I'll bite ... here's my reply to your message, Karen.
(( ... do you think that Matthew is on this board to inflame us? Tick us off? Get us passionate about our beliefs? ))
I have no knowledge of what Matthew's intent is for posting on these messageboards ... I have my own thoughts, opinions and ideas ... but since I haven't corroborated with him as to their veracity, I'll keep them appropriately private. It's not my place to say why someone else is doing whatever it is their doing here without checking with them first.
(( The one consolation I can offer is, at least our posts haven't been deleted and we're not being banned from posting just because we disagree. ))
While it is clear that posts aren't being deleted and banned on this forum messageboard, I must admit that, for me personally, it is irksome and perturbing to receive the (samples enclosed below) replies that I have to a variety of the messages I've placed on the boards ... messages that were placed without prejudice, ill intent or malice ... messages that were placed solely for the purpose of engaging message readers in debate for thought. Being told what I am and what I think by someone who doesn't even know me is very unsettling indeed! In my mind, and in MY personal opinion only, these are at least as bad (to me) as the deleting and banning of posts. No offense intended to anyone in particular, I am simply stating MY own personal position on your statement, Karen.
(( I like those little smiley guys ))
Hehe, I like them too !!
Thanks,
-B.
---------------------------------------------- Following is a sample of replies to MY posted messages: (as I had to sift through the messages in order to collect this sample, please note that although I believe it to be complete, I may have missed one or two or so along the way - thanks)
Author: Matthew/bystander = trolls (quote) Folks, these rabble rousers and their ilk are baiting and trolling ...the waters of this forum - don't bite! (end quote) --- Author: Craig Maier (quote) ... If you are a non-Rockaway resident, why don't you butt out of our internal problems. As far as I am concerned, you have no right to be stirring the pot here and I personally resent your participation in that which is none of your ****ing business. (end quote) --- Author: Craig Maier (quote) Go back to school or shape up! Better yet, go find a bbs that involves your own town and enjoy stirring that one up. (end quote) --- Author: Craig Maier (quote) ... that people who do not have a dog in this fight should do the right thing and keep their traps shut. (end quote) --- Author: JAFO (quote) ... I would have to agree with others that you are here to stir things up (in a negative way - IMHO). So troll seems to stick ... then please feel free to find another forum (perhaps something you feel you have a vested interest in, as we all do as property owners in OUR town). (end quote) --- Author: Craig Maier (quote) I would tend to view the Bystander as a troll too. Watch out for her too. She has given us no reason to trust her motives for posting on this site. She acts like we here in RT are a sociological laboratory, but I suspect that she could be up to no good. (end quote) --- Author: Craig Maier (quote) The fact that Bystander wants a search engine leads me to believe that she does have a dog in this fight and it is as an advocate for cc. She is trying to collect information which will be used in the lawsuit that we will be engaging in shortly using our posts to their advantage. Just be aware that this is very likely what she is up to. (end quote) --- Author: I Agree (quote) ... I have been warning folks to stop chasing the bait these trolls are waveing around (end quote) --- Author: Craig Maier (quote) ... I do not believe that any thinking person has no opinion formed on the issue. You are for it (cc) ... (end quote) ---
I have found your posts to be "on the fence", "middle of the road" and basic "debate".
I would suggest those who are so quick to claim "TROLL" or "CC-Supporter" understand that DEBATE IS GOOD FOR ALL OF US.
It is fine to "agree to disagree" and maintaining adult behavior, name calling and "my religion is better than your religion" is not productive as it has occured on this board.
-------- (The following is an excerpt from a Web article titled: "If Only I Could See The Forest")
Two people were standing in front of a painting in an art gallery. Each person was barely aware of the other because they were deep in thought, analyzing the artist’s intention. Finally, one of the two became aware of his fellow "art critic" and mused,
"A man in a field with a horse.'
'Pardon me?' the other replied.
"It’s a painting of a man in a field pulling a horse," the first one repeated.
"A man pulling a horse? It’s a budding rose on a table."
"How do you see that?"
"Do you see this? Well, if you ..." The second person began, tracing lines in the air above the painting as he spoke, indicating how each part of the composition corresponded to a different part of the rose on the table.
In the meantime, a third person who had joined the two from behind stepped in and said,
"Nope, it’s not that either. The brochure says that the painting is called "Sun Setting Over Ridge."
The first two looked at each other, smiled, and walked off together saying, "Gee. I really thought I saw a horse and a man."
"I saw a rose on a table."
It is always fascinating how people can look at the same thing and yet interpret it quite differently. This is not just the case when it comes to paintings, but it is also true when it comes to interpreting a circumstance and life in general.
Ultimately, life comes down to decisions, which eventually manifest themselves in our behavior towards circumstance and people. The quality of our behavior is directly the result of the quality of our decisions about the information we receive and subsequently analyze.
-----------------------------------
I hope that someday, "Seacrest," you (and others) will have the opportunity to see the forest through those trees ..
Please bystander, you wax poetic, but it is wasted on me...I have a real stake in what is going on with the proposed redevelopment of 140 GPR. I am not here to mince words with anyone who is not focused on the task at hand. Period. Do not be fooled into thinking I am somehow blind in my thinking and motivations, not for a second missy...I DO NOT need any thought provokeing banter to stimulate my gray matter - I do not have the time in my busy life.
I suggest you find something you have a real stake in and apply your passion towards it. I can "see the forest through those trees" - it is the same forest I hope to protect now, and forever, for my children and our community.
Let's not forget - we are in the NJ Highlands here in RT - I think most of us can "see that forest"!
I am now stepping off my soapbox, but it had to be said, after all this is the RT free speech forum and we are ALL entitled to our opinions...you have just been treated to mine.
Bystander - waaaaah! You're the same poor hurt baby from a few days ago who was so damaged by this room that she threatened never to share with us ever again. I thought that you were all "hurt and indignant" and gonna run home to momma with your football. Hmmm. You promised that was going to be the last that we would see of ya. Well, please follow through on your promise, else your word is no better than your hidden agenda. Most of us "plain folks" can not stand those that speak in riddles. You have no concept of how to speak clearly cause you think that you are some sort of intellectual snob. Do us all a favor and just "be gone."
Lisa - I'm sorry. As you can see, I tried. My gut told me not to, but our email exchanges convinced me to give it another go. Nothing personal but I should have listened to my gut.
Karen - As administrator, do you have the ability to 'delete' specific messages? If so, can you please delete ALL of mine? If you aren't sure where they all are, I can provide you with an archived list, preferably via my email address : debateforthought@hotmail.com. Please let me know if you need the list or not.
Neither Karen or Lisa should help you out of this bystander - you chose to engage in this forum, and have been redressed on the issues. Las Vegas does not give you your money back if you say I was just playing for fun...
Hey listen, I'm sorry, I'm not going through and deleting posts.
Thing one, it's a free speech board.
Thing two, while I find the dynamic between you and craig fascinating, I don't think there's anything particularly dangerous or slanderous going on there.
Thing three, it's a beautiful day and I've got a very full weekend, I haven't the time to sort through a billion posts.
To be honest, I don't think anybody else will either so history will be history. Just stay off the topic and it will kill itself.
and asks some questions/makes some statements about Judiasm vs. Christianity.
and we're not being banned 
from posting just because we disagree.
