Well, I just have to add... it's a shame that this has all happened. When I see something on a BBS, I try to remember that not everyone is "the same". Even people in the USA have very widely different cultural/educational/technological universes. As there is so little background information on a forum that can be really verified, one has to kind of cut people a lot of slack.
America and Americans seem to be becoming just a bit more edgy (not in an artistic sense) and ready to expect the worst in the last several years. In a way understandably so, but still very sad. I hate to see us moving back to an "us" vs "them" thing, especially when it's focused internally among us. Everybody will have their own personal biases, of course, and that one is mine.
I'm sure I've posted on here a lot of redundant messages - half the time because I've forgotten I posted something in the first place, the other half because I can't find the original post, and that third half because I'm looking for a different set of answers (i.e., having it seen by new eyes). Kind of like a little kid who hits Auntie up for a cookie if Mom has already said no, in a way. Sometimes to triangulate my thoughts against other's realities. In the long run, what does it matter to anyone but me?
Lighten up, people.
It's not Ft. Apache - you don't have to circle the wagons and protect anything. Just ignore what you don't like and go on with life. This is probably the one place that you can actually do that without there being any actual repercussions. "Here" is not real. If someone comes onto the board and you think they want to stir up "trouble" .... ignore them. Or if you feel a great need to do so, report them to the censors. Otherwise, watch and wait. Nobody is required to respond to any post here. Or believe anything anyone says, really.
Try, try, try to lighten up and have a better day, ok? It's not worth getting riled up over.
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Happy Birthday to All.
Appropriate Festive Season (whichever) Greetings to All.