Can We Just DUMP all social issues?

Should we self-censor our expression on the off chance some random nutcase will be provoked by our words and run amok?

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Originally Posted by bae

Should we self-censor our expression on the off chance some random nutcase will be provoked by our words and run amok?

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Sometimes it's not a bad idea - and many people do when they feel it will cause some random nutcase to run amok over them. I see it all the time on public transit.

And certainly we should expect our political leaders to self-censor. When bae or Alan say 'lock and load' we may think it's not the best choice of words, considering the context of course, but when a national political figure talks of 'reloading' and how people who go to political rallies armed are such good patriots, while also having cross-hairs on a congresswoman's head/district, then, yea, I expect some self-censor. I also would expect some acknowledgement of at least some responsibility to the hateful climate that allowed a nut job to act on all that gun rhetoric.
Good thing I didn't hold my breath!

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Originally Posted by peggy

And certainly we should expect our political leaders to self-censor. When bae or Alan say 'lock and load' we may think it's not the best choice of words, considering the context of course, but when a national political figure talks of 'reloading' and how people who go to political rallies armed are such good patriots, while also having cross-hairs on a congresswoman's head/district, then, yea, I expect some self-censor. I also would expect some acknowledgement of at least some responsibility to the hateful climate that allowed a nut job to act on all that gun rhetoric.
Good thing I didn't hold my breath!

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Putting words in my mouth again?

As long as I'm responding, I'll ask again, do you have any evidence that political rhetoric had anything to do with Jared Lee Laughner's actions? If not, are we simply engaging in inflamatory rhetoric ourselves?

I do not believe the phrase "lock and load" has ever passed my lips, in public or private. And I serve as a rangemaster a few days a month.

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Originally Posted by alan

Putting words in my mouth again?

As long as I'm responding, I'll ask again, do you have any evidence that political rhetoric had anything to do with Jared Lee Laughner's actions? If not, are we simply engaging in inflamatory rhetoric ourselves?

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We don't have any proof, nor do we have proof not. But just as yelling fire in a crowded theatre may not result in people trampling each other in an effort to get out it's still not something that reasonable people do because the result may just be that.

How is suggesting that potentially inflammatory rhetoric might be a bad idea inflammatory in itself?

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Originally Posted by jp1

How is suggesting that potentially inflammatory rhetoric might be a bad idea inflammatory in itself?

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When attempts are made to link specific rhetoric to specific events, without proof, while ignoring other examples involving the same language and graphics, it seems apparent to me that the rhetorical coals are still smoldering.

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Originally Posted by creaker

Sometimes it's not a bad idea - and many people do when they feel it will cause some random nutcase to run amok over them. I see it all the time on public transit.

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http://www.kolobok.us/smiles/artists...oose/MG_12.gif
Oh God, yes!

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Originally Posted by alan

When attempts are made to link specific rhetoric to specific events, without proof, while ignoring other examples involving the same language and graphics, it seems apparent to me that the rhetorical coals are still smoldering.

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I suppose each of us is free to interpret if "targeting" is the same as using crosshairs. Personally I don't think so. I have accounts at work that I am targeting to get as clients. I never think of them as in my crosshairs. The two words are quite different to me.

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Originally Posted by alan

When attempts are made to link specific rhetoric to specific events, without proof, while ignoring other examples involving the same language and graphics, it seems apparent to me that the rhetorical coals are still smoldering.

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I suppose each of us is free to interpret if "targeting" is the same as using crosshairs. Personally I don't think so. I have accounts at work that I am targeting to get as clients. I shop at a store called Target that even uses a target as it's icon. . Marketers constantly are discussing target markets. Crosshairs are not used widely for anything other then to represent weapon sights for aiming. The two words are quite different to me.