Post by Official Occupy Tulsa on Dec 31, 2011 16:07:33 GMT -6
I'd like to ask people (each and every individual in general) to stop blaming the entire GA for the actions of a few people who attend the GA. 1 person, 2 people, 3 people, do not make up the whole of the GA. If there is no vote by the GA, then the GA cannot be blamed for the words or actions of a few individuals. it doesn't even matter if its 28 people. If there is no vote in the GA, it's not the GA. So stop blaming the GA.
I have participated in the GA, but I am not the GA. Others have participated in the GA, but they are not the GA. If a bigoted, homophobic, crack-smoking, sexist communist attends a GA meeting and later, or even at the meeting, says something bigoted, homo-phobic, drug-advocating, sexist or anti-democratic, that DOES NOT mean that the GA is bigoted, homophobic, crack-smoking, sexist or communist.
If a few members of the GA condemn someone, that does not mean I condemn them or any other member of the GA, or the GA as a whole condemns that person.
Jumping to conclusions about conspiracies based upon the oft-times misinterpreted words of a few, without hard proof of a conspiracy does no one any good, especially not the person jumping to that conclusion.
When you hear something inappropriate, don't just assume the first thing that comes to your mind is the truth. The first thing a person should ask themselves is: "Did I hear/see what I think I heard/saw? Perhaps I'm not understanding them correctly." Then clarify it with the person. Ask them what they meant. You might find that you simply misunderstood them. If they're not around to clarify, ask yourself what else could have been meant in their words. There is often another explanation. This is a lot simpler than getting all heated over something that might be all in your head. It ends up making you look bad and damaging your reputation among the group.
Think before you speak, get the facts before you act. "Innocent until PROVEN guilty" is the defining aspect of a civilized society.
If you hear something from someone about a conspiracy within the GA, or anywhere really, or about the actions or words of anyone, before you go jumping on their bandwagon, find out the context of what was said, the exact words that were said, what was meant by those words and who all is ACTUALLY involved. Don't just let yourself be blown about by everything that comes on the wind.
Also, people can be friends with whoever they choose to be friends with. It is up to them whether or not to break a friendship over internal struggles within the GA. It does not mean they condone the person's actions and does not mean they are in cahoots with that person, but simply that they have a stronger friendship than the incident can break and we need to respect that. It's not about 'us or them', but about who is helping and who isn't.
--C. J. Williams
I have participated in the GA, but I am not the GA. Others have participated in the GA, but they are not the GA. If a bigoted, homophobic, crack-smoking, sexist communist attends a GA meeting and later, or even at the meeting, says something bigoted, homo-phobic, drug-advocating, sexist or anti-democratic, that DOES NOT mean that the GA is bigoted, homophobic, crack-smoking, sexist or communist.
If a few members of the GA condemn someone, that does not mean I condemn them or any other member of the GA, or the GA as a whole condemns that person.
Jumping to conclusions about conspiracies based upon the oft-times misinterpreted words of a few, without hard proof of a conspiracy does no one any good, especially not the person jumping to that conclusion.
When you hear something inappropriate, don't just assume the first thing that comes to your mind is the truth. The first thing a person should ask themselves is: "Did I hear/see what I think I heard/saw? Perhaps I'm not understanding them correctly." Then clarify it with the person. Ask them what they meant. You might find that you simply misunderstood them. If they're not around to clarify, ask yourself what else could have been meant in their words. There is often another explanation. This is a lot simpler than getting all heated over something that might be all in your head. It ends up making you look bad and damaging your reputation among the group.
Think before you speak, get the facts before you act. "Innocent until PROVEN guilty" is the defining aspect of a civilized society.
If you hear something from someone about a conspiracy within the GA, or anywhere really, or about the actions or words of anyone, before you go jumping on their bandwagon, find out the context of what was said, the exact words that were said, what was meant by those words and who all is ACTUALLY involved. Don't just let yourself be blown about by everything that comes on the wind.
Also, people can be friends with whoever they choose to be friends with. It is up to them whether or not to break a friendship over internal struggles within the GA. It does not mean they condone the person's actions and does not mean they are in cahoots with that person, but simply that they have a stronger friendship than the incident can break and we need to respect that. It's not about 'us or them', but about who is helping and who isn't.
--C. J. Williams
