Does this offend you?

[user79]

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Originally Posted by missworld The difference is you had a choice whether or not you watch south part etc. If you come on to your favorite forum, click on a post and see a picture of someone responsible for killing members of your family, that is beyond black humour, it is thoughtless and crass. missworld

You have a choice whether or not to click on a thread that is called "Does this offend you". Um, that should pretty clearly indicate that there is material ahead that may be offensive to some. That, and this thread is in Deep Thoughts, where controversial material is given a platform to be discussed. You are free to browse other areas of the forum where you are sure not to find any controversial material at all. It is at the user's own discretion to browse Deep Thoughts forum, and it is indicated on the forum discription that it may contain sensitive posts.

You had a choice whether or not to click on this thread, and you did. And you know what, if it really bothers you that much just to see a picture of Hilter, just close the window. It's really that simple.

No one is endorsing Nazi propaganda or anything close to that. People interpret things differently, not for a second did I believe that the OP is endorsing Hitler or making light of the Holocaust. You do not agree with that and that's your perogative, but again, an opinion is just an opinion.




I'm really curious, do the people who are offended get offended at seeing a picture of Hitler in a history book?

 

[Beauty Mark]

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Originally Posted by darkishstar There is so much offense at seeing an image of Hitler. But NOT wanting to see any images of Hitler is naive as well. I for one actually think that though the humor may be tasteless, doesn't it still bring attention to one of the most despicable men in history? It doesn't let people forget he existed or the wrongs and sins he committed to humanity, even if it is a poorly thought of image. We should NOT forget the wrongs he committed. The fact that you feel offended as many others do means that yes, the image is doing what it intends. It does not let you forget and it still reminds you of the horrors, ones that we should NEVER forget. The thing is, if people were so offended that they didn't even want to see images of Hitler in history texts or articles because it's too painful, then you leave room for forgetting about what happened in history, then you allow the same thing to happen again. By not wanting to see such an image also means you're trying to hide a painful part of history because yes it was painful, but we never benefit from hiding or ignoring anything painful. Just because you are offended, people should not have to hide the image. I think that the image definitely serves a purpose, even if it is offensive. That's what it's meant to be offensive. Sorry to say, but no one has to remove the image to protect or not offend anyone. I just feel that when you want the original OP to take it down, it's almost a desire to hide the reality of Hitler's existence because it's too painful to view. And I believe that that's not the way to go either. If you hide or ignore his existence due it being painful, you're risking later generations not seeing why Hitler became such a painful image to people in the past. Ignoring leads exactly to what it intends. Ignorance.

I don't think desiring not to see a photo of Hitler when surfing a fairly shallow site is ignoring the past. I haven't suffered firsthand from WWII, but I imagine for some people, it could be quite upsetting to be confronted with that when you don't expect it. On some level, it might be easier for a person to see something they despise or fear when they expect to see it.

If you start demanding that Hitler never be mentioned ever even in a text book, that's when you're ignoring the past.

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You have a choice whether or not to click on a thread that is called "Does this offend you". Um, that should pretty clearly indicate that there is material ahead that may be offensive to some. That, and this thread is in Deep Thoughts, where controversial material is given a platform to be discussed. You are free to browse other areas of the forum where you are sure not to find any controversial material at all. It is at the user's own discretion to browse Deep Thoughts forum, and it is indicated on the forum discription that it may contain sensitive posts.

Well, in the instance of this thread, you're absolutely right. However, the OP used the Hitler in makeup picture as her MySpace avatar, which I think was available for many people to see without any kind of warning. If she were to use said avatar on this site and post in other places, everyone would see it, regardless of whether you're talking in Deep Thoughts or Color Collections

 

[Shimmer]

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Originally Posted by MissChievous I'm really curious, do the people who are offended get offended at seeing a picture of Hitler in a history book?

The context being a bit different, I doubt it.

 

[ratmist]

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Originally Posted by missworld The difference is you had a choice whether or not you watch south part etc. If you come on to your favorite forum, click on a post and see a picture of someone responsible for killing members of your family, that is beyond black humour, it is thoughtless and crass. For the record, the war was only history to me; my grandad fought in the war and survived to a ripe old age, though I never really knew him. missworld

Then don't look at the internet, watch television, open a book, or in general do anything that would expose you to the rest of the world. You might get offended otherwise. I recommend a giant rock. Or a cave.

 

[ratmist]

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Originally Posted by rbella Ok, I think that there is a severe miscommunication between the two us. I wholly agree with the above statement, but that has not been my stance, nor the stance of quite a few on here.

Hm, I don't think there's severe miscommunication. The second and third paragraphs of the post to which you replied wasn't related to your statement, which you repeated and underlined, as though I am not getting it.

I get it. I do. I simply added further comments that reiterate, for the thousandth time, what I believe, without meaning or intending to imply that you agree with me.

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Originally Posted by rbella I don't think that getting pissed off because people are telling us to "chill the f*ck out" when our opinion is asked and being offended at statements like "WWII isn't really even relevant" is the same as bashing someone just b/c they think the avatar is funny.

There are people who were offended by being grouped inadvertantly into the "chill the f*ck out" category who then called the OP's character into question. And there are people who have called people's character into question for finding the avatar anything other than offensive. I've searched through the thread and posted some of the comments that support my statement. I don't feel like doing it again.

Either way, I've not said that WWII is not relevant, or defended ignorance about WWII. I've not said that being irritated at someone who stated WWII is irrelevant is a bad thing. I get it, honestly I do. I just think it's crap for people to decide that just because someone doesn't share a passionate, deep response to historical events, they must necessarily be young, naive, ignoramus in need of some abuse about their character.

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Originally Posted by rbella I will make my statement one last time: If you find that avatar funny, it doesn't affect me one way or the other. That is your choice. I don't like the avatar, but I don't particularly care, nor does it really bother me if you do. If you use this avatar or this thread as an example for your argument that WWII, Hitler or any other historical event is irrelevant, then yes, it affects me and I strongly believe I have the right to voice my opinion telling you so.

*sigh* Like I said above, I have not misunderstood your position.

But to address your statement, I'm sure I could come up with a lot of irrelevant historical events, in the sense that they really don't matter to me at the end of the day. (Incidentally, I wouldn't loop WWII in that group.)

But since I haven't addressed this issue, I'll say what I'm thinking about it right now.

Your right to an opinion doesn't stretch so far that you can tell me what to believe, or that I should believe what you believe. If I choose not to give a damn about WWII and honestly feel it's irrelevant to my everyday life, I really don't see how there's anything you can say to make it suddenly become an integral to my life. It takes a lot more effort than just trying to shame someone on a message board into clicking videos on youtube. (Feel free to argue against that by the way, because I do think it's important to make people understand the importance of history. Hell, I wouldn't be an archaeologist if I didn't think the past was important.)

Some people - I'm going to go out here on a limb and say you're one of them - really disagree with the idea that good people are capable of not feeling any particular emotional attachment to WWII, and therefore not feeling WWII is relevant to their everyday existence. It seems inconceivable that we have people growing up right now that feel unattached and unaffected to it in a personal way, but it's just reality. I don't think some of the people in this thread who said it was "irrelevant" meant it as an aggressive way to piss off those that feel so passionate about it. They were just being honest. They don't feel anything about it because they just don't see how it's part of their life. It doesn't mean they're bad people. It just means they haven't felt what you've felt... and they may not ever.

Welcome to the generation gap. None of us experienced WWII directly. And the longer time goes on, the more people will feel emotionally distanced from that war. This has already happened to WWI. It will happen to WWII, Rwanda, Yugoslavia, and Darfur. That depresses me. But I also know it's part of human nature to be unable to relate to something unless it directly affects them. Too oftn you can't make history directly affect someone, so you can't reach their hearts. And that doesn't mean they're bad people for remaining unaffected. It just means you gotta try harder to change people's hearts if you care that much.

 

[rbella]

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Originally Posted by ratmist Hm, I don't think there's severe miscommunication. The second and third paragraphs of the post to which you replied wasn't related to your statement, which you repeated and underlined, as though I am not getting it. I get it. I do. I simply added further comments that reiterate, for the thousandth time, what I believe, without meaning or intending to imply that you agree with me.

My reasoning behind that post was that for the most part, whenever you decide to discuss those on their "high horses" and what not, it is after you have quoted me. I do find that annoying. However, if you do get my stance, I am fine with that.


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Originally Posted by ratmist *sigh* Like I said above, I have not misunderstood your position.

Ummm, this kind of rhetoric is what I find so condescending. If anything, these types of responses gives me the impression that you are exemplifying the very qualities that are annoying you regarding other posters.

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Originally Posted by ratmist But to address your statement, I'm sure I could come up with a lot of irrelevant historical events, in the sense that they really don't matter to me at the end of the day. (Incidentally, I wouldn't loop WWII in that group.) But since I haven't addressed this issue, I'll say what I'm thinking about it right now. Your right to an opinion doesn't stretch so far that you can tell me what to believe, or that I should believe what you believe.

Glad to hear that. Perhaps you should go back to the prolife/prochoice thread and heed your own advice. You were extremely passionate about your stance and very argumentative to prove your point. I would think that of all people, you would understand what it is like to be passionate about something.


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Originally Posted by ratmist If I choose not to give a damn about WWII and honestly feel it's irrelevant to my everyday life, I really don't see how there's anything you can say to make it suddenly become an integral to my life. It takes a lot more effort than just trying to shame someone on a message board into clicking videos on youtube. (Feel free to argue against that by the way, because I do think it's important to make people understand the importance of history. Hell, I wouldn't be an archaeologist if I didn't think the past was important.) Some people - I'm going to go out here on a limb and say you're one of them - really disagree with the idea that good people are capable of not feeling any particular emotional attachment to WWII, and therefore not feeling WWII is relevant to their everyday existence. It seems inconceivable that we have people growing up right now that feel unattached and unaffected to it in a personal way, but it's just reality. I don't think some of the people in this thread who said it was "irrelevant" meant it as an aggressive way to piss off those that feel so passionate about it. They were just being honest. They don't feel anything about it because they just don't see how it's part of their life. It doesn't mean they're bad people. It just means they haven't felt what you've felt... and they may not ever.

Well, yes you have gone out on a limb there. I don't consider anyone a good or bad person until they give me reason to believe they are. I reserve the right to decide if I think it is inconsiderate to the veterans of WWII and victims of the holocaust to dismiss it as "irrelevant". The posters who find these circumstances "irrelevant" have just as much right to be honest about how they feel (as you have said) as I do to feel offended by it. Doesn't mean I think they are bad people and to assume I do is judging me, which is the very thing you are attesting to-judgment.

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Originally Posted by ratmist Welcome to the generation gap. None of us experienced WWII directly. And the longer time goes on, the more people will feel emotionally distanced from that war. This has already happened to WWI. It will happen to WWII, Rwanda, Yugoslavia, and Darfur. That depresses me. But I also know it's part of human nature to be unable to relate to something unless it directly affects them. Too oftn you can't make history directly affect someone, so you can't reach their hearts. And that doesn't mean they're bad people for remaining unaffected. It just means you gotta try harder to change people's hearts if you care that much.

I am very familiar with the generation gap. It is apparent in every day life. I didn't experience WWII directly, no, but family members close to me did and that is enough for me. Much like your friend whom you had to take to the abortion clinic. You saw the look of terror in her eyes. I'm sure you felt her pain as well and I recall you were pretty affected by those who felt that getting an abortion was wrong.

I am ending this on the note that you can continue to challenge me, that is fine, but I don't really think our "battle" about words has become fair to the original poster. I don't think she intended for us to get into a pickle over semantics.

 

[FullWroth]

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Originally Posted by ratmist Welcome to the generation gap. None of us experienced WWII directly. And the longer time goes on, the more people will feel emotionally distanced from that war. This has already happened to WWI. It will happen to WWII, Rwanda, Yugoslavia, and Darfur. That depresses me. But I also know it's part of human nature to be unable to relate to something unless it directly affects them. Too oftn you can't make history directly affect someone, so you can't reach their hearts. And that doesn't mean they're bad people for remaining unaffected. It just means you gotta try harder to change people's hearts if you care that much.

Bingo. I mean, take any historical event. Take Pompeii. There was no breaking newscast as it was happening, there was no warning. A whole town was just suddenly, horribly massacred by a natural event. We have eyewitness testimony from people who were lucky enough to be far enough away to watch it without being killed, but that's it. Imagine, not hearing from your relative in Pompeii for a while and then suddenly finding out they've been dead all this time, that they were shredded to bits by a poison gas cloud.

That must've hurt people. Quite a lot. And in that case, you don't even have a dictator or a regime or a law to blame. Just nature, and it wasn't personal.

Now we learn about it as a cold, hard fact of history. Nobody really bursts into tears or has a flashback when Pompeii is mentioned. Life goes on - this is a good thing. People need to move on from the traumatic events of their lives, because otherwise none of us would ever get out of bed and we'd all just die off. And it's not important if the events of the past don't touch you emotionally - what's important is that you learn what happened, you learn *how* it happened, and you try to keep it from happening again.

I laugh at Hitler in make-up. What a douchebag. But I do not laugh if I see the signs of another dictatorship springing up, and I do not laugh when I see politicians feeding off peoples' fears and insecurities just like Hitler did. Biiiig difference.

 

[rbella]

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Originally Posted by FullWroth Bingo. I mean, take any historical event. Take Pompeii. There was no breaking newscast as it was happening, there was no warning. A whole town was just suddenly, horribly massacred by a natural event. We have eyewitness testimony from people who were lucky enough to be far enough away to watch it without being killed, but that's it. Imagine, not hearing from your relative in Pompeii for a while and then suddenly finding out they've been dead all this time, that they were shredded to bits by a poison gas cloud. That must've hurt people. Quite a lot. And in that case, you don't even have a dictator or a regime or a law to blame. Just nature, and it wasn't personal. Now we learn about it as a cold, hard fact of history. Nobody really bursts into tears or has a flashback when Pompeii is mentioned. Life goes on - this is a good thing. People need to move on from the traumatic events of their lives, because otherwise none of us would ever get out of bed and we'd all just die off. And it's not important if the events of the past don't touch you emotionally - what's important is that you learn what happened, you learn *how* it happened, and you try to keep it from happening again. I laugh at Hitler in make-up. What a douchebag. But I do not laugh if I see the signs of another dictatorship springing up, and I do not laugh when I see politicians feeding off peoples' fears and insecurities just like Hitler did. Biiiig difference.

I'm sorry. I totally understand where you are coming from. But, I just really feel that there is a difference between "moving on" from tragedy and totally forgetting events that completely shaped who we are today. It is really bothersome to me. I hope that future generations don't find my friends who died at the towers during 9/11 "irrelevant". Or, my best friend's cousin that I grew up with who died fighting for us in Iraq. That to me, would be a shame.

I also hope the children of the future don't forget that because of past World Wars we are able to have the freedoms we have today. That when they go to get their hair dyed, buy crazy colored make up or clothes, that they don't forget that the ONLY reason they can do so is because our forefathers fought to make sure that is a freedom they could enjoy. Call me crazy, I just think it would be important to be grateful for that.

 

[SparklingWaves]

The topic of indifference:


Holocaust Memories and the Perils of Indifference - Viewpoints



Generation what always will feel how?


"nazi concentration camps"

To review this video, you just click the title within the box.


Flattery:

It has been said that the ultimate from of flattery is imitation. Of course, that can be in any of the following forms: plagiarism, sarcasm, satire, humor, etc.

Sources:

There were comments directed at The History Channel. I personally do not have access to it on my television, but I do know Veterans that consider it one of their sources and some of them actively collaborate with it. They wanted me to ask you directly, Ratmist, for what sources you consider more "valid." I will most certainly pass it along. Also, if you or anyone else posts anything of historical nature, please site your source(s). Thank you kindly.

 

[lizardprincesa]

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Originally Posted by ratmist Welcome to the generation gap. None of us experienced WWII directly.

My grandmother often surfs the Net. She will turn 96 on August 10th, I pray. (Although she is amazingly healthy for her age, & people never believe she's almost 96, she recently had to be hospitalized for a thrombosis.)
This AM, when I phoned her, she'd been busy on the Net. Mainly, she works on her genealogical project, but she does her share of surfing. I believe she enjoys looking at what her grandchildren & great-grandchildren are doing, once in awhile.

Although she wasn't in Europe at the time, she sure felt the effects...

Besides the fact that she had relatives, whom she loved, who did not make it out of Eastern Europe in time, my grandfather was part of the War here in the US, working in Virginia. The family was suddenly uprooted when my mom was tiny, (in the 40's), as my grandpa had to work on the War effort. I believe he had some type of architectural position with the Navy (?) (I'm not exactly clear on his role-sorry.) The little family had to take my great-grandmother with them, from Brooklyn, NY, to Virginia, as my grandmother, her youngest child, was caring for her; my great-grandma had a Heart problem which killed her a few years later. I have no doubt that stress from WWII had a part in her demise-she had close relatives back in Europe who didn't make it out.

We don't know how many people read these posts. The grand majority don't post. We never know who might be reading.

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And the longer time goes on, the more people will feel emotionally distanced from that war. This has already happened to WWI.

My grandma's brother (now deceased) was injured during WWI; his leg had to be amputated. My grandma & other older relatives still remember & discuss this what happened. My great uncle died when I was a child; I never really knew him, but I have seen the collection of postcards, written in code, which he sent home while he was overSeas. My eyes are still wide with amazement when my grandma shows me these. The postcards & her photos make even WWI *real* to me, & I am not at an age that I'd consider part of the older generation. I am not as young as you, perhaps. No matter...

True, many people *are* already emotionally distanced from WWI...but not everyone.

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It will happen to WWII, Rwanda, Yugoslavia, and Darfur.

Unfortunately, this will be true for some....but not for all...The importance of being informed & remembering is indisputable. Family members and educators as well as people in various media, have a responsibility to assure
that we *don't* forget. Actually, we are *all* responsible; & we are doing it now, as we discuss, right here on Specktra.

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That depresses me. But I also know it's part of human nature to be unable to relate to something unless it directly affects them. Too oftn you can't make history directly affect someone, so you can't reach their hearts.

Yes. True.

Hearts *are* reached by records of all types, whether these be word of mouth, postcards, journals, novels, films, songs, etc......Various forms of media can help people have a clearer understanding of history, & perhaps even help people ~feel~ as actual historical participants felt, since we are all Human, thus sharing of similar emotions.
I believe this is one reason we still read Shakespeare...)

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And that doesn't mean they're bad people for remaining unaffected. It just means you gotta try harder to change people's hearts if you care that much.

I totally agree with you.

CherylFaith

 

[FullWroth]

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Originally Posted by rbella I'm sorry. I totally understand where you are coming from. But, I just really feel that there is a difference between "moving on" from tragedy and totally forgetting events that completely shaped who we are today.

Which is why I mentioned how important it is to learn what happened. I'm not saying we have to forget WW2 - I'm just saying it's unrealistic to expect someone who's never even EXPERIENCED a war to start crying over a war casualty who died before they were even born, in a conflict they probably have trouble wrapping their head around. Some people ARE that sensitive - some aren't. Some people consider that sensitivity a sign of good character while others consider it a weakness, and other people just don't care either way.

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It is really bothersome to me. I hope that future generations don't find my friends who died at the towers during 9/11 "irrelevant". Or, my best friend's cousin that I grew up with who died fighting for us in Iraq. That to me, would be a shame.

Can you name one of the people who died at Pompeii without looking it up? I can't. Yes, one day your friends who died will feel completely irrelevant to someone studying a history book. But that doesn't make them irrelevant to you, or to the course of history, nor does it diminish the contributions they made to our society before they died, however little they might be in the great scheme of things. Lots of people unfortunately think learning math and science is irrelevant to their everyday life too, and yet it keeps us in our modern comfort and gives us the leisure time to sit here discussing the past.

Someday, the WTC attack will be just another historical event that set about a chain reaction of other historical events, and many people won't really be able to relate. The important part, for me, is will they remember what brought these attacks on? What went wrong? What went right? What mistakes not to repeat? I don't care if future people hold solemn memorials where they cry over the bodies of the dead - I care if future people understand the mistakes on both sides that led to the attacks, the mistakes that have led us to our current state, and also the way that, for a little while, everybody in this country got their heads out of their asses and tried to work together.

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I also hope the children of the future don't forget that because of past World Wars we are able to have the freedoms we have today.

Eh, kids today don't really understand how good they have it either, nor did kids of the last generation, and the one before... No one ever really does until it's taken away. What I hope is that our generation, and generations after us, still have the guts to fight to take back their freedoms if/when they're taken away, just like our predecessors did.

 

[user79]

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Originally Posted by SparklingWaves There were comments directed at The History Channel. I personally do not have access to it on my television, but I do know Veterans that consider it one of their sources and some of them actively collaborate with it. They wanted me to ask you directly, Ratmist, for what sources you consider more "valid." I will most certainly pass it along. Also, if you or anyone else posts anything of historical nature, please site your source(s). Thank you kindly.

I'm sorry but I just wanted to point out, this is an Internet forum, I don't think anyone is here writing their doctorate thesis. It's perfectly normal to talk about history or other events on a forum without using Chicago notes style referencing. People can look up the facts and figure on their own to form their own opinions. I'm not going to look up on what page I read certain information on a book I read a year ago, just to make my opinion on a forum look more "valid".

That being said, I don't really know what point you were trying to make about the History Channel?

 

[taitu101]

I don't know where this discussion is currently, and I'm not going to read through 10 pages right now. To answer the original question, no the picture doesn't personally offend me. And I'm sure when you put the picture up you didn't mean to offend anybody. But I can see why it might offend some people. To some it might seem like you're glamorizing (no pun intended) a horrible person and the crimes he commited or trying to make a joke out of it. Others who would call him a hero or look up to him might think you're making fun of him. Either way I can see where they're coming from, even if that's not what you intended it to be.

 

[burnitdown_x]

It seems amazing to me how a thread called 'does this offend you?' would cause so much drama. I'm also amazed at how it turned a question into a flat out history lesson, that I can't say was totally necessary. The point was, she had an avatar, people got offended, and she asked a question. Many posters reacted as if she supported the Nazi regime. I understand that people pointed out to her that it WILL offend people, even I did. I just can't see why people are creating even more issues by making new arguments about how generations aren't connected to WWI or WWII. How can you expect them to be? As a 15 year old, when I read textbooks I am completely sympathetic but I can't say that when I see a picture of Hitler, I'll flip out. I believe it comes down to people who were, in some ways affected by those events. I also see tons of people arguing with each other and that just doesn't have to happen over a stupid picture of Hitler in makeup. Honestly I feel like it's just another reason to argue.

Sorry but that's just how I see it.

 

[rbella]

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Originally Posted by burnitdown_x It seems amazing to me how a thread called 'does this offend you?' would cause so much drama. I'm also amazed at how it turned a question into a flat out history lesson, that I can't say was totally necessary. The point was, she had an avatar, people got offended, and she asked a question. Many posters reacted as if she supported the Nazi regime. I understand that people pointed out to her that it WILL offend people, even I did. I just can't see why people are creating even more issues by making new arguments about how generations aren't connected to WWI or WWII. How can you expect them to be? As a 15 year old, when I read textbooks I am completely sympathetic but I can't say that when I see a picture of Hitler, I'll flip out. I believe it comes down to people who were, in some ways affected by those events. I also see tons of people arguing with each other and that just doesn't have to happen over a stupid picture of Hitler in makeup. Honestly I feel like it's just another reason to argue. Sorry but that's just how I see it.

I agree that this thread had just become another argument. Thank you for pointing that out and making me aware of it. Great post and great point.

 

[Shimmer]

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Originally Posted by MissChievous I'm sorry but I just wanted to point out, this is an Internet forum, I don't think anyone is here writing their doctorate thesis. It's perfectly normal to talk about history or other events on a forum without using Chicago notes style referencing. People can look up the facts and figure on their own to form their own opinions. I'm not going to look up on what page I read certain information on a book I read a year ago, just to make my opinion on a forum look more "valid". That being said, I don't really know what point you were trying to make about the History Channel?

No, it's not necessary, but it does add a certain relevance and authority to one's post, particularly when the reader is seeking other relevant information on the subject.

 

[euphrosyne_rose]

After reading this entire thread to the end, I have to say that there have been many valid points and alot of rudeness. The way I look at it is this:
My family also had struggles during the war. My great-grandfather and great-uncle died trying to escape Germany. I've had people actually make jokes when they ask about my heritage and I mention I have German blood. "Oooh. Stay away from the Nazi!" I don't take offense b/c I know they mean it as a joke. What Hitler did was crazy, wrong, offensive, destructive, etc. and some people would probably get major offended by that kind of joke, but it's a JOKE. Childish and annoying, but I didn't think less of them for it.
I wasn't offended by the avatar. I had a little chuckle and then decided to read what everyone said, knowing there would be some backlash. It amazes me the extent people have gone to to make their point. I don't feel that b/c I didn't find it offensive that I'm ignorant or naive or immature. I just don't see things the same way. I feel the same way several people do on this thread: It was good to see him taken down a few notches. I wouldn't personally put it up as my avatar, but in a way I think it took balls to put it up. True, she decided to ask for an opinion and she got several and then showed a little uncertainty. Now it's time to see if she's got the balls to keep it up. In no way do I feel she is uninformed or naive or "young" as some people have called her. She's just got a different sense of humor and I give her the thumbs up for being different. That's just my opinion. If you want to dislike me or judge mefor it, go right ahead. I won't judge. It's your opinion to think less of me for saying it and you have a right to your opinion just as I have a right to mine. It doesn't make EITHER of us less right or wrong. Just remember, that in a way Hitler "judged" people. Look what it led to. And go ahead and think I'm uniformed. I'm not claiming to be an expert. I know enough.
To Ratmist, you had several valid points that I applaud. It was appalling and cruel and horrible and we should thank our stars that it's over, but it's in the past and the best thing we can do is learn from it and not repeat those same mistakes. We can learn from it and talk about it to the next generation and so on, but dwelling on it does nothing but make things worse. I am not at all trying to say it's "irrelevant" b/c obviously it is very "relevant" but showing pictures and Youtube videos to prove a point is just overdone. We all know it was horrible. No one is denying that at all and just b/c she put up the picture doesn't mean she doesn't know anything about the war or is being disrespectful.
My family suffered from it and it made them who they are today. My grandfather would have gotten a big kick of the picture and it was his family that suffered the most. We were never taught to be offended at the mention or sight of Hitler. Because it was in the past.
I don't think that calling someone names b/c they don't have the same opinion is very mature at all. That's just spoiling for a fight which some people just like.
And just to put it out there, I don't watch Southpark or Family Guy, not b/c I find it offensive, but b/c I think it's just downright stupid. Again, anyone who watches it isn't immature or ignorant or stupid. Their sense of humor is just different from mine. And that's what being different is all about.

 

[missworld]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratmist Then don't look at the internet, watch television, open a book, or in general do anything that would expose you to the rest of the world. You might get offended otherwise. I recommend a giant rock. Or a cave.

As I said in a an earlier post, my first real knowledge of the events of those times came from watching "The World at War"; the issue is context.

Dont' Mention the war.

missworld

 

[SparklingWaves]

Evidence suggests that "Dr. Death" is still alive.

Aribert Heim, aka "Dr. Death" : Investigation Discovery

Here are two other sources.

German court rejects criticism of role in Nazi hunt

BBC NEWS | Americas | On the trail of 'Dr Death'

(Each article had different details, so I included all them).

 

[ratmist]

Quote:

Originally Posted by missworld As I said in a an earlier post, my first real knowledge of the events of those times came from watching "The World at War"; the issue is context. Dont' Mention the war. missworld

Freaking love "The Germans" episode. Basil is such an idiot.