Speak Your Piece

[Honeycreek Dexters]

SAY WHAT YOU MEAN AND MEAN WHAT YOU SAY.

I’ve noticed recently there have been instances where some respected members of the Dexter Breeding community on this forum have been berated and chastised for what some perceive as “insensitive comments”. It seems (to me anyway) that our postings are being censored by a few that want to look at the world through rose colored glasses and believe that others should have to look through them also.
When did we get to the point that our opinions are only welcome if they conform to some arbitrary standard set by some other people? I for one don’t need a censor past the moderator choosing to ban my postings or not. I don’t feel I should have to apologize for my statements if they are within the confines of the rules of the forum. Some have even been made to feel as if they must delete and change their thoughts because some other felt the words were in bad taste. This is plain and simple wrong. This is supposed to be a forum for the exchange of information and thoughts on Dexter Cattle, not an exchange of thoughts only if they are the same as ours/mine/yours.
Some have gone so far into the political correct mode that it has warped all common sense and reality. All people don’t feel or think the same and those that don’t think the way you or I do have just as much a right to their opinion (even if you don’t agree with it) as does anybody else. These same PC people are the first to stand up and holler about sensitivity but don’t give a thought to their attack on the sensitivity of the person they are attacking. And that is what I mean about arbitrary, who’s opinion are we going to use as a guide. The way I’ve always thought is; that it is the moderator. So if the mod. Doesn’t say anything then why should someone that is not. Now these are my opinions and others may not share them and they are as always welcome to their own. How many times have I typed those words in this forum?
I have seen at least 5 different Dexter talk groups and a breed registry torn apart by these same few people that feel that their opinions are the only opinions that matter within the breed. I for one have never followed their path and have always marched to a different drummer and will continue to do so and my cattle bare that out. Let all opinions be [herd] (someone call the spelling police) not just the ones from the PC group. And not just the ones from the horns group, or the ones from the long legs group, or the short legs group, or the came over on the Mayflower group, but all of them, then you decide where to take your cattle as you see fit. "SPEAK YOUR PIECE"

[allmuxedup]

Awwww.... now... come on.... tell us what you really think!!!

I've rarely had people think I don't speak my peace.

I'm OK w/ our little cows in all forms. But.... it toasts my cookies when people make out like their way is the only way & belittle others. Like... in a discussion on horns. I pointed out that these animals can kill w/ or w/out horns. I prefer to have horns, because I think they're beautiful & they're a good reminder that one has to be aware. The person who was saying that it was safer not to have horns said she was sorry that my cattle were dangerous. My cattle aren't dangerous... if she needs to dehorn for safety.... I'd say it's her cattle that are dangerous. And... w/ chrondo.... who here has seen as w/ their own two eyes... a bulldog calf? I don't mean a pix... I mean who has actually seen one... in the flesh? And... yet.... there's a move to rid the breed of this terrible scourge??? By whom? My guess is by people who want to provide chondro free breeding stock.
As I've always said.... follow the money! The positions held by people who belittle others... will get those people holding them pockets that are a little heavier.

[marion]

Aug 7, 2010 21:48:04 GMT -5 allmuxedup said:

But.... it toasts my cookies when people make out like their way is the only way & belittle others. Like... in a discussion on horns. I pointed out that these animals can kill w/ or w/out horns. I prefer to have horns,.
As I've always said.... follow the money! The positions held by people who belittle others... will get those people holding them pockets that are a little heavier.

OK allmuxed up, that was not a "discussion about horns". It was about calf restraints, that you then hijacked to state your view one more time, that there is no reason ever for anyone to dehorn cattle. As in many previous threads, those who dehorn mechanically or with genetics, (or raise only non-chondro stock) are continually accused of lining their pockets as a motive. And if those who dehorn dont stay quiet and polite in the face of these accusations, they are then accused of "belittling others" ..marion

[Star Creek Dexters]

I just wanted to quote our rules of engagement here. This is the foundation of this board.

* When offering advice or your opinion, be kind and respectful. Address the issue at hand, and refrain from personal attacks.

* Please try to keep threads on-topic. "Hi-jacking" (changing the topic of a thread to one that interests you more) is rude, and can prevent the original poster from getting the input they have asked for because people have a tendency to respond to the last post rather than re-reading the whole thread. If you think of something tangential to say, start a new thread!

There are going to be ideas and goals that clash with this breed. It is a very diversified breed. It is OK to have a difference of opinion, it is not OK to vent here.

IMO, this thread was started by a venter. And, I might ad, someone who has been at least temporally banned from this board.

I think it might be wisdom to move away from this type of discussion.

Only MO and meant in the kindest way.

[Olga]

Some quick comments. I think "SAY WHAT YOU MEAN AND MEAN WHAT YOU SAY" is a good philosophy. It doesn't imply, however, to be rude and to forget one's manners. The rules outlined in the Code of Conduct still apply.
While I hoped that members of this board will "moderate" themselves, the need for Code of Conduct became recently very clear. I find it important not to judge past posts by current rules, so Honeycreek has received no action past a Warning so far. He hasn't logged in since August 1 for reasons unknown to me.
allmuxedup, when you start accusing a vague group of people of pursuing certain strategies in order to achieve monetary gains, you shouldn't be surprised that some people will take offense. In my honest opinion, I believe that there are many Dexter breeders out there who are very passionate about the breed and some of them sound patronizing on occasion. Do report specific post that are in violation of the Code, but please refrain from broad accusations.

[allmuxedup]

I thought it would be inflamitory to 'name names'. I wasn't complaining about the incident. I was citing a concrete example of a belittling tone & the misdirection I was talking about.
I didn't hijack a thread, to my knowledge. I responded to something that someone said. I don't need to rehash anything..... I'll just go play w/ my cattle for a while. The thread that gave butcher weights was very helpful. But, it's the only info I've gleaned recently. If I did have a question.... I wouldn't ask it in this group of people. Not here & not on any of the Yahoo groups. I might write to Judy, she's the most supportive Dexter owner I know of. maybe that's why she's no popular w/ this crowd.