I think so, Connie. Thanks for saying it clearer than I did.

I tempered my posting here years ago when it started being a more and more snark free zone.

a more and more snark free zone.

I also don't think that's a fair assessment of this board. (Same disclaimer as before.)

Some things that are obvious snark have been taken rather seriously.

I agree with this.

So they don't get scolded?

Some of the people who are shutting up are shutting up about feeling scolded. I don't think that's fair. Republican Buffistas have spoken up before about feeling uncomfortable about general negative statements made about Republicans that obviously didn't include them. Because they're supposed to understand that no one would mean them. It's the other Republicans, you know, the dumb ones.

And if *anyone* ever dared swap black into the above paragraph, it would be perfectly acceptable to have a apoplectic rage.

I hate to think that the board is made an uncomfortable space for people who don't share the majority politics or other viewpoints because there's some apparent tacit understanding that Buffistas are exceptions to every rule, because we're cool like that. That doesn't really apply.

I can't think of a good reason why Republicans are an acceptable target of snark and everyone should be given a pass to say mean things about the group as a whole, but not, say any other group that Buffistas tend to be more sympathetic to because of our own demographics. That's groupthink.

Connie, do you think there are "obvious snark" comments I could make about, a group you belong to that you should give me free rein to post?

If you go back to the beginning of this conversation, though, Maria simply pointed out that some people who have military ties here might not love the remark about "military intelligence." She was straightforward about it, and not snarky.

This was what seemed super-snarky in response, erika:

it's totally awesome how much finger-shaking and correcting and looking to be offended goes on on this board these days.

And since you weren't the one who made the original "military intelligence" remark, I'm not sure why you were so heated. Maria said people *might* not love it, that's all, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

Caring that people we like and spend a lot of time with might get hurt isn't something to rail against. And in the beginning, that's all it was -- a simple reminder.

Caring that people we like and spend a lot of time with might get hurt isn't something to rail against.

Yes. Thank you. I love the snark on this board, but sometimes (hell, rarely) someone says something that hits close to home for someone. I really, really don't like the idea that we should just let shut up and let it slide on the occasion when it does happen.

Some of the people who are shutting up are shutting up about feeling scolded. I don't think that's fair. Republican Buffistas have spoken up before about feeling uncomfortable about general negative statements made about Republicans that obviously didn't include them. Because they're supposed to understand that no one would mean them. It's the other Republicans, you know, the dumb ones.

This is exactly what I was thinking of, when I spoke up--because it wasn't the first time I've seen "republican intellectual" derided here. And I'm all for making fun of particular republican politicians or stances--lord knows as a gay, I'm not most of their favorite person either. I was just hoping for more civility.

There has been once or twice when I have accidentally stepped in the guacamole and I appreciated being called on it. Ok, maybe in the moment I took it more personally than it was likely intended, but when I stepped back a bit, I got it. In the one case that I remember clearly, I learned something from the exchange. My 2 cents.

a more and more snark free zone.

I also don't think that's a fair assessment of this board. (Same disclaimer as before.)

This is a perfectly fair assessment. For me this is a change that happened years ago. For me the overall feeling of the board shifted. I didn't want to get into it so I did what I needed to do which was to curtail much of my posting and participation. I still adore the folks here and read the board regularly, but I'm much less likely to chime in.