_eternal]

3. Thanks, ThomCat...

I appreciate your feedback. I'm actually not always good at not sounding angry. I guess today was a good day. Haha! :hi:

[Solly Mack]

2. I need your calm

My patience is wearing thin.

[bliss_eternal]

4. Solly Mack--

:hug: mine, too.

These boards can be so challenging for us and our issues. Honestly, I've stayed out of all discussions in GD for a long time because I just couldn't do it anymore. Like you, my patience was thread bare. I was so tired of fighting racism, bigotry, sexism, oppressive words and statements. Unfortunately, sometimes I still feel compelled to make corrections (like today)... I wish sometimes I didn't feel that way, though. It's frequently a fruitless effort.

Thanks so much for your feedback, Solly! :hi: ...and the kind words! ;)

[Solly Mack]

5. I'm currently wasting my energies in this thread

Drinking habits of rape accuser raised at Naval Academy

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1684721

:hug:


I say wasting my energies because for some, they will never get it. But then they don't have to...it's not them being harmed by the attitudes. I read your thread after I had already engaged in the other thread and admired your calm. Envied it, too. :)

[ThomCat]

6. That thread is staying surprisingly calm.

[Solly Mack]

7. It really is...though I'm less calm than the thread

I'm chomping at the bit behind my keyboard. :)

But I am trying to be calm...

[bliss_eternal]

8. I see a lot of feminist support in that thread...

several that are frequent posters here. I like seeing that, as opposed to an absolute assault on one or two members that are being annihilated with ignorance. I love to see support, even with the idiocy represented.

No, some will never get it. Doesn't that suck? Seriously. It's so sad and frustrating, isn't it? But they have to want to get it, and most aren't going to ask themselves the type of questions to challenge their own belief system. It starts with asking,"...why do I believe this?...who taught me this? ...why did I accept it?"

Most people only ask those type of questions when personally faced with a challenge or life changing event, for example a loved one is raped or assaulted. Or they lose someone they care about, because they couldn't support them through such circumstances. I'm sure there are other events that could create introspection of this level, these are merely a couple of examples based on the subject matter at hand.

I appreciate your admiration, though I don't know that I deserve it. Self preservation is where I am right now. I just choose not to give of myself in a way that leaves me vulnerable to be hurt. When I still believed DU was a place I could express myself and be protected, I was less careful--and frequently quite emotional in posts. These days, I save that sort of expression for this area and a few of the other sub-groups where I feel safe.

All of this isn't to say of course that from time to time I don't just lose it...because I do. :P LOL! We're only human afterall. ;)

[Solly Mack]

9. I've been enjoying all the feminist support on the thread

You're very right about that...it's there and in force.

I just get frustrated having to explain the exact same concept over and over and over...with each rape/abuse...it all begins again.

[bliss_eternal]

11. Don't let it get you down, friend...

...I KNOW how frustrating it is. :grouphug:

Don't allow it to deplete or take from your vital strength and energy. If it does that, then step back for a spell. But know that there are people here that appreciate what some of us have the courage to say--they just aren't always verbal about it.

:hi:

[bliss_eternal]

10. ...and may I just add this.

You are only wasting your energy if you think you are. You never know who your words are going to touch.

After the Duke insanity, we gained a few members to this forum. That makes me feel great in that some women that have been victimized saw some of the ladies (and gentleman) represent in those threads, and they came looking for that support here. Some have made their presence known to us, others maybe just lurk.

I've seen more people (i.e. men) feeling like they can come here and ask questions about feminist issues--that's awesome!

It's a huge statement that we won't be silenced and that we speak up in the main forums. Sure we get our asses kicked or we get piled on by misogynists sometimes. But in all of that sometimes we reach a few people. There's even been a few men that see that shit and think "oh shit--is THAT what we look like?" :)