Relaxing on Facebook

• I have been in a vegetative state, moving between couch and bed.  Not eating right because I don't have the energy to cook more than once a day, and there is nothing really good (that I want) to just grab and munch on any more.  I am composting.  So, what does one do, when one has the energy to do nothing?  They sit on the couch with the Kindle on their lap and cruise Facebook.

  So first, some intelligent and thoughtful discussion regarding 2nd Amendment Rights that sticks right to the point and involves no ideological chest-thumping.

  
  

  Cast of Characters:

  The Elvira Show  Young, Female, Progressive Radio Show Host and newspaper columnist, broadcasting from a rural, rugged Red State.

  White Hat:  Frequent 2nd Amendment supporter and commentator on this Facebook Page.  Oklahoman transplant, divorced father of 2 young girls.  I have encountered him before on this page, protesting the Violence Against Women Act, asking when they're going to pass a Violence Against Men Act, and that women just needed to buck up and attend the University of Shut the Fuck Up.

  Not Tonto:  Friend of White Hat, Fellow 2nd Amendment Supporter, and sometime voice of reason.

  Me  Kismet

  I suspect both White Hat and Not Tonto of purposely making inflammatory statements to stir the pot, altho, I don't think it's actually too far from their ideology.  In Internet Slang, they're trolls.

    

   Original Posting

  Thursday 4/18 10:13 p.m.  Status Posting The Elvira Show:  The MIT police officer shot tonight has died. Another school shooting.  This post was of course before the pursuit of the Boston Marathon Bombers had played out and complete information had not yet been revealed.

   Thursday 4/18 10:22 p.m.  White Hat to Elvira Show:  Here are some positive stories related to guns. Do you ever report on the good Elvira, or only the doom and gloom? http://gunssavelives.net/self-defense/montana-woman-proves-guns-work-better-than-restraining-orders/

  Thursday 4/18 10:38 p.m.  Me to White Hat:

  Side by side comparisons won't add up, White Hat. Try it, I'll be glad to help you.
  

  
  

  Thursday 10:46 p.m.  White Hat to Me

  Is that a fact Kismet? I can tell you the mere presence of having a gun on your person will keep most stories like this at bay. There is a reason our police force are under arms. It deters criminal behavior from escalating. Surely you have seen the meme of the homeowner who throws his neighbor under the bus by identifying him as an unarmed citizen with a yard sign? He also promises not to intervene with his own guns if they (criminals/thugs/robbers) hit his neighbor's house and not his. Funny and sad, but it bears truth. 

  
  Thursday 10:49 p.m.  White Hat to another Commentator on the same thread

  Kathy, this is but one example where the good guy lost. It does happen, but I assure you if you turn the tables it goes the other way around exponentially more.  
  

  Thursday 10:58 p.m. Me to White Hat
  For every women that has used a gun in self- defense, 83 women have been killed by guns. Harvard Injury Control Research Center

  
  Thursday 10:59 p.m. White Hat to Me

  Kismet, 1) that doesn't validate your first comment. 2) I'll trust but verify what you say 3) Your people would rather me believe I should teach my daughters if an attacker is coming after them and rape is imminent, to pee on their self. No thank you...my girls are learning responsible gun control for sport and self defense. 

   

  Thursday 11:10 p.m. White Hat to Me
  Kismet, I read up on your stat, you didn't necessarily get it right. You left off some important data, and we all know that Harvard is one of the most left leaning schools out there. That being said, it wasn't even Harvard's study that came across these (skewed) statistics, it was the Violence Policy Center.  
  
  Friday 12:10 a.m.  Me to White Hat  (apparently it was WAY past my bedtime at this point because his rape reference completely triggered my inner bitch)
  Okay. You're pissin' me off because I WAS raped and I don't like your flippant reference and hope it NEVER happens to your daughters. I was on a date. You gonna teach 'em to carry guns on dates? I would totally support you getting them into self-defense classes, because we are NOT as strong as men. And what the FUCK do you mean 'your people'? And please explain skewed. And I'm still really pissed about the rape comment. Not funny, and not to be taken lightly.  (Obviously having a hard time letting this one go, and actually I did edit quite a bit out)

• Friday  12:48 a.m.  Not Tonto to Me 

  Kismet,  that is horrible. I'm so very sorry that happened to you. I know White Hat.. I know his daughters too. He would never talk about rape in a flippant way in regards to his children. It's hard to not "hear" tone in the printed word when conversing on an emotional topic. By "your people", I think he means liberals, or followers of the show possibly. What do you think he means?

   
  

  Friday 12:56 a.m  White Hat to Me  I think I practiced some deep breathing exercises while I read this.  Loved all the assumptions, and he's really using my admission of rape against me...or am I being over-sensitive?

   First off Kismet, I'm truly sorry you were raped. I don't consider rape a laughing matter and I am not even going to pretend to relate to your situation. (Disclaimer: stop reading now if you are that easily offended.) But for you to get pissed at me...interesting? Is it because I am a white male that doesn't side with you? Apparently you are easily triggered by the word "rape" and your ghosts are nothing I can help you with. I'm not trying to be insensitive to your feelings, but neither my tone, language or dialogue was abrasive, much unlike yours was to me. Maybe you should take a breather, come back another time and follow me around when you are not so timid. We can chat then. Side note, hey Elvira Show was the like on Kismet's post for her hostile behavior, or the fact she, like you responds completely off of emotion and past experiences? 

 

Friday 2:48 a.m. 

Me to White Hat:

  You are confusing, White Hat.  First you say I am hostile, then you say I am timid. Which is it?  And yes, I think that you, telling any woman (1 out of 6 women have been a victim of rape or attempted rape) that MY people (are you talking Scots Irish, ex-barmaids, ex-construction workers?) believe that you should teach your daughters to pee on themselves if they thought they were going to get raped is entirely flippant. It infers that I don't think your daughters should be taught to protect themselves, or that you don't think that rape is serious enough that you make light of it by that reference of them peeing on themselves. Or that girls should not be taught to defend themselves against males where it's not just rape that they have to defend themselves against.   I find that rape reference ENTIRELY offensive, and yes I did get hostile, and if you don't understand why, I will never be able to explain it in a way that you will. The other thing is you talk to me as if you know me, and what I think, and that my opinions because they disagree with yours are less than yours. I found your wording offensive and condescending. Having been a barmaid, a mom, a teacher, it's usually pretty hard to piss me off. I don't speak for anybody but myself sitting here on my couch in Montana, trying to avoid a pain-filled sleep. You can't just go slinging words like rape around without expecting that a majority of women are not going to have positive connections to it. I encourage you to speak with other women about this, very carefully, of course. I think you might find it educational, especially if you are raising daughters. 

Friday 3:07 a.m  Me to Not Tonto  Took me a while to find Not Tonto's posting. 

Thank you,NT, for your empathy. I encourage you to read White Hat's statement, which is in the thread following the link about the woman in Montana defending herself. It stated that "your people would rather me believe I should teach my daughters if an attacker is coming after them and rape is imminent, to pee on their self." Direct quote. What about that is NOT flippant, if not entirely presumptuous? Does he think I expect the right response is for them to run around screaming with their hands in the air? He says I'm entirely too sensitive to the use of the word rape. I suggest that as a father of 2 girls, he may not be sensitive enough. 1 in 6 women raped or attempted, and usually by someone they know. I just found out my best friend's daughter was raped when she was 14, by her husband's best friend, their next door neighbor. You bet I'm sensitive.  .

Friday 4:10 a.m.  White Hat to Me:  Now he's posting back on the original Status Posting.  I find this an interesting combination of condescension and accusation.

I find it hard to believe as a subscriber to Elvira, you don't read or hear the word "rape" routinely. There is quite a bit of discussion about abortion and women's rights, and rape is often part of it. Flippant? Really, in a forum where the "c" word is used loosely and men are referred to as "penises?" I think you're looking for a fight. I'm not your guy. 

Friday 4:22 a.m.  Elvira to White Hat:

The "C word" was used once and a quote from an abusive listener. I have written extensively about being a rape survivor. It has never been flippant. No one is looking for a fight - sans you. A woman's right to not be raped shouldn't be partisan. I understand reproductive rights are controversial - but rape shouldn't be. Ever. I don't think you were trying to be provocative - but realize there are triggers for many women all over the place and it doesn't feel like a choice when they get pulled. Go to bed, White Hat, you're up too late. 

Friday 4/19 8:37 a.m.  Me to White Hat

White Hat, I've said all I can say.  I just ask you to reread all of our exchanges with the goal being not to defend your ideology, but to try to understand WHY I'm saying what I said. Peace, out. 

8:48 a.m. Friday  Not Tonto to White Hat:  I didn't find this posting till I was cutting and pasting for this blog.  Apparently, Not Tonto rolled out of bed, read his notifications and became quite exasperated.  I think there's a bit of the gentleman in Not Tonto despite his tendencies to troll. Surprisingly enough, he's saying exactly what I tell myself all the time, but from the other side of the fence.  Apparently, I don't listen to myself very well.

This thread, and many others here, are way too left for me. White Hat,  don't tag me when you post here any more. All that happens is I read these posts, get frustrated at all the "progressive" thinkers, and arguments/pissing matches start. I'm not going to change anybody's mind, my mind won't change. I'd rather just keep my blood pressure down and not have to listen to them. Double standards, hypocrisy, can't stand this way of thinking. Get the hell over yourselves. 

Friday 1:44 p.m.  White Hat to Elvira  Did not see this posting until I did this blog.  Looks like White Hat read over everything and HAD to get the last word in.
I guess this means you are not going to explain how the failed bill would keep guns out of the hands of felons, crazies and other criminals? Good dodge Elvira...The stupid are strong today.  (This is a phrase Elvira uses when she posts the really crazy rants, or just unfathomably stupid Right Wing statements by politicians.  He of course hi-jacks it and uses it incorrectly.)

Friday 2:04 p.m.  White Hat to Met  Having gotten his last punch in at Elvira, White hat is apparently feeling conciliatory.

 KCCO Kismet.   (Acronym for Keep Cool Chive On, Reference to the website the Chive)

So, will Kismet keep her blood pressure down and avoid reading the comments?  I really like Elvira's original posts, and there are some interesting discussions.  In my craving for social interaction and higher level thinking, I get sucked into untenable discussions.  I think Tonto summed it up well.

Too late/early now.  Will post more "relaxing" Facebook discussions tomorrow (Monday)

Keep Cool Chive On,

Kismet