Well, here�s my idea:

Since I can�t help be feel that I�m responsible for some of the other threads getting entirely out of hand, may I be allowed to start a new thread that�s intended for those topics not really related to Ray Bradbury?

Religion, politics, whatever, all I ask is the unspoken rules of the rest of the board be followed here: A brisk exchange of ideas, done in with a respectful tone. No insults but no wearing your feelings out on your sleeve, either. And watch your language, there may be children watching.

Other users, beware. There may not be anything on this thread related to Bradbury at all. No discussion about his work. No trying to find out a story title. No biography information. No term paper help. Just good ol' fashioned debate. By coming over here, maybe we can help clear up the clutter of the other threads. And, yes, I know, I�m doing this on someone else�s dime, so I don�t really have the right to get this started. Certainly I�ll stop if asked. But won�t it be fun to see how far we can run with this before we�re asked to shut it down?

And, finally, to make a small attempt to actually relate this to Bradbury, you all will recognize the quote from F-451. Let�s consider this site the ruled paper we�ve been given and follow Ray�s advice (Well, not actually Ray�s but the writer of the epigram.) to write the other way.

Welcome, all.

Pete Terranova
Oklahoma City

Well, I guess I too have contributed my share to threads getting out of hand.... Maybe we'll all crowd into this site and... lo and behold...find... "silence".
Now wouldn't that would be a funny site (sight)!!

If it works keeping off-topic posts to one thread, I'm all for it!

Sense and unity...who'da thunkit!

Great idea, Pete!


Julie Aronson
Akron, Ohio

Thanks, pterran...
I'll take you up on your offer...

_______________________________

This last episode of 'bullies' ... made me think that there are a myriad of scenarios taking their place one at a time, for another American Civil War. Book titles are easier than writing the book itself. So it's titled, "Chapter One. The 2nd Civil War in America. 2054."

I placed it 50 years ahead, as another couple generations ahead will be the ones that light the fuse that brings it "suddenly" about.

You ask, 'How can a bully bring this to mind'?

Well, here's this 'bully' that comes online, and starts swinging away with their own ideology. And I'm thinking, there are an awful lot of bullies on the American scene right now...in all phases of life, from lawyers to shop clerks, clergy to office administrators...all calling for equal rights, equal acceptance, equal pay, a uniformly placed regard for their ideals and principles, ideas and philosophies.

Pressure cookers cook so long until the top blows off. Inbred by God to be aware of moral law, man goes face to face with those that suppress that. Intricacies far too complex for me to ponder take place. With all the wonderful technology and advances in medicine and science, inside each man is a war going on that is at war either with himself or with others, or both. Since we are becoming so global, decade by decade, who is to say how "Americanized" the world will be in 50 years.

My point is...once one is soothed into the comfort of their own ideology, the sign goes up: Please Do Not Disturb! Do not detract me from what I believe, do not infringe upon the rights you gave me, and don't change how I want to live. I am comfortable in what I have become and am.

Do Not Disturb. Or Else!!

Hello Pterran,
apology accepted, and pardon asked in return. I think I behaved all right; I always did think that there was a polite discusion exchanged between us. There are some others who tried to stir up some nasty, bigoted brew, but I think we've stayed away from that. I actually think that we were doing very well, until some fool decided to blow it.
This is a very good idea to have a seperate thread for non-bradbury issues. I hope it will be frequented by the very same people who haven't really finished the former debates; they shouldn't have said anything in the first place if they never meant to come to the end of it all(a la Groon. Perfect example of an abstainer).
Nard: Do you rally mean what you've said? You are hard-set in your ways, and nothing can make you see otherwise? On the one hand I must commend you for realizing that that's how you are, on the other I'm abhored by the very though of it - especially that you seem conscious of it and want to do nothing about it. It's as if you tried on purpose not to assimilate any knew knowledge into your mind.
Cheers,
Translator


[This message has been edited by Translator (edited 03-05-2004).]

Translator:

Are you kidding or what?
Assimilate new info into my mind?
Like what?
When you've been to the darkest regions of the soul and close to heaven, what have I missed? In a few years I'll be dead? That in itself takes time to come to grips with, this thing called mortality. I have a sister 20 yrs. older than myself, who is only now coming to grips with the reality that she won''t live forever, how hard one tries.

So... clear it up for me... What have I missed?

Hello, my name is grasstains and I am an abstainer.

Thank you for hearing the pleas of us not interested in joining "The Debate Team."

Good luck to all of you in presenting, and defending, your points of view.

grassstains

Now wait a minute. How dare you say that? Defend yourself !!

__________

Well, thanks anyway...

This site has taken on a rather bitter slant of late. It is not really that enjoyable opening up to read the daily political and religious antagonisms. A few of the recent posters seem to have axes to grind with anyone who doesn't see things just their way. Sometimes posts are entered just to poke someone in the eye and get things going. What's the purpose?

Bottom line: this is a Ray Bradbury site. Students, parents, and lovers of literature have been here informing and sharing for the past many months. Now it seems neuvo experts in political science and ultra-liberal or anti-theologians are dominating the pages. What RB facts and insights have some of you really offered or inquired about!? I am hard pressed to recall.

I will focus on joining in on RB related exchanges and hope those that have so much to say about "themselves and for themselves but against others" will realize what this site is really about!


[This message has been edited by fjpalumbo (edited 03-06-2004).]

fjpalumbo:

"pterran" decided to use this particular...this 'one'...topic...to discuss anything, in order to rid the other posts of surreptitous comments.

So, as I understand, one may, or may not talk about Bradbury, but only here. I agree with "pterran" and thought it was an idea worth trying. So relax. The board hasn't gone totally bonkers...I hope.

But if there are some that don't think this is a proper thing either, well...

.....Dandelion. what say you?

Nard, I understood clearly, and actually did appreciate Pete's foresight to redirect things to a location for such tangents and ensuing debates (though being on the "debate team" sounded a bit condescending, somehow!).

How can newcomers know, however, the intent of this topic? As the posts grow, they get pushed down and lost in the translations, so to speak.

It almost calls for a totally new Forum category. What?! "Diatribes, Blatherings, and Other Totally UnBradbury Related Sarcasms"

It's just that the last few weeks have brought out vindictive accusations, anti-American sentiments, and self-righteous pontificating, surrounded by a general feel of unrest. (IE: North Korea-the next well-intending utopia, Mel Gibson-history's worst sadomasochist, and Pres. Bush-totally beyond dictatorship - all seem to ring of "off topic.")

Yes, I know! The "censorship" issue when everyone doesn't get heard, no matter how derisive things get. Well, aren't there other places to attack and scream on-line? (I wouldn't know because this is the only site I have every participated in, or wish to. As for recent posts of profanity, insults, soft-porn posts - they are not my cup of tea. "Not" sorry!)

The 4 forums are: Resources, Favorite Works, Inspiration, and Legacy. If it ain't broke, don't fix it (because it only gets more broken)!

If Pete's idea catches on, or we can be diligent to somehow re-direct newcomers here when the topic begins to meander into questionable territories, I'd have no problem with it. Agreed it may keep other posts more ON topic. That being, "Mr. Brabury and his life's works!"

I have enjoyed and respected the vast majority of the ideas put forth here by folks from around the world. (Many have led to incredibly kind follow ups and mailings of materials, videos, etc.) That is the spirit gained from dialogue based on RB.

Just a few thoughts after several days of curious observation.







[This message has been edited by fjpalumbo (edited 03-06-2004).]

fjpalumbo:

Well, some of us have really gotten off the topic...(and that does include me, of course!)

Maybe it's best to open to discussion amongst some of us... like Mr. Dark, Dandelion, and about a dozen other regulars...and come to a consensus...

I have never minded when we get off the topic of Bradbury, as long as it once started there. I think that's part of a normal conversation. One thing reminds you of another and then another, etc. But I do mind it when people start name-calling and acting rude in other ways, and putting others down. Comments such as "your kind" and other labels I've heard here lately just alienate everyone. It's fine and even fun to have people disagree, and we have had that often on this board, but not in such a negative manner until recently. In fact, I have often enjoyed the spirited debates that take place here, and would like them to continue, but only in a civilized manner. We all came here because we love Ray Bradbury, and in that spirit, people need to refrain from mean-spirited attacks. Do we need a separate thread for non-Ray topics? No, we don't in my opinion. The topics should begin with Ray, since this is a Ray Bradbury site, but there's no shame in the topics taking us afield. But if someone is coming here solely to debate religion, politics, etc. with no tie-in to Ray or one of his stories, forget it. There are thousands of other boards out there for those purposes. That's my opinion on this recent controversey. What about the rest of you? Dandelion? Nard? Mr. Dark? I miss talking to you about the great Bradbury stories!!

I agree.

One problem IS the total irrelevance to any even tenuous connection to Ray.

But for me the real problem is the name-calling, bigotry, judgementalism, and angry arrogance. Who needs it?

When we are on a Bradbury topic and it goes off course, that's fine -- as long as the conversation remains adult, reasoned, and civil.

But I have hated the posts by some here lately that have been horribly divisive and have included bigoted generalizations, assumptions about other persons motivations (For example, I'm apparently anti-semitic -- this by someone who has never met me!), juvenile name-calling, and a complete insensitivity to others' feelings. And then they claim it's all about free speech. No, it's about adult civility.

I'm sick of these posters and will not participate in their juvenile name-calling!

(How's that for name-calling?)