Ever said anything controversial for the sakes of it?

grahamg

grahamg

Old codger
Location
South of Manchester, UK
On another thread someone suggested others might assess her personality as that of a "Stirrer", (an "Aussie Stirrer" to boot! :oops: ).

Have you ever, in your whole livin life, said anything simply to provoke a reaction, or made some moderately extreme statement, just to create a response, and be controversial?

What am I thinking, maybe suggesting to a priest there is no God, (I once told a Methodist minister I believed this was my own daughters thinking, and he surprised me by saying "Good"!).

What's the worst I've done, (I'm accepting it may be part of my modus operandi here. )?

Not sure, can't think, though I suspect it might have been done once or twice to undermine a feminist I thought was too extreme, or thought they knew what was best for everyone too much. I did once hear a German guy say " Hitler wasn't all bad", as a joke to throw back at work colleagues teasing him about the war. Friends of mine too, used to accuse German lorry drivers they met of "bombing our local chippie", that kind of joshing, but I don't think I've been brave enough to do anything quite so confrontational myself. :unsure: .

There we are, an idea for a thread, without having to say anything controversial ! :) .:whistle:
 

In another forum, I replied to a guy's post. It wasn't negative, just an observation. He was irked and replied, "did I ask for critique?!"

Usually, I'd be snarky but I chose to apologize instead. He sent me PM with an apology soon as he realized I didn't mean to offend. A quick apology does wonders to diffuse tension regardless of who's right.
 
I have definitely Challenged others most of my life, not to cause the controversy as I felt the controversy was already created by the person (people) I was Challenging.

One of the great moments of my life happened in Zurich. I was in my favorite cafe facing the door and near the door. There were people behind me I couldn't see. In walks a junior in our American consulate whom I already met while securing a work permit. He proceeds to engage me, aggressively, about Vietnam. I met him point for point, knocking down his assertions with proof and logic (I used to be smart). He finally gives up and leaves looking angry and defeated. When he left, the patrons behind me all stood up to give me an ovation. I forgot they were even there. I was so proud of myself. It was, like, 50 years ago.

I find it hard to ignore remarks I consider, uh, (delete). I'm only starting to learn to just forget it, who cares? but that's only because I'm exhausted and I desire to find new ways.
 
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Pepper said:
I have definitely Challenged others most of my life, not to cause the controversy as I felt the controversy was already created by the person (people) I was Challenging.

One of the great moments of my life happened in Zurich. I was in my favorite cafe facing the door and near the door. There were people behind me I couldn't see. In walks a junior in our American consulate whom I already met while securing a work permit. He proceeds to engage me, aggressively, about Vietnam. I met him point for point, knocking down his assertions with proof and logic (I used to be smart). He finally gives up and leaves looking angry and defeated. When he left, the patrons behind me all stood up to give me an ovation. I forgot they were even there. I was so proud of myself. It was, like, 50 years ago.

I find it hard to ignore remarks I consider, uh, (delete). I'm only starting to learn to just forget it, who cares? but that's only because I'm exhausted and I desire to find new ways.
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Boo Boo arguing with someone not equipped to debate in an intelligent manner. :whistle:
 
Thank you for having such fun on the thread! .

You've brought to mind something I did do, in the early days, (for myself at least), of people posting on forums, almost twenty years ago. I came home from a march around London supporting F4J, (ignore that reference if you don't know who they are), and logged on to my computer to search for something, or clicked on a link to a US website.

Anyway, something said on this website "got up my nose", on this particular day, so I sent off a response, never expecting any reply. It turned out the website was run by just one bloke, and he came back with a very combative defence of himself. I then told him I'd no idea it was his site, I just thought I was having a go at an organisation, and he accepted my apology very nicely, and gracefully. It turned out he was going through very difficult personal circumstances, and over the years since he's shown legendary strength of character, and determination. I'm glad to say his life has turned out well, as he told me in an email recently.

There we are, sometimes a good outcome, when we behave foolishly, and have a go at someone undeserving the comments. :).
 
grahamg said:
It turned out he was going through very difficult personal circumstances, and over the years since he's shown legendary strength of character, and determination. I'm glad to say his life has turned out well, as he told me in an email recently.

There we are, sometimes a good outcome, when we behave foolishly, and have a go at someone undeserving the comments. :).
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This reminds me to be kind or at least bite my tongue in certain situations when my gut tells me to chill. The person may be under stress, best to give them some slack. It doesn't cost me anything to chill. Most of the time, they send me a PM to apologize which I accept graciously.

However, there are people in forums that are complainers/they're angry at the world, for whatever reasons. It takes very little to displease them. They mind other people's business just to have something to complain about. I was wondering why they remain in forums when they say they hate people?
 

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