[Erik Olson]

I understand the liability that comes along with politics. It is impossible to enter any political forum without finding rage and vehemence produced from the disputants’ mutual unwillingness to give way to any opinion that may bring upon them the disgrace of being wrong. Flared tempers and injured pride are all too often concomitants of disputes over things as serious as politics.
I am puzzled and saddened by William's decision to leave. I am puzzled because I understand the threads in general talk are only a part of what constitutes Eratosphere and a wholly voluntary part at that. I am saddened because I felt that William added a lot to the sphere and I would miss his contribution. I wish he would reconsider.

[John Riley]

It has to be said. Of course, I probably shouldn't say it but I'll step forward.

The problem with Bill and political discussions was Bill. He grew increasingly agitated when you disagreed with him. I wrote a few responses to him I labored over to make sure they were not disrespectful and accusatory and he would take a few words and distort them and respond loudly to that, claim insult, and ignore everything else I had said. No one drove Bill away. He drove himself away with his increasingly argumentative and shrill use of ideas and terms pulled from current right-wing rhetoric. Go back and look at his responses to me and the other "snowflakes" who didn't agree with him. I never stooped to calling him a name ripped from left-wing rhetoric and didn't see anyone else do it either.

The bigger truth I accept is it's not smart to get into these political discussions here and I haven't often. I stepped into the one with him because I thought he was the type of person I could have a back and forth with without it going off the rails. That was my impression of him from the poetry boards. I was wrong. Lesson learned. However, I just can't sit by anymore and let the fundamental fact be ignored. Bill drove himself away. No one drove Bill away. He is the one who couldn't stop agitating. The mayor of London was more interested in short skirts than terrorism was a recent post. All attempts to suggest to him that this was inflammatory and simplistic was met with rancor. But no one that I saw called him a name or was disrespectful to him.

Bill said he wasn't reading these posts. I wonder if that is true?

John

[John Whitworth]

IMO pretty well everybody becomes agitated when disagreed with. Pretty well everybody here is of the Liberal persuasion but I have not noticed calm and reasonableness has any chance of breaking out. Any criticism of Obama, for instance, results in shrill vehemence.

[Jayne Osborn]

Originally Posted by John Riley

Bill said he wasn't reading these posts. I wonder if that is true?

As I said earlier, John, Bill posted that he would not read PMs or emails from members; he did not say he wouldn't read this thread. Why would he have started it if he didn't intend to see what the response was? We can't know for sure, of course, but I think (and hope) that Bill will be reading our comments.

But let's not turn this thread into another political debate!

One thing I have to say, which I think is highly relevant (and this is not aimed at Bill himself) is that Alex and I are fully aware that some of our members are bi-polar, and/or have mental health issues. We all must bear in mind that some individuals have major struggles in their lives, be they financial, emotional, health- or family-wise. Such difficulties can make people angry, unreasonable or just plain hard to deal with!

GT discussions at least allow everyone a chance to "sound off", if they need or want to. If we put it into perspective, what does it really matter if people agree or disagree with another's politics? That's the reason it's far better not to ''over-moderate'' that board - unless things get seriously ad hominem, what the hell? Let people have their say; if you don't like what you see, then don't go there!

We are all poets - and poets can be strange people! - but Eratosphere is a wonderful place where lifelong friendships can be forged, and have been. Many, many of us are great friends with others here. Bill can return at any time he chooses, and I sincerely hope that whatever caused him to abandon the Sphere will dissolve away, and be forgotten.

Jayne

[Shaun J. Russell]

Originally Posted by Jayne Osborn

We can't know for sure, of course, but I think (and hope) that Bill will be reading our comments.

Well...his last activity, according to his profile, was when he made this thread on June 11th, so unless he's reading while logged out (always possible), then he's probably gone. I do find it a bit off-putting when someone makes an "I'm leaving" post, however -- there's always a whiff of prima donna to it. If you need to take a break from a forum, or feel you're completely done with a forum, I've never understood the need to draw attention to that fact. That being said...

Bill can return at any time he chooses, and I sincerely hope that whatever caused him to abandon the Sphere will dissolve away, and be forgotten.

Amen to that.

[Michael Juster]

First, I apologize for hijacking this thread a bit because for me, as I have thought about it, it's really not about Bill or some other particular person who has stormed out.

Aristotle argued we do not release anger by venting it, and over time I have decided he is right.

I think Erato members would be happier & healthier if 90% of our posts were arguments about how to scan a troublesome line or the merits of Anthony Hecht versus Marilyn Hacker rather than snarkiness about Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Teresa May or Patty Griffin. If those kinds of arguments about those kinds of people are vital to you, social media offers just short of a bazillion flame wars you can join.

Let me be clear too, that I am not denigrating political activism. I was an activist most of my life and I respect people who go out and work for what they believe in, even if it is very different from what I believe in. It's ranting disconnected to action that gets very tiresome & crowds out other valuable interactions.

Thanks.

[Jennifer Reeser]

Good words, Michael, good words. Unfortunately, even when one shuts down the aggressive, abusive, and violent on one's social media outlets, they commonly seek out a forum such as this, to get attention, and continue their campaigns of aggressiveness, abuse, and violence.

I know whereof I speak.

J

[R. S. Gwynn]

Bad riddance to good rubbish.

[Quincy Lehr]

Don't come back.

[Roger Slater]

He's implied that he doesn't want to be here because he disapproves of the views held by most of the people he finds here. That's fine. He's entitled to his own opinion. But I don't know why the people he finds so personally offensive should beg him to return and hold his nose and tolerate us as best he can so we can share our views with him about whether this or that line is missing a beat. If he wants to go, fine. If he doesn't, also fine. But he's not owed an apology for disapproving of us.