Arguing On Forums Is Silly
A few years ago I thought standing up for my opinion on a forum was very important, but over the years I have learned I do not care as much about it. Forums can be free-for-alls, and over time I have commented on this very rarely. If you are frustrated with a heated forum at the moment, just remember people feel really comfortable saying things online they would not say in person.
First off, why did I even bother going to a forum about a big giant lies tin foil hat types gravitate to: the conspiracy theory forum. I disagree with one poster's assertion about how Obama is a Muslim, but it was not even that which irritated me the most, it is how some people act very confrontational on the forum, and do not even let people explain themselves.
I always enjoy making intelligent contributions to the forum, but straight away some people decided to begin the junior high school drama of trying to degrade me, which has to do with me not being part of their popular little click. On the Internet I believe people need to act as adults, but I shall continue to do so myself. If they feel comfortable making personal attacks and starting drama, well then it says a lot about their need to make themselves feel superior. I enjoy writing about topics such as how the forum is not really conducive to discussion, so if this is not your cup of tea you might want to stop reading.
Yes, many Muslims the world over wear revealing swim attire, but many Muslim women actually will not do this in mixed company. They even have segregated swimming areas in many Islamic countries for this reason, and in countries such as France, some pools have begun to have all women swim hours to cater to the Muslim populations living there. I happen to have had friends that observe hijab, and they have shared with me proper Muslim men do not show anything from the navel to the knee, and proper Muslim women cover their hair and do not wear shapely outfits in mixed company. These are not all Muslims, and of course, countries such as Turkey are prime examples of women who do not observe hijab dress styles. Nevertheless, even in Egypt over the last twenty years more and more women who never used to wear the headscarf have begun to do so. There are many women who feel that is what proper Muslim women are supposed to do. I am not saying I think women have to wear hijab, I am just sharing this cultural trend as I find things like this interesting to follow.
However, one poster was so insistent upon personally attacking me and told me I was "ignorant" and "childish". Since I am neither of those things, of course, I would stick up for myself in this situation, and how ridiculous for anyone to launch a personal attack such as this. My point about how Michelle and Barack wearing revealing bath suits on the beach as ample evidence that they are not proper Muslims is a very good point, and someone trying to lambaste me for it really should think twice. I was told I should be humble and admit I was wrong on this point, however, Muslims who practice hijab would actually say this is true. Mine was a good point, and anyone trying to detract from it really is into put-downs.
Second is when I said I know some Muslims are nice people. Well, there was one gentleman who decided to attack me by stating that well I could not be rational if I thought that. Of course, I think most Muslims are nice, but when I was typing I happened to have just thrown in the word some. This gentleman refused to question his friend who has brought up a topic that is very hurtful and offensive, but then he begins to start trouble with me who was actually standing up against false accusations against the Obama. To be honest, it is a free cyber community and people are allowed to post threads about thinking Obama is a Muslim if they want. I do not agree with the thread and I find it in very poor taste, but to attack the person who was trying to rationalize and share the truth is just odd. This may seem like a very self-involved hub, but I am just trying to address how ugly the forums can get because of pot-shots and personal attacks.
Big deal the people who decided to speak down to me like a child remind me of junior high school bullies. Truly there was no need for that, and it is very telling I was the only one attacked. Yesterday was the last time I was very active on the forum, and I will restrain myself from going there.
The bottom line is there is no proof on this planet that Obama is a Muslim, and misspeaking on tape does not make it the case. Also, I will bring up a point once again I shared on the forum, but which few people seemed to notice: there is no religious test for office in the United States. Even if Obama was a Muslim big deal, who cares! However, to say someone is a Muslim when they are not is a form of hate speech. You are free to post it on the web, and if anything Obama has seen much more open and free about people questioning him, and his policies then Bush ever was. Once when Bush was president he responded in an interview that when people question him it does not matter because he is the president, and he might just understand certain things better than the American people. So people can detract from the real issues of the day, but is it not better to have a president who is so open to your criticism. I even see Obama has a Facebook page and allows people to question him on there. So instead of bringing up sensational lies such as Obama being a Muslim, why not go write him a question or Facebook or Twitter about the economy. We live in a gossip kind of world, and even people on the forum enjoy turning things into a soap opera.