BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids Lets leave this forum

You're obviously proud of your Polish heritage, which is great. However, you might feel differently if it were someone else calling you that, particularly in a snarky tone of voice.

A lot of black folks use the "N" word among each other, almost as a term of endearment. But if a white person uses it, it takes on an *entirely* different tone and is generally extremely unwelcome.

It's a question of embracing onself vs. labelling others. I don't think thre's a lot of overlap between these two issues. Again, I stand by what I said about decrying people's *behaviour* rather than who they are, particularly (for instance) via a convenient derogatory nickname like "moo"...

To each his or her own but most online forums are owned and operated by someone. It's their place and they don't have to allow anything they don't want to allow, freedom of speech notwithstanding. That was pointed out to me once in rather rude terms. I didn't like it but they were right. It's a shame that some feel that leaving is the best way to handle differences but, again, to each his or her own. there are plenty of other places with childfree or whatever discussions.

And, just FYI, the French Revolution came after the American War for Independence.

It's a big difference me calling myself something and someone who doesn't know all my intricacies putting a label on me.

Perhaps the best place for a rant is a blog, where you can fully express yourself. But a forum is a privately owned place and to play in the sandbox with others requires some sort of rules or else a small group will end up "owning" it and others won't feel brave enough to join in. Isn't it better to have a large group commenting?

Haunted Lady,

Touche...(and welcome!!!). Yes, you're of course correct. However, what I meant to say, had I been clearer, is that the ideas which led up to the French Revolution had been percolating along for quite awhile, and were extremely influential, on us here in pre-Revolutionary America.

I really do urge everyone to check out alt.support.childfree (the a.s.c. I referred to in other posts) on Usenet. Just go to Google.com, click on "groups", and type it in. It is definitely the last word in freewheeling CF debate...no moderation, no limits on anything (name-calling, profanity, what have you).

A.S.C. is a great thing, and I learned a lot there. It just raised my blood pressure a bit too often after I'd been there for a few years --- that's all. Moderated groups are a great thing, too. Let's just all remind ourselves that both types of groups exist, and both have their own strengths and weaknesses...there ain't nothing in this life that's not a tradeoff...

Elise

Good points, Elise.

But hmmm, my historian in me wants to comment! lol While a small bit of French attitude came to us, it was very much several other things: Thomas Paine's pamplets that told people men and not kings have divine rights; taxation without voting rights; and the frank will and balls of the former British people to actually do it. And succeed.

Their success influenced the French (15 years later) to overthrow their king. In fact, the Treaty of Paris to end our war was signed in 1983, in France. The French Rev began in 1985. Surely, our success was influential in causing the new middle class to finally uprise.

Interestingly enuf, Louis himself perfected the guillotine to be beveled and angled. How prophetic.

Anyway, I believe I am in concurrence with most historians in believing that the American victory was one of the most powerful encouragements the French people could have had in decided to throw off monarchy.

Now back to MNK. <img src="/images/graemlins/king.gif" alt="" />

Bonsai, I thought perhaps you were putting the French Revolution before ours. No problem. The ideas of the Enlightenment had an impact we still feel today and was cross cultural.

Do you, by any chance, cultivate bonsai? Probably a stupid question but one never knows.

I stand even further corrected. I should limit my non-MNK-specific commentary only to music theory.

Thanks, ladies!

Elise <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Do you, by any chance, cultivate bonsai? Probably a stupid question but one never knows.

~~~~~~~~~

Yes! It's a new hobby for me, although I've been dabbling in Japanese-style outdoor gardening for quite some time.

Elise

I'm a rose fanatic but love bonsai, too. Is it hard to do?

I'm only working on "beginner" projects...junipers.

I've had a lot of experience already with pruning (larger, outdoor trees), so I'm finding it a fun indoor compliment to that.

I could quit any time, honest! 8^)

Elise <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />