Man, I am too thin skinned for GD.

[fleabert]

this immigration shit is too close to the bone for me. I am way too emotional and not learned enough to stick up for myself much more. My knowledge is second hand, directly from someone who is the result of illegal immigration, that I love; and I am a poor representative of their position.

this sucks.

:-(

anyone else ever start off strong in GD and then decide to walk away?

edited for spelling.

[KitchenWitch]

1. Sorry to hear that...

:hug:

My guess is 90% of the flame posters in GD are too thin skinned to post there...the problem is not you. It is that there are emotional issues discussed over there, and things are taken so seriously.

[fleabert]

5. thanks.

I can't really say I am being flamed. Just challenged on points that I personally cannot respond to, most of my opinions are based on the person I know, and I cannot begin to be as educated as them on the subject. If I had them on the phone and read the thread to them, I would feel better, but I don't. They don't even understand why I bother. I think I might be the one posting with personal emotion. I do try to keep it un-flame-ish though.

I need to just walk away, even though I hate to not having eloquently stating my feelings, which are jumbled.

thanks for the hug and kind words. I need them, I feel very puny right now. :-(

[Skittles]

2. get back in there, fleabert

your opinion is as good as anyone's in there! No doubt in some cases much better!

[fleabert]

6. shucks, you are too kind.

thanks. i wish i could go in there and kick some ass. ;-)

I am at a loss right now.

[RevolutionaryActs]

3. ((hug))

:hug:

[fleabert]

7. I needed that.

thanks a bunch. ;-)

I am not feeling very 'smalley' tonight myself.

[DulceDecorum]

4. I understand how you feel

and so do many others.
:grouphug:

[fleabert]

8. Sucks that I am not alone.

thanks. :-)

[jonnyblitz]

9. it's scary some of the shit I read on those immigration

threads from people who are supposed to be liberals. :scared:

[fleabert]

11. you and me both.

fucking frightening is what it is. the simple truth is about 98% of the American population can be traced to an immigrant of some sort. It's a pervasive 'it was okay for my family, but not for THEM.' attitude. Usually directed at our southern border and not our northern or coastal ones.

[jonnyblitz]

14. I just don't care if somebody is illegal or not.

simple as that. :shrug:

[MissMarple]

10. Sometimes "irrefutable reason" kills the thread.

If there is such a thing. Or maybe, I'm just a thread killer. :shrug:

But I never give up in a... uh...a discussion. Unless of course it is way past bedtime, like right now.

Goodnight :hi:

[fleabert]

13. true.

but nothing I have seen is irrefutable in general, just not refuted well by me. I know they are wrong, just don't have the words or experience to explain it to the rest of the world. I am at a loss basically, and down because of it.

goodnight. :-)

[Jamastiene]

12. Don't feel bad.

Just come hang with us. :hug:

All you need to do is point out that they are talking about human beings here and bow and walk out of the conversation. It's not worth getting down over it. If you just look at it this way, you may not be able to win that particular battle, but the war ain't over until the last flamer has decided to give up. It'll help you get better, possibly (as much as can be expected when people jump all over you and gang up on you.) It IS brutal over there. You could post that blue is your favorite poster and someone would find a way to turn blue into an evil vile color...

[fleabert]

17. :-) thanks. I love the safety of the lounge.

I would love a good GD fray about something I am both educated and passionate about. Rather than just passionate and marginally educated about. where is a breastfeeding or feminism thread when I need one? LOL.

I am really sensitive right now, it could be worse. I am not really getting ganged up on, or flamed really. I have seen much worse. I am just really thin skinned when people talk about my family, and that's what this is about for me.

:hug: back atcha!

[JohnnyCougar]

15. Do you want me to kick some ass for you?

Their intimidation tactics are only used to cover up their own insecurities.

There is a clique of the same people over there that continually harass me whenever I make a reasonable point that is not towing the line of "what is acceptable" on DU. I am about to go over there and see if they aren't the same people harassing you.

[fleabert]

22. I was all ready to say no, it's all me, no one is harassing me...until

the poster after you showed up.

I hate this stalking shit. see below if you'd like an ass to kick. I so know this thread is now going to get locked.

It was helpful while it lasted. :rant:


I really was saying that I just can't do it anymore, since it is too close to home, i am near tears hearing people talk about my family the way they are, even though they don't realize they are. (talking about my family that is)

I am so pissed now, the tears are drying up.

[candle_bright]

16. I understand, but

what you need to do is realize that there is a BIG problem with illegal immigration. That doesn't mean that your friend is a bad person.

But let's face it. It IS a problem.

What is the solution? Assume everyone is as nice as your friend, while we bash the Chimperor over the head for not stopping illegal immigration?

It's a very tricky problem.

[fleabert]

20. what you need to realize is that this is not a thread about immigration.

this is a thread about how I am sick of defending my position, when my opinion is really based on defending my family and their pov.

edited because I was reacting emotionally. sorry about that part. I had you confused with another poster, one whom was involved in the discussion I mentioned in the OP. but my other statements stand. this isn't the thread to discuss immigration, please.

[candle_bright]

25. Whoa

I was just adding to your thread here.

I hope you don't think that *I* am harassing you.

If you didn't want feedback, why did you ask for it?

[fleabert]

27. i didn't ask for feedback about immigration.

it's that subject that is causing me so much grief in GD. I don't want to discuss it in the lounge.

i was talking about how i feel discussing it with people who have similar opinions to yours. so yes, I feel harassed. might not have been your intention, but it's the result.

perception is everything.

[candle_bright]

30. Allrighty.

You have been victimized because I responded to your post, not in accordance to your wishes. :eyes:

I wish you well, and hope you work things out. Tomorrow is new day.

[fleabert]

32. "not my wishes", or you could say, not on topic.

it's a general rule I follow to stay on topic. or at least admit a thread jack.

please note that I edited and added to my earlier post. I flew off the handle with you somewhat and shouldn't have. sorry. I thought you were a different poster.

[candle_bright]

34. How many times did you use the word "immigration"

Twice. But you've edited it since your original post.

Please pardon me for thinking it was relevant. :eyes:

How on Earth did I ask questions about immigration? There is no thread-jack here.

[fleabert]

38. i edited my OP for spelling, not content.

you didn't ask questions you told me what i needed to realize.

fuck. I came here to vent about defending myself when I felt insecure and here i am defending myself.

have you ever been in the lounge before?

AND...did you see my apology for thinking you were someone else? no response to that I see.

edited to take an 'r' off of 'your', typing goof.

[JohnnyCougar]

39. That's enough...

it really is.

[fleabert]

26. and. I don't think illegal immigration should stop. tyvm.

I don't think there should be such a thing as 'illegal' immigration. let them all in, anyone...

how does it go? 'give me your tired, your weak, your poor...' something like that?

[WilliamPitt]

18. All the time

Don't worry about it. The shelf life of most GD threads is 22 minutes. The best ones (or the worst) last two days at most.

Shake it off. Trust me.

[fleabert]

23. thank you.

kind words from a wise soul.

is 22 minutes up yet?

[WilliamPitt]

29. 22 flexible minutes

Go do some situps and get some sleep. Things will be better in the morning. ;)

[fleabert]

33. how did you know my tummy is flabby?

:-) thanks. I am way too irritated by this. (and now something else too)

[Robeson]

19. I've been over there a several times lately....

...I've even enjoyed confusing some with little things like facts...

[fleabert]

28. helps sometimes when you have them handy.

I don't have all mine lined up and feel at a loss. Mine are based on anecdotal evidence,and have said as much, which is less arguable than 'hard' facts, but are real to me nonetheless.

I am not confused by other's facts, just have some hurt feelings that stem from empathy.

[TreasonousBastard]

21. Missed all that...

but maybe you're best to stay away from the details and just remember that it's all about people and the planet-- not about economics or laws.

Economics and the law exist to serve us, which is often forgotten. National borders and boundaries aren't carved into the Earth's suface, but are artificially created for convenience and to keep some in, and others out.

Behind all the words are real people who are caught up in all of this, and they each have their own stories. It is those stories that are important.

[fleabert]

24. thanks for that perspective.

I will do well to remember it.

It's the real people in my life that are making this hard for me to either ignore or participate well.

[fujiyama]

31. Brush it off

and don't let it get to ya personally.

With some 40, 000+ members, there are bound to be some ass holes and I'm not calling those that necessarily disagree (it is possible to disagree and be civil about an issue) ass holes, but those that continue to harrass and use knee jerk nativist, xenophobic responses.

Whether people think illegal immigration is a problem, "Send 'em back" is NOT a solution and if someone thinks it is, they obviously don't understand that complex issues have complex solutions...and God knows that immigration ISN'T a simple issue.

I posted the thread asking whether people thought children of immigrants should be given citizenship and I was stunned to find out that about a third of those that took the poll voted that children of LEGAL immigrants shouldn't be given citizenship. I think such people are racist at heart and fear the idea of a brown second generation immigrant having the right to run for president.

I think the main problem is that when the economic situation is so poor (as is the case now especially with the labor market), immigrants are an easy group to lash out at. They are usually powerless and poor.

And I completely agree about the calming feeling in the lounge. It's a great place to chill out. :) :hug:

[fleabert]

36. I appreciate your response.

and I have to admit an inconsistency or hypocrisy of mine. I will not get onto you for stating your feeling about immigration, even though I did with someone else in this thread.

The reason is this: my post was obviously me looking for some comfort (call me a hug whore if you will), and the poster who got on and told me 'what I needed to realize' pissed me off. I got mad at them for commenting on immigration when my thread was clearly not about immigration, but was about ME! Your post on the other hand, made me feel better, because we agree, and I posted this thread so I could feel a little better.

so, I won't ask you not to comment. I am a hypocrite. I am a hug whore. and I hope my brown, first generation American family members ALL run for president someday.

I can't believe the responses either.

edited for spelling.

[fujiyama]

41. Don't worry

I didn't post in this thread to discuss immigration. The GD and lounge serve different purposes and it's usually pretty simple to realize what goes where. In case you were wondering though, I don't think the constitution should be changed and precedent should be kept - all those born here should be considered natural born citizens.

But yeah GD can certainly get heated...Unfortunately many don't have the ability to disagree with others in a civil manner and simply lash out.

I also hope that everyone of your relatives runs for president (that's if they are liberal Dems though! ;) ).

[fleabert]

45. ;-)

sigh, I can't even say it got heated. I just felt like shit. it's mostly all me. I guess I just thought it was intense, more than heated (I wasn't being flamed), due to my proximity to the subject at hand.

all me, no one else. i hate it when that happens.

[WinterStorm]

35. Is this the thread you are talking about?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3425192

[fleabert]

37. yes.

and others.

[WinterStorm]

40. Who beat you up in that thread?

Please re-read the messages and you won't be so upset. The argument was over exploitation. I was defending what I have witnessed that has been done to workers that are too afraid to report injuries.

[fleabert]

43. It's not just that thread. this has been building. nobody beat me up.

I am not communicating well about this subject. I can't, it is too close to home for me.

and i don't want to defend my immigration postition here in the lounge. I came here to vent about my feelings. nothing more. I'm upset in general.

[WinterStorm]

42. I forgot something

:hug:

[fleabert]

44. thanks.

for real. thanks.

if you read this whole thread, I think you will see I don't think anyone was really out of line or anything, it was all about my reaction to the subject and not feeling confident in my ability to adequately respond.