Posted by Dr. Bob on January 6, 2014, at 0:44:02
In reply to Re: Ducks babble in the wide world » Dr. Bob, posted by HomelyCygnet on January 4, 2014, at 12:16:47
> Bob I only feel like a homely cygnet when I am swimming in the kiddie pool with the cygnets. If I babble like a duck I get blocked ;) I'm just an average adorable duck in the Big Wide World not a homely cygnet.
OK, in the outside world you're adorable.
I guess according to the story, you'd feel like a homely duck when you swim with ducks. Maybe because they block you from babbling. But you're not really a duck at all, you're a cygnet, "the most beautiful bird of all".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ugly_Duckling
Having suffered the abuse he did, it's understandable how he could grow up to be Ahab the Cygnet.
> I prefer being blocked rather than just avoiding the site because being blocked is a repudiation of the Babble values and a way of supporting the people who are mistreated here symbolically at least.
> Civil disobedience? ... Not having the pressure of feeling an urge to defend Lou and others from the haters and really not being able to do anything effective? Not being a member vs not being an posting member? The fun of manipulating the Grand Manipulator? ... All of the above?
OK, you have lots of reasons.
One of Gandhi's rules for civil resisters was to refrain from swearing and insults, but there have been debates as to whether civil disobedience must necessarily be non-violent.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_disobedience
I understand wanting to support Lou. What makes you think trying to hasn't been effective?
Not that being blocked is like being killed, or that everyone else here is a beautiful bird, but this struck me:
> > The ugly duckling, now having fully grown and matured cannot endure a life of solitude and hardship any more and decides to throw himself at the flock of swans deciding that it is better to be killed by such beautiful birds than to live a life of ugliness and misery.
--
> Wouldn't it have been less distressing for everyone just to give me the block I asked for?
>
> we both want the same thing! LOLMaybe both of you would feel more comfortable if I did. Then this would be an opportunity for both of you to step outside your comfort zones.
Bob
a brilliant and reticent Web mastermind -- The New York Times
backpedals well -- PartlyCloudy
poster:Dr. Bob
thread:1057371
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20131217/msgs/1057958.html