The Importance of Tact

cmlazar · 11-07-2007, 08:57 PM

Fellow Ron Paul supporters:

I've been a Ron Paul supporter for several months now, finally started lurking here around the November 5th Money Bomb, and have finally found reason to register and post here.

I understand that there has been concern over the last few days about forum censorship, inappropriate behaviour on the forums, etc. These concerns are not to be taken lightly. Now that Dr. Paul has more attention from the MSM, we have to take extra precaution to ensure that we are being as tactful as humanly possible. We cannot afford to give the MSM or any of Dr. Paul's opponents ammo. This means taking the extra steps to avoid controversy in everything we do.

Yes, the 5th of November Money Bomb was a huge success, and I understand the controversy was relatively small. I also know this has been debated to death, but the fact is this: the less controversy the MSM has to talk about, the more time they have to talk about Dr. Paul's merits and how many millions his campaign has made in donations.

This is why the December 18th money bomb proposed by a few forum members is absolutely not a good idea. While there is no arguing that the passing of the 13th amendment and the abolishment of slavery is a wonderful and just thing, a money bomb on this date can be easily misconstrued--it would be incredibly unfortunate if people got the idea that we view Dr. Paul's proposal to abolish the income tax to be equal to the abolishment of slavery. We cannot let details like this go unnoticed in our planning; they will destroy us.

I'm sure these points have all been mentioned before, but an image I found on www.ronpaulmoneybomb.com has prompted this post:

http://www.ronpaulmoneybomb.com/images/terror.jpg

If you look closely, you can make out several elements of the image that make the use of this image a very bad idea. The words "Ku Klux," the Klan hood, black people in a birdcage, a noose, questionable use of the star of David, etc. Even if those elements were somehow photoshopped out, the fact that they exist in the original is reason enough to avoid using this image. The use of this image can be misconstrued to say that Ron Paul supporters are a bunch of white supremacists. These kinds of mistakes are unacceptable and will be our undoing.

Basically, be smart. Assume that your grandmother is reading these forums. Assume the FEC is reading these forums. Assume the other GOP candidates are reading these forums.

Sorry that was a long rant.

constituent · 11-07-2007, 09:03 PM

i thought it said that's what we were fighting against...

i liked it.

someone put many hours of work into that i'm sure..... you should try to display a little tact every now and then yourself.

bbachtung · 11-07-2007, 09:05 PM

Welcome, cmlazar.

1000-points-of-fright · 11-07-2007, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmlazar

I'm sure these points have all been mentioned before, but an image I found on www.ronpaulmoneybomb.com has prompted this post:

http://www.ronpaulmoneybomb.com/images/terror.jpg

If you look closely, you can make out several elements of the image that make the use of this image a very bad idea. The words "Ku Klux," the Klan hood, black people in a birdcage, a noose, questionable use of the star of David, etc. Even if those elements were somehow photoshopped out, the fact that they exist in the original is reason enough to avoid using this image. The use of this image can be misconstrued to say that Ron Paul supporters are a bunch of white supremacists. These kinds of mistakes are unacceptable and will be our undoing.

Yeah, I didn't get that image either. Too many contradictory interpretations.

murrayrothbard · 11-07-2007, 09:10 PM

The income tax is basically a form of slavery, isn't it?

richard1984 · 11-07-2007, 09:15 PM

I hadn't been to that site.
Yeah...some of those pictures are like...I don't know what the hell! I'm like, "WTF?!"

I don't even get them....

The site looks nice, but those pictures have got to go. What the hell were they thinking?!

And like I said, they don't even make sense.

If you ask me, their presence looks like the work of a real troll. Maybe even a hacker?
I don't know. I'm not really experienced with that stuff. I'm just really good at using Word and researching. That's about all I do.

As far as censoring this site, though--I'm against it.
If people don't know how to behave themselves (say, they're on the internet because they have no real social skills or something) that's their own burden to bear, and we can just ignore him/her or ban if necessary.
As far as the preferences of individual users, I would support saying something in the introduction to the forum that "We do not censor our users.... But if they wish, members/users can download free [hopefully] censoring software here: ______." Or something like that. I don't know if that's even possible, but it'd be a compromise.

Actually, I have an idea for a new section to this forum, but I'll address that later. (I'm supposed to be studying for a test right now....

)

jake · 11-07-2007, 09:17 PM

great post. should be sticked. I think moderators need to step up. (do we need more moderators?)

richard1984 · 11-07-2007, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by constituent

i thought it said that's what we were fighting against...

i liked it.

someone put many hours of work into that i'm sure..... you should try to display a little tact every now and then yourself.

But what about the Native American and the lady holding the USA flag on the thing's shoulders? That's not what we're fighting against!
That's why I just don't get it.

Maybe if it were a little bigger and I could read it....

coffeewithchess · 11-07-2007, 09:22 PM

I agree with the post and my honest opinion would be to do another "Money Bomb" on December 31st...ending the year with a bang! Also, we do need to use TACT and it is easy to get distracted with what we are saying, but we need to "STAY ON TARGET"!

Nefertiti · 11-07-2007, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murrayrothbard

The income tax is basically a form of slavery, isn't it?

I'm sure anyone with ancestors who were slaves would find your remarks highly insensitive and trivializing. I don't have ancestors that were slaves but I've read quite a bit about modern slavery, which still exists even in the US, and to compare slavery in any time period to paying taxes is sick. Taxes are on a portion of your income, not your entire life.

In any case, I think the original poster needs some history lessons because he has his dates and events hopelessly muddled.

11-07-2007, 08:57 PM	#1
cmlazar Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8	The Importance of Tact Fellow Ron Paul supporters: I've been a Ron Paul supporter for several months now, finally started lurking here around the November 5th Money Bomb, and have finally found reason to register and post here. I understand that there has been concern over the last few days about forum censorship, inappropriate behaviour on the forums, etc. These concerns are not to be taken lightly. Now that Dr. Paul has more attention from the MSM, we have to take extra precaution to ensure that we are being as tactful as humanly possible. We cannot afford to give the MSM or any of Dr. Paul's opponents ammo. This means taking the extra steps to avoid controversy in everything we do. Yes, the 5th of November Money Bomb was a huge success, and I understand the controversy was relatively small. I also know this has been debated to death, but the fact is this: the less controversy the MSM has to talk about, the more time they have to talk about Dr. Paul's merits and how many millions his campaign has made in donations. This is why the December 18th money bomb proposed by a few forum members is absolutely not a good idea. While there is no arguing that the passing of the 13th amendment and the abolishment of slavery is a wonderful and just thing, a money bomb on this date can be easily misconstrued--it would be incredibly unfortunate if people got the idea that we view Dr. Paul's proposal to abolish the income tax to be equal to the abolishment of slavery. We cannot let details like this go unnoticed in our planning; they will destroy us. I'm sure these points have all been mentioned before, but an image I found on www.ronpaulmoneybomb.com has prompted this post: http://www.ronpaulmoneybomb.com/images/terror.jpg If you look closely, you can make out several elements of the image that make the use of this image a very bad idea. The words "Ku Klux," the Klan hood, black people in a birdcage, a noose, questionable use of the star of David, etc. Even if those elements were somehow photoshopped out, the fact that they exist in the original is reason enough to avoid using this image. The use of this image can be misconstrued to say that Ron Paul supporters are a bunch of white supremacists. These kinds of mistakes are unacceptable and will be our undoing. Basically, be smart. Assume that your grandmother is reading these forums. Assume the FEC is reading these forums. Assume the other GOP candidates are reading these forums. Sorry that was a long rant.

11-07-2007, 09:10 PM	#5
murrayrothbard Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 734	The income tax is basically a form of slavery, isn't it? __________________ "It is no crime to be ignorant of economics, which is, after all, a specialized discipline and one that most people consider to be a 'dismal science.' But it is totally irresponsible to have a loud and vociferous opinion on economic subjects while remaining in this state of ignorance." - Murray N. Rothbard

11-07-2007, 09:15 PM	#6
richard1984 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tennessean Posts: 1,488	I hadn't been to that site. Yeah...some of those pictures are like...I don't know what the hell! I'm like, "WTF?!" I don't even get them.... The site looks nice, but those pictures have got to go. What the hell were they thinking?! And like I said, they don't even make sense. If you ask me, their presence looks like the work of a real troll. Maybe even a hacker? I don't know. I'm not really experienced with that stuff. I'm just really good at using Word and researching. That's about all I do. As far as censoring this site, though--I'm against it. If people don't know how to behave themselves (say, they're on the internet because they have no real social skills or something) that's their own burden to bear, and we can just ignore him/her or ban if necessary. As far as the preferences of individual users, I would support saying something in the introduction to the forum that "We do not censor our users.... But if they wish, members/users can download free [hopefully] censoring software here: ______." Or something like that. I don't know if that's even possible, but it'd be a compromise. Actually, I have an idea for a new section to this forum, but I'll address that later. (I'm supposed to be studying for a test right now.... ) __________________ Amendment I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Amendment II. A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

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11-07-2007, 09:05 PM	#3
bbachtung Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 2,176	Welcome, cmlazar.

11-07-2007, 09:17 PM	#7
jake Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,931	great post. should be sticked. I think moderators need to step up. (do we need more moderators?)

11-07-2007, 09:22 PM	#9
coffeewithchess Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Carrboro, NC Posts: 1,262	I agree with the post and my honest opinion would be to do another "Money Bomb" on December 31st...ending the year with a bang! Also, we do need to use TACT and it is easy to get distracted with what we are saying, but we need to "STAY ON TARGET"!