Have you been blocked? Punished for your principles or punished for your impertinence?

CPT Jack Durish — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 11:20:44 -0500

I've been blocked. I've been blocked for my principles. I hold some strong beliefs and am not shy about defending them. I've been blocked for my impertinence. Apparently holding strong beliefs and defending them is viewed as impertinent by some.

I've been blocked, but I've never blocked anyone else. I've been given enough reason. No, I'm not put off by anyone holding contrary beliefs and not being shy about defending them. Bring it on. That's how we learn from each other. However, I'm sure that I would be excused for blocking those who attack me personally for the single sin of disagreeing with them. Some have even called me defective, a “retard” for holding an opposing view. Why would they do that?

I admit that I'm tempted to block those who hide atop the fence. You know. Those who are “reasonable” unlike those of us who are argumentative. They keep to the middle of the road. Does anyone really walk or drive down the middle of the road? The only ones I've seen are drunk. Sitting on the fence makes you a target for anyone sitting on either side. Isn't that where we placed our empty beer cans and whiskey bottles for target practice?

A person who attempts to portray themselves as “middle-of-the-road” and politicians who claim to “govern-from-the-middle” are pretending to have abandoned all principles. I'd far rather deal with those who have the courage to openly agree or disagree with my principles than those who hide theirs, wouldn't you? Wasn't it the middle of the back where soldiers were branded with a painted yellow stripe when convicted of cowardice in the face of the enemy?

Am I against compromise? Absolutely. I can't imagine compromising my principles. Can you? Those who accuse the opposition of obstructionism are merely trying to embarrass them into abandoning their principles for the sake of avoiding the name-calling. “The Party of No!” How dare they? They dare because they believe that the majority are on the highway to hell and they are attempting to save themselves.

Do you disagree? Then tell me. Don't block me. Anyone who fears to engage me in respectful conversation isn't going to convince me of a thing. Will they convince you?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2016 11:22 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 11:22:37 -0500

CPT Jack Durish How would we know if we have?

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2016 11:24 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 11:24:25 -0500

I've been blocked by one person for making a joke about the Coast Guard seizing a whole bunch of cocaine. Humor was not his strong suit.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2016 11:25 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 11:25:24 -0500

I admire your persistence. I had given up on even remembering who "blocked" me.

Response by SGT Francis Wright made Feb 24 at 2016 11:29 AM

SGT Francis Wright — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 11:29:42 -0500

Jack I don't block anyone. Don't wear my heart on my sleeve.

Response by PO2 Mark Saffell made Feb 24 at 2016 11:39 AM

PO2 Mark Saffell — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 11:39:06 -0500

I have several contacts that are on the left side of center. I enjoy talking to them. Its kind of fun sometimes to try and get them to see your point and vice versa, However there are a few that like to down vote simply because you don't share there opinion. Down votes are for false or misleading posts. NOT because you don't agree with another person political views. So Yes I have blocked a few of the down voters to anything you say. They look for your posts just to down vote you.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Feb 24 at 2016 11:43 AM

Capt Tom Brown — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 11:43:14 -0500

OK before I block you I must comment: I have not had the occasion to block someone on RP, as 99% of the comments I have read are 'reasonable' and not 'overboard' one way or the other. I have blocked & reported people on fb who use name-calling as you describe or obscenity in their non-arguments. Even 2 or 3 points why a person feels as they do is still better than pure name calling. I must admit I sometime resort to mild name-calling eg., 'Liberal thumb-suckers', 'neo-mob', 'Muslim-types' etc and hopefully these can be considered mild. I also believe in compromise in the political process which might have helped prevent US from getting to the point we're at in Congress, with political extremists at both ends shutting down the gvt, wild political candidates, blocking supreme court appointees, etc. Some compromise within a person's principles without completely reversing oneself also seems 'reasonable'.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Feb 24 at 2016 11:50 AM

SGT Richard H. — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 11:50:34 -0500

Can't say I've been blocked, nor have I blocked anyone. My position on it is this: If you want to block me, go ahead. Chances are, you would eventually have been written off as a coward anyway.

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Feb 24 at 2016 12:00 PM

TSgt Kenneth Ellis — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 12:00:59 -0500

I found out I was blocked by accident. I thought something was wrong with the app. I asked a person to block me. So I would not bet tempted to comment on there asinine post.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Feb 24 at 2016 12:01 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 12:01:45 -0500

CPT Jack Durish I have been blocked, had my comments voted down and been fined 10,000 RallyPoint points since I joined RallyPoint last March. I do my best to be respectful in my posts and have never voted anybody down or blocked anybody - i hope I never do.

Response by SSG Kevin McCulley made Feb 24 at 2016 12:15 PM

SSG Kevin McCulley — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 12:15:32 -0500

Frankly I find people that blocked me not worth knowing anyway

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Feb 24 at 2016 12:24 PM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 12:24:02 -0500

If anyone blocks me I will go after them in my Jeep that has a 50 cal mounted in the back seat ... Mess with me and you are in a heap of shit..

Hey Swanie.........Of course I am just kidding so don't feel threatened.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Feb 24 at 2016 12:26 PM

SPC(P) Jay Heenan — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 12:26:35 -0500

Jack, you were blocked? That is crazy! I think sometimes, people are unable or unwilling to have a discussion without getting butt hurt. I don't think I have been blocked by anyone. I certainly haven't blocked anyone. I suppose that there may be a reason to block someone, but nobody has crossed that line with me!

Response by SPC David S. made Feb 24 at 2016 12:52 PM

SPC David S. — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 12:52:41 -0500

I'm amazed at how someone can ask a baited question then you call them on and all you get in reply is a down vote. Have some balls and at least explain the down vote - cowards in my opinion. I have only blocked one person for making derogatory comments toward another service member revolving around their PTSD and race. I reported it admin as well. I have little to no desire for bullies or racists. However there are many discussions on RP that are more dogmatic than civil discourse.

Response by SSgt Mark Lines made Feb 24 at 2016 12:54 PM

SSgt Mark Lines — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 12:54:19 -0500

Sir, it is a shame that you get blocked. I find that it is a sign of a mind that does not want to expand. I am ALWAYS up for a lively debate. As long as in the end, we can "buy" each other a beer and agree to disagree.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Feb 24 at 2016 1:06 PM

SN Greg Wright — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 13:06:26 -0500

I was blocked by someone who later became a contact and endorsed me. Go figure.

Response by A1C Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2016 3:23 PM

A1C Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 15:23:56 -0500

I admit I have blocked because the person was just so negative. I don't mind discussion that is different from my view, but the one line jabs that are just meant to dig without substance I'm not a fan. If you disagree with me than explain your opinion like many have with me. Digs do not allow dialog.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Feb 24 at 2016 4:28 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 16:28:18 -0500

Personally, I think you are a demanding, intelligent, challenging, bit egotistical, did I mention demanding? Person who like I told you before, I have to bring my A game to this knowing you will challenge me on every point. You said it's not about "winning". I FULLY disagree with you there. Winning is when you've either proven your point to where the other person has learned something from you, or you know from the outset this person was a flake and you expose it. I also disagree with you not being able to be "middle of the road". I think I am because I can take what one side says and take the opposite side's view and take from both what I need, and discard what I don't. Exactly the way I see politics now. Neither party represents me, but both parties have things in them that I am attracted to on a policy level.

Response by SFC Tyrone Almendarez made Feb 24 at 2016 5:29 PM

SFC Tyrone Almendarez — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 17:29:16 -0500

I have been blocked, fined points and even turned off for 24hrs. I love debating and hearing other people's points of view. One thing is for sure, I never lose sleep over RP points. It's like telling me I lose points at candy crush. It doesn't make me richer or poorer. It's just a social site. I for most of the time always up vote responses from people I'm sparring with.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Feb 25 at 2016 1:44 AM

SrA Matthew Knight — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 01:44:00 -0500

I have blocked people but it's only when it's someone I don't know or a bot account, this goes for here and any other social media.

As for me being blocked, not sure if I have or not as it usually doesn't tell you when you are but I know I pissed off at least one person I worked with a year or two ago on FB and he deleted me from his friends list. It happens, I didn't fret and we still talked to each other as normal not long after although neither one of us re-added the other.

I guess I do remember being removed and blocked by a cousin of mine on Xbox Live once. He hit a period where video games were his life and didn't like that fact being pointed out so we were in bad standing with each other for a while. Not anymore though.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2021 1:22 AM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 Jan 2021 01:22:13 -0500

Yeah, and I redacted my stuff to prevent the local leftists from stalking my twitter account. On RP I've earned my Angry Cat badge several times. I've also had to nominate a few asshats who can't be civil.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2021 10:30 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 Jan 2021 10:30:50 -0500

All I can say is If you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen.

Have I've been blocked. Oh yea. If you block someone because you disagree with them then you are admitting that your position is simply wrong but you won't admit to it.

Response by PVT Mark Zehner made Jan 24 at 2021 1:49 PM

PVT Mark Zehner — Sun, 24 Jan 2021 13:49:23 -0500

Lifetime ban from Twitter due to a post from 9 years ago!

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2021 2:23 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 Jan 2021 14:23:17 -0500

As an admin I do not block people. Personally I wouldn’t block anyone just ignore them but I have been block before for my opinions. I try to stay out of discussions that can lead down a rabbit hole.

Response by MSgt Manuel Diaz made Jan 24 at 2021 4:10 PM

MSgt Manuel Diaz — Sun, 24 Jan 2021 16:10:47 -0500

Yep, and can't even down vote them. They dish it out but can't take it when it is returned

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2021 6:36 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 Jan 2021 18:36:17 -0500

Yes, and usually for sticking to a stump speech, that ends with insult or threats. A good feature IMO, as it prevents me from exposure to narrow minded people. I have often stood self-corrected when wrong, and that is called learning. A better alternative than blocking.

Response by PO3 John Jeter made Jan 24 at 2021 7:31 PM

PO3 John Jeter — Sun, 24 Jan 2021 19:31:56 -0500

I’m curious. Are you just wanting to push more people into your corner or are you open to honestly considering other’s opinions in balance with yours? I’m pretty set in my beliefs, but I confess to not knowing all there is to know about various subjects. So any time someone adds to my knowledge base I have to re-evaluate my position. I’m notoriously difficult to get to change my mind after 60* years, but I am willing to listen and discuss in a civil fashion. My friends list varies from rabid antifa, to hard rock conservative, to the unicorn loving liberals. Sometimes I have to exercise great restraint in my wording (as you might imagine). To date, I have only blocked one person (out of complete disgust over a personal trait). I haven’t changed much in my beliefs, I’m not sure I’ve changed others either. But I like the fact that my wide reaching group will talk in the first place.

Response by Maj John Bell made Jan 25 at 2021 12:00 AM

Maj John Bell — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 00:00:43 -0500

I block people who are abusive, engage in "shin kicking," offer no substance to support their assertions, AND clearly don't give any thought (not the same as agreement) to my responses. If they consistently hit those four wickets, they aren't worth my time of day.

I find discussion with people with whom I disagree, and who offer substantial evidence to support their position intellectually stimulating, often fascinating. I look forward to those conversations.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2021 12:37 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 00:37:30 -0500

I always laugh when I go to reply to someone I’ve never interacted with and find out they’ve blocked me and some of my favorite RPers are the ones who troll me and vote down my comments but don’t have the intestinal fortitude to debate me. They lack the honor, personal courage, and integrity SMs should pride themselves on.

I consider myself “middle of the road” politically. I have some more conservative views and some more liberal views and I’ll defend any of them.

Response by LTC David Brown made Jan 25 at 2021 1:19 AM

LTC David Brown — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 01:19:37 -0500

I’ve been blocked for pointing out truth and I hav no idea why else!