What happened to Swampbubbles?

SB was originally started as a place for the terminally unhinged to go and spout their opinions. There used to be a few reasonable people, but most lost interest when an otherwise interesting discussion was invaded by the troll horde.

The SysOp (Chris Myers) doesn't have the time or the interest to constantly patrol the site, nor does he have a firm grasp on consistent enforcement of the somewhat mercurial rules, guidelines and suggestions.

The bottom line is that if your site is invaded by a bunch of asshat trolls and flamers, it's your fault.

The place pretty much became the Fred and Wolfman show and that's all she wrote...

Amen.

I rarely look at that board because it is such a worthless pissing contest among people who apparently have no lives outside of their identification as (R) or (D).

At least here I can get gardening tips, random pop culture commentary, or be amused at each "life's frustrations" rant posted by any number of people (including myself)...along with just a touch of politics.

I do miss Glass City Jungle for civil political discourse and news of local politics.

It was good. You got the facts and debated on the facts.

Agreed.

There are some political topics on TT that get a little heated. However, for the most part, we all find some common ground discussing other interests/hobbies, local businesses, etc.

I'll never understand why some people only want to acquaint themselves with people who think exactly like them, whether (R) or (D).

I have real life friends and acquaintances across the entire political spectrum. Sometimes we might politely debate our differences, sometimes we agree to disagree and leave it at that. However, I'm not going to miss out on the rest of their friendship, just because we don't see eye to eye on a small handful of topics.

I may have cared about gay marriage once. I can't remember why. Maybe it wasn't gay marriage, but gay weddings. Maybe it was that there was already too much pressure on women when they get married without raising the bar of fabulousness. Just kidding. Maybe. I loved what they did with the Old West End.

Anyway..at some point, it became obvious to me that gay marriage wasn't going to unravel the fabric of American life faster than ignorance, apathy, absentee parenting and bad manners. I am pretty sure that the Bible covers my list more than the gays, anyway.

What if, rather than denegrate the "sacrament" of marriage between a man and a woman, maybe gay marriage validates it. Gay folks would do more harm to marriage if they simply suggested that it was an outdated and unimportant tradition, right? Instead, they fight for their right to be recognized. Ironically old fashioned.

I pretty much missed SB.
Looking at it today, I see how it's kind of narrow in current scope. Did learn some in the past threads.

The man is being foolish. If he'd re-read his Holy Bible he might discover that it's not up to him to condemn anyone for their sins. That said, I'm willing to offer some pretty good odds that there's a whole lot more going on than religious intolerance.

I'm sorry to learn about the end of your friendship.

Thank you madjack. He's always been very, very right wing. At this time I think he's embarassed by his daughter because it contradicts everything he believes about gays and he wants to blame someone. As to the wife ending an almost 30 yr marriage he's not willing to look at anything he might have done to contribute to the failure of the marriage. Again, easier to blame someone else.

The biggest threat to American family values isn't Adam & Steve, it's Dad leaving Mom for the secretary or Mom caring more about the pool boy than her own children.

I do think "marriage" is a religious ceremony that is defined by a man and a woman and has been so for thousands of years. We don't just wake up one morning and start calling the neighbor's dog a cat because it "feels right", it's not a cat. I do find it funny that the American Bar Association and lawyers are one of the biggest backers of gay marriage, lots of new marriages to litigate against.

BUT I don't believe government should be in the business of giving special perks to man and a woman living together as opposed to any two people. The fact that you have to get a certificate from the State to be with someone is pretty stupid to start with.

I agree with justread and I've wondered why the homosexual political machine has fought for "marriage equality" instead of fighting for government to get out of the process to being with. Over 50% of marriages go down in slow, painful, life destroying crashes are you really sure you want to sign up for that? Is it worth losing half you stuff?

dbw - Gays are often attacked as anti-marriage; when all they want is equality. To actively attack marriage would set gay rights back decades when it’ s not what they are looking for. Hell all I heard out the right wing pundits yesterday was how Obama hates traditional marriage.

Mr. G it's stupid and cowardly to attack people for the people they choose to associate and or live with. That goes for both sides of the fence.

I just think they would have an easier path to liberty and equality if they dropped the "marriage" banner and stood up to the fact that it's not government's business to legislate morality as they deserve the same civil rights granted to any American.

I think their fight for "marriage" hurts their cause because most Americans associate that with a religious ceremony designed for a man and woman. Equal rights doesn't have to code named or wrapped in religious terminology. Drop the marriage word and I feel it would speed up the process.

I understand the fight to "be like everyone else" but your fighting to be labeled with an institution that is failing at a 50% rate. Give them their rights (isn't that is what is really about?) and let the Neo-Cons keep a word.

Rights matter, words are trivial.

Mr. G it's stupid and cowardly to attack people for the people they choose to associate and or live with. That goes for both sides of the fence.

Correct – I’m not arguing otherwise.

Rights matter, words are trivial.

Yes EQUAL rights matter. You’re mad because gays don’t all take the Libertarian view on marriage, which I don’t necessary disagree with, but I completely understand how gays would argue for equity for themselves before trying to redefine marriage for everyone else.

I'm not mad at all, I just think fighting over a word that you know will inflame your opponent and slow you in reaching your goal of equality is not productive. Isn't the goal of equality the end game and not what it's called? Let the Rick Santorums of the world keep their word "marriage" and fight for an equal rights platform.

In the 50's & 60's Blacks didn't fight to be called "White", they fought for the same rights that where afforded to White Americans at that time. They where proud to be Black and didn't care how civil rights where labeled as long as it resulted in equality.

Like I said before I understand the want to feel like everyone else, I just think it slows your cause. Get equal civil unions on the books and then show the Neo-Cons that gays living in the same household calling each other "married" isn't going to sink the nation into ocean, you can't force acceptance. You can only live a life that shows people the error of their ways.

Asking the government to relinquish control of anything is futile. I like DBW's take:

The biggest threat to American family values isn't Adam & Steve, it's Dad leaving Mom for the secretary or Mom caring more about the pool boy than her own children.

Anyone who is against gay marriage on the grounds that gay marriage will ruin the somewhat fanciful traditional nuclear family can begin by explaining the low marriage rate and the high divorce rate.

Many of these arguments about gay marriage sound a lot like the chants of MADD, SADD and DADD - All accidents are caused by drunk driving; increase the penalty, lower the acceptable alcohol blood lever... on and on and on, and not one person talks about the way people drive when they're stone cold sober. Continue to chant the same nonsensical reasons over and over, and someone will believe you. It's the same thing here.

Ideally the government would get out of the morality business, but I don't think that's going to happen.

As a senior citizens most of my friends are against gay anything. They simply have reached a time and place where they are unwilling to change. My generation, as a whole, is a lost cause on this issue.

I feel that everyone has a personal right to their happiness and it is none of my business what that happens to be. My grandchildren, 30 and younger, think all of us "old fogies" are intolerant of others in all walks of life. I happen to agree with them.

I concur with madjack that the government should get out of the morality business. Stick with what you know how to screw up.

When God retires and appoints me in his place I then will have a right to judge others. Till then it is better I just try to live my life, with my values, to the best of my ability.

Hmmmm - I'm pretty well into being a senior - late 60's - and my spouse is in his middle 70's. We both have no problem with gay, lesbian or transgender equality in marriage and cringe at the harsh, supposedly moral, judgement inflicted on them, particularly by the homophobic religious right.

Please don't see a grey head of hair and automatically think we are intolerant. In fact please don't see a grey head of hair and automatically assume they are incable of anything. I don't know who you're hanging with jackie, but I'd suggest you find a new set of "seniors". WE ARE NOT ALL LIKE THAT.

You kids get off my lawn!!

Dag nab it... darn kids don't have any respect for anything anymore.

There was a group in college called "Straight But Not Narrow." Maybe we should get together and form the first oldsters club. Great publicity for Toledo! We could meet in the food court at the mall ;-)

Hey folks I am 76 and my husband is 81. I stand out as the "odd" one when these issues come up. There are just not enough of people in my generation, that I know personally, that were educated and brought up that everyone has a right to live their own life.

I'm all for it viola. Name the time and place as long as its after 3:30. Besides I'll bet we actually know each other.

Hey folks I am 76...

Aren't you a little old to be starting flame wars on a BBS?

I'd probably show up out of curiosity. I don't really see a future for Straight but not Narrow, and I'm not much of a joiner. Still, you never know. Afternoons are generally better than weekends.

If the "marriage is a religious ceremony" thing was true, my marriage should not have been legal. Where is the outrage over agnostic/atheist marriages?

I am outraged. Just what we need, more pagan babies. (j/k)

Well, we did sacrifice two puppies during the ceremony...

that will get you into more trouble than being a pagan.