Reply #243: Of course you go take up arms and fight that kind of shit. I wasn't talking about legitimate duels.

[scarletwoman]

I'm talking about when I've seen non-flamebait pro-Clinton posts get jumped on by a troop of snarking Obama people who never pause to consider that there might be an opening for dialogue. No, it's just automatic attack because that person has been identified as belonging to the "other" side.

Obviously there's a good number of Hillary people who will go down throwing everything they can at Obama until they are finally banned.

But there are other people here, some longtime DUers that I've known for years, that I see no point in continuing to antagonize, because they are people I would like to have on my side for the big battle ahead. Yet they can't post ANYTHING without someone deciding to take it the worst way possible -- the insults and mockery fly and any chance of dialogue is totally shut down in a hail of mutual contempt.

I'm sincerely asking, is this smart? Is just staying all the time on hair-trigger defensiveness and hostility really the best strategy for the long term?

We need our wits about us. We need to be sharpening our rational minds and our creativity and learn to dazzle our opponents with the sheer beauty and awesomeness of our mad skilz. I want us to quit engaging in the low-minded self-indulgence of kicking them when they're down.

I wish we would simply ignore anything that gets posted that is clearly delusional, and/or is posted just to push the buttons of the Obama people. If they don't get attention there's nothing in it for them. At the same time I wish we start behaving like gracious and honorable victors, we should not seek to humiliate or heap contempt, or demand that they submit.

I wish we would stop coming out of a place of fear and anger, and instead come out of a place of joy and confidence. There are creative ways to resolve conflict and restore broken bonds, why don't we work from that level instead of from the level of battle-axes and claymores? Do we really want to condemn ourselves to tribalism and dualism forever?

We have important work ahead of us, work that is going to require all the nimbleness and alertness and creativity we can muster. Here, we have a perfect opportunity to practice our ability to make Obama's case to a skeptical audience. If we're not willing to learn how to do that starting now and starting here, what does that say about our confidence and spirit?

Peace,
sw