No one comes to a poetry discussion group because they want to hear about what movie some unemployed redneck who calls himself a poet is watching.

Forcing others to skip over dozens of off-topic posts every day is an imposition on them.

You need to stop being a self-indulgent asshole and start respecting the rights of others.

On Friday, 11 August 2023 at 13:55:02 UTC-4, Michael Pendragon wrote:
> No one comes to a poetry discussion group because they want to hear about what movie some unemployed redneck who calls himself a poet is watching.
>
> Forcing others to skip over dozens of off-topic posts every day is an imposition on them.
>
> You need to stop being a self-indulgent asshole and start respecting the rights of others.

Thank you, Michael. I couldn’t have said it better myself!!!!

On Friday, August 11, 2023 at 1:55:02 PM UTC-4, Michael Pendragon wrote:
> No one comes to a poetry discussion group because they want to hear about what movie some unemployed redneck who calls himself a poet is watching.
>
> Forcing others to skip over dozens of off-topic posts every day is an imposition on them.
>
> You need to stop being a self-indulgent asshole and start respecting the rights of others.

As ME said, well said, couldn't had said it better--
wait I did!
FINIS 1...
@Will & Zod (those who thought I was fooling myself)
(I did tell you to wait for it)

Something I noticed about the "trolls", they are more restrained and selective than the common variety of troll. They have not taken the bait of my monologue- I must have bored them senseless and they wandered off to find something more interesting : ) They do seem to be focused on only certain individuals...

So I suspect they're grievance trolls. Are they the people that left, citing you as the reason and coming back like vengeful ghosts? How much of their grievances are legitimate or not may be impossible to tell by now. But there is a common accusation I am hearing. An accusation often levied against very active people and seen many times in online forums. Many of your posts come across as just socializing that wouldn't be of interest to many others and best left to a chat channel. So I have to wonder...

Have you stopped-- and stepped out of your point of view-- to consider what effect your very active presence has on others? I cannot tell someone to restrain themselves in their self-expression or in unmoderated forums, but everyone forgets that the online world is still community and demands the responsibilities of consideration, tolerance and good will. I promise I won't lecture you with more Stoicism after this. : )

I do have to ask what are you fighting for? What spoils are you hoping for from this barren promised land? Is there still an audience for you here?

The other side and trolls are both arrayed against you and I believe any new comers will be swayed against you as well. You are outnumbered and the wolves are at your door. It has gotten to the point that your enemies will never change their attitude about you even with peace.

This post may be grim, but in warfare there's no candy coating reality. And you'll have to excuse me, I can rationally understand fighting for what is considered home but the emotions I cannot empathize with, so the last stand mentality for this place and your predicament seems like a lost cause to me. You say people were driven out... Are you completely sure all of them (mainly newcomers) didn't just decide that this place had nothing of value to them and that there were greener pastures elsewhere?

Defeat, my Defeat, my deathless courage,
You and I shall laugh together with the storm,
And together we shall dig graves for all that die in us,
And we shall stand in the sun with a will,
And we shall be dangerous.
~ Kahlil Gibran, Defeat
"Open letter to those that ignore" (thread)
https://groups.google.com/g/alt.arts.poetry.comments/c/JYmTD07O9D4/m/s0tMn7r8AAAJ