@couchplotato said:

@Ditendra said:

@couchplotato said:

@Ditendra said:

I watched this TV show (4 seasons). It's not bad, but it's not my style. I don't like old times, the times this TV show is shot and I'm not much interested in such people this TV show represents, but it's not bad, just it was a bit boring for me. I gave it average score - 5.

Too bad for you. Why you wasted your time to tell strangers about your personal taste, I don't understand. Nobody aside from your mom will care what you like or don't like....meh.

Oh, wow what a toxic comment. This is forum where people express their opinions, tastes or whatever they want about TV shows. Someone said (actually it was you) that it was boring (oops, you just told some strangers about your personal opinion) and I just responded. Did I offend you by telling that I didn't like it? By your logic, we strangers also do not care what you think about this or that TV show, so why don't you talk about it to your mom instead of sitting here and lecturing people? And why are you telling a stranger what was too bad for them or not? Why are you even interested if some strangers "wasted" their time telling others about their personal taste? Who the hell are you to tell me what to do and what not?

Looks like someone's a bit triggered. Getting triggered, raging and being defensive leaves you open to making mistakes and saying stupid things. So AFTER YOU CALM DOWN, as I don't want to hear from a triggered lunatic, you can point out where, in this thread, I said Peaky Blinders is boring.....because it's anything but. Actually, the plot MAY be boring to people with a low intelligence level, as people like that need alot of bright colours and fast movement. Also. Please refrain from using the word 'toxic'. That is an SJW term for playdough people who can't handle constructive criticism. And I don't have the patience to deal with SJW's and their 'fluidity'. 🙄

That wasn't constructive criticism. You were just simply toxic and rude. And what did I do to you? I didn't even insulted you, I don't even know you. Toxic people like you are ones who seek trouble and when they get appropriate answer they go more offensive to justify their crazy behavior.

@write2topcat said:

@Ditendra said:

@couchplotato said:

@Ditendra said:

I watched this TV show (4 seasons). It's not bad, but it's not my style. I don't like old times, the times this TV show is shot and I'm not much interested in such people this TV show represents, but it's not bad, just it was a bit boring for me. I gave it average score - 5.

Too bad for you. Why you wasted your time to tell strangers about your personal taste, I don't understand. Nobody aside from your mom will care what you like or don't like....meh.

Oh, wow what a toxic comment. This is forum where people express their opinions, tastes or whatever they want about TV shows. Someone said (actually it was you) that it was boring (oops, you just told some strangers about your personal opinion) and I just responded. Did I offend you by telling that I didn't like it? By your logic, we strangers also do not care what you think about this or that TV show, so why don't you talk about it to your mom instead of sitting here and lecturing people? And why are you telling a stranger what was too bad for them or not? Why are you even interested if some strangers "wasted" their time telling others about their personal taste? Who the hell are you to tell me what to do and what not?

I have to agree with you. There was nothing in your comment to trigger such a personal reaction. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I still believe that. I'm not down with the group think/group conformity culture where independent, individuals with their own opinions are ridiculed because they don't see things like others in a larger group.

Also some people behave almost as though their favorite TV show is like their regional professional sports team; they defend them and jeer at fans of other teams. But I don't view things that way. It doesn't bother me or threaten me if someone else doesn't like the same show I like. Perhaps I might wish they liked it so we could talk about it or watch it together, if it were someone I knew personally, but I don't fault them for not liking it. Of course, if they made insulting remarks about the show or the actors involved, I might debate them, provided the conversation didn't get heated. But I still insist that we are all entitled to our opinions, and free to speak our minds. I enjoy talking with people who hold various points of view on subjects, not just those who see things as I do. Most of the time we can disagree on issues and remain friendly, and I enjoy that.

I read your comment over again and I see nothing offensive, insulting, or otherwise combative; you just offered your opinion on the show-which is exactly why people post their comments in this forum.

Couch, I think you over-reacted a bit there. I don't think she (or he) was out of line.

Exactly. I didn't post anything offensive or insulting. I just said my opinion about it, like everybody else does and she just attacked me, told me that nobody will care about my taste besides my mother. That is simply rude statement. We are all here to express our opinion about TV shows, or what we like and what not. Maybe I went too harsh on her after her inappropriate post, but she caused this like a trouble seeker.

@write2topcat said:

@Ditendra said:

@couchplotato said:

@Ditendra said:

I watched this TV show (4 seasons). It's not bad, but it's not my style. I don't like old times, the times this TV show is shot and I'm not much interested in such people this TV show represents, but it's not bad, just it was a bit boring for me. I gave it average score - 5.

Too bad for you. Why you wasted your time to tell strangers about your personal taste, I don't understand. Nobody aside from your mom will care what you like or don't like....meh.

Oh, wow what a toxic comment. This is forum where people express their opinions, tastes or whatever they want about TV shows. Someone said (actually it was you) that it was boring (oops, you just told some strangers about your personal opinion) and I just responded. Did I offend you by telling that I didn't like it? By your logic, we strangers also do not care what you think about this or that TV show, so why don't you talk about it to your mom instead of sitting here and lecturing people? And why are you telling a stranger what was too bad for them or not? Why are you even interested if some strangers "wasted" their time telling others about their personal taste? Who the hell are you to tell me what to do and what not?

I have to agree with you. There was nothing in your comment to trigger such a personal reaction. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I still believe that. I'm not down with the group think/group conformity culture where independent, individuals with their own opinions are ridiculed because they don't see things like others in a larger group.

Also some people behave almost as though their favorite TV show is like their regional professional sports team; they defend them and jeer at fans of other teams. But I don't view things that way. It doesn't bother me or threaten me if someone else doesn't like the same show I like. Perhaps I might wish they liked it so we could talk about it or watch it together, if it were someone I knew personally, but I don't fault them for not liking it. Of course, if they made insulting remarks about the show or the actors involved, I might debate them, provided the conversation didn't get heated. But I still insist that we are all entitled to our opinions, and free to speak our minds. I enjoy talking with people who hold various points of view on subjects, not just those who see things as I do. Most of the time we can disagree on issues and remain friendly, and I enjoy that.

I read your comment over again and I see nothing offensive, insulting, or otherwise combative; you just offered your opinion on the show-which is exactly why people post their comments in this forum.

Couch, I think you over-reacted a bit there. I don't think she (or he) was out of line.

I think you are misunderstanding the purpose of this site....it is to DISCUSS MOVIES AND TV SHOWS. Coming on here and JUST saying "I don't like it" is stupid. Save that for a dating site where people are interested in "I like cats, I don't like hand holding" where an individual would care about what you like and don't like. ON THIS SITE, the more appropriate entry would be "I don't like such and such BECAUSE..." and then go into your reasoning behind why you think what you think ABOUT THE SHOW. Just coming on here and saying "I don't like cats".....and it ends there, is NOT intelligent conversation and does it add information? NO! Nobody cares what you like or don't like unless you can discuss it like an adult and provide a synopsis. And yes, when I run into stupidity on the internet, I am going to point it out so that the stupid person can HOPEFULLY glean the purpose for the site that they are abusing. Please tell me how you can converse with a statement like "Peaky Blinders is boring". Period. Unless you feel like being a psychiatrist and coaxing more info out of the dummy.....and who is going to waste their time doing THAT?!

I just really don't want this site to deteriorate into the horrible, retarded cluster fuck that IMDB was. So stupidity MUST BE STOPPED ON TMDB!

@Ditendra said:

@couchplotato said:

@Ditendra said:

@couchplotato said:

@Ditendra said:

I watched this TV show (4 seasons). It's not bad, but it's not my style. I don't like old times, the times this TV show is shot and I'm not much interested in such people this TV show represents, but it's not bad, just it was a bit boring for me. I gave it average score - 5.

Too bad for you. Why you wasted your time to tell strangers about your personal taste, I don't understand. Nobody aside from your mom will care what you like or don't like....meh.

Oh, wow what a toxic comment. This is forum where people express their opinions, tastes or whatever they want about TV shows. Someone said (actually it was you) that it was boring (oops, you just told some strangers about your personal opinion) and I just responded. Did I offend you by telling that I didn't like it? By your logic, we strangers also do not care what you think about this or that TV show, so why don't you talk about it to your mom instead of sitting here and lecturing people? And why are you telling a stranger what was too bad for them or not? Why are you even interested if some strangers "wasted" their time telling others about their personal taste? Who the hell are you to tell me what to do and what not?

Looks like someone's a bit triggered. Getting triggered, raging and being defensive leaves you open to making mistakes and saying stupid things. So AFTER YOU CALM DOWN, as I don't want to hear from a triggered lunatic, you can point out where, in this thread, I said Peaky Blinders is boring.....because it's anything but. Actually, the plot MAY be boring to people with a low intelligence level, as people like that need alot of bright colours and fast movement. Also. Please refrain from using the word 'toxic'. That is an SJW term for playdough people who can't handle constructive criticism. And I don't have the patience to deal with SJW's and their 'fluidity'. 🙄

That wasn't constructive criticism. You were just simply toxic and rude. And what did I do to you? I didn't even insulted you, I don't even know you. Toxic people like you are ones who seek trouble and when they get appropriate answer they go more offensive to justify their crazy behavior.

All I asked you to do was: 1) Tell us WHY, with intelligent thought, you don't like the show. You gave us the equivalent of " I don't like chocolate ice cream....duh". Smarten up. Give us intelligent reasoning as to WHY you don't like the show. And saying "because I don't like old timey people is not good enough. 2) I told you to STOP SAYING 'TOXIC'. No one likes SJW's that find everything toxic. 3) Whining about being picked on is childish and nobody wants to hear it. Speak like an adult. I am REALLY getting the sense that you are 12.

So do you understand HOW to use this site now? SAYING "I DON'T LIKE THE SHOW" period is not enough. This is NOT IMDB kid.

Now, if you are autistic or mentally retarded, then please share that and I won't expect as much from you.

@Ditendra said:

@write2topcat said:

@Ditendra said:

@couchplotato said:

@Ditendra said:

I watched this TV show (4 seasons). It's not bad, but it's not my style. I don't like old times, the times this TV show is shot and I'm not much interested in such people this TV show represents, but it's not bad, just it was a bit boring for me. I gave it average score - 5.

Too bad for you. Why you wasted your time to tell strangers about your personal taste, I don't understand. Nobody aside from your mom will care what you like or don't like....meh.

Oh, wow what a toxic comment. This is forum where people express their opinions, tastes or whatever they want about TV shows. Someone said (actually it was you) that it was boring (oops, you just told some strangers about your personal opinion) and I just responded. Did I offend you by telling that I didn't like it? By your logic, we strangers also do not care what you think about this or that TV show, so why don't you talk about it to your mom instead of sitting here and lecturing people? And why are you telling a stranger what was too bad for them or not? Why are you even interested if some strangers "wasted" their time telling others about their personal taste? Who the hell are you to tell me what to do and what not?

I have to agree with you. There was nothing in your comment to trigger such a personal reaction. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I still believe that. I'm not down with the group think/group conformity culture where independent, individuals with their own opinions are ridiculed because they don't see things like others in a larger group.

Also some people behave almost as though their favorite TV show is like their regional professional sports team; they defend them and jeer at fans of other teams. But I don't view things that way. It doesn't bother me or threaten me if someone else doesn't like the same show I like. Perhaps I might wish they liked it so we could talk about it or watch it together, if it were someone I knew personally, but I don't fault them for not liking it. Of course, if they made insulting remarks about the show or the actors involved, I might debate them, provided the conversation didn't get heated. But I still insist that we are all entitled to our opinions, and free to speak our minds. I enjoy talking with people who hold various points of view on subjects, not just those who see things as I do. Most of the time we can disagree on issues and remain friendly, and I enjoy that.

I read your comment over again and I see nothing offensive, insulting, or otherwise combative; you just offered your opinion on the show-which is exactly why people post their comments in this forum.

Couch, I think you over-reacted a bit there. I don't think she (or he) was out of line.

Exactly. I didn't post anything offensive or insulting. I just said my opinion about it, like everybody else does and she just attacked me, told me that nobody will care about my taste besides my mother. That is simply rude statement. We are all here to express our opinion about TV shows, or what we like and what not. Maybe I went too harsh on her after her inappropriate post, but she caused this like a trouble seeker.

Stop whining to people. If you would actually READ what I wrote, telling people "I don't like the show" PERIOD is not enough. On this site we demonstrate WHY we don't like something (like a fault in the production for example). Saying "I don't like old timey people" is not enough, people need info, and no one is here to have discussions with children. Use your brain power. I feel sorry for you if you are losing sleep over my response to you. Stay off the net if you feel 'picjed on'.

@Ditendra said:

@couchplotato said:

@Ditendra said:

@couchplotato said:

@Ditendra said:

I watched this TV show (4 seasons). It's not bad, but it's not my style. I don't like old times, the times this TV show is shot and I'm not much interested in such people this TV show represents, but it's not bad, just it was a bit boring for me. I gave it average score - 5.

Too bad for you. Why you wasted your time to tell strangers about your personal taste, I don't understand. Nobody aside from your mom will care what you like or don't like....meh.

Oh, wow what a toxic comment. This is forum where people express their opinions, tastes or whatever they want about TV shows. Someone said (actually it was you) that it was boring (oops, you just told some strangers about your personal opinion) and I just responded. Did I offend you by telling that I didn't like it? By your logic, we strangers also do not care what you think about this or that TV show, so why don't you talk about it to your mom instead of sitting here and lecturing people? And why are you telling a stranger what was too bad for them or not? Why are you even interested if some strangers "wasted" their time telling others about their personal taste? Who the hell are you to tell me what to do and what not?

Looks like someone's a bit triggered. Getting triggered, raging and being defensive leaves you open to making mistakes and saying stupid things. So AFTER YOU CALM DOWN, as I don't want to hear from a triggered lunatic, you can point out where, in this thread, I said Peaky Blinders is boring.....because it's anything but. Actually, the plot MAY be boring to people with a low intelligence level, as people like that need alot of bright colours and fast movement. Also. Please refrain from using the word 'toxic'. That is an SJW term for playdough people who can't handle constructive criticism. And I don't have the patience to deal with SJW's and their 'fluidity'. 🙄

That wasn't constructive criticism. You were just simply toxic and rude. And what did I do to you? I didn't even insulted you, I don't even know you. Toxic people like you are ones who seek trouble and when they get appropriate answer they go more offensive to justify their crazy behavior.

Instead of obsessing over your hurt feelings, why don't you try having an adult conversation. You never did answer my question regarding WHERE I stated that I find Peaky Blinders boring? You are SO wrapped up in YOUR feelings that you have stopped reading what is actually being discussed and have lowered yourself into looking for "toxic" remarks. Please try to respond to me as an adult and stop crying. I asked you critical questions kid.

@couchplotato said:

@Ditendra said:

@couchplotato said:

@Ditendra said:

@couchplotato said:

@Ditendra said:

I watched this TV show (4 seasons). It's not bad, but it's not my style. I don't like old times, the times this TV show is shot and I'm not much interested in such people this TV show represents, but it's not bad, just it was a bit boring for me. I gave it average score - 5.

Too bad for you. Why you wasted your time to tell strangers about your personal taste, I don't understand. Nobody aside from your mom will care what you like or don't like....meh.

Oh, wow what a toxic comment. This is forum where people express their opinions, tastes or whatever they want about TV shows. Someone said (actually it was you) that it was boring (oops, you just told some strangers about your personal opinion) and I just responded. Did I offend you by telling that I didn't like it? By your logic, we strangers also do not care what you think about this or that TV show, so why don't you talk about it to your mom instead of sitting here and lecturing people? And why are you telling a stranger what was too bad for them or not? Why are you even interested if some strangers "wasted" their time telling others about their personal taste? Who the hell are you to tell me what to do and what not?

Looks like someone's a bit triggered. Getting triggered, raging and being defensive leaves you open to making mistakes and saying stupid things. So AFTER YOU CALM DOWN, as I don't want to hear from a triggered lunatic, you can point out where, in this thread, I said Peaky Blinders is boring.....because it's anything but. Actually, the plot MAY be boring to people with a low intelligence level, as people like that need alot of bright colours and fast movement. Also. Please refrain from using the word 'toxic'. That is an SJW term for playdough people who can't handle constructive criticism. And I don't have the patience to deal with SJW's and their 'fluidity'. 🙄

That wasn't constructive criticism. You were just simply toxic and rude. And what did I do to you? I didn't even insulted you, I don't even know you. Toxic people like you are ones who seek trouble and when they get appropriate answer they go more offensive to justify their crazy behavior.

Instead of obsessing over your hurt feelings, why don't you try having an adult conversation. You never did answer my question regarding WHERE I stated that I find Peaky Blinders boring? You are SO wrapped up in YOUR feelings that you have stopped reading what is actually being discussed and have lowered yourself into looking for "toxic" remarks. Please try to respond to me as an adult and stop crying. I asked you critical questions kid.

"I started watching this for Tom Hardy's performance posted by couchplotato on April 20, 2017 at 6:38 PM I know he doesn't come in until 2nd season which will be premiering for free on Shomi Rogers in a few weeks. But I feel I have to catch up on the story from the beginning so I bought S.1 on Google play. I'm finding it a bit boring. The main actor is deadpan and boring. I can see why the would bring in Tom Hardy for S.2 to scare up some interesting acting for the show. But I will continue to trudge through S.1 so that I know the story. "

@couchplotato said:

@Ditendra said:

@couchplotato said:

@Ditendra said:

@couchplotato said:

@Ditendra said:

I watched this TV show (4 seasons). It's not bad, but it's not my style. I don't like old times, the times this TV show is shot and I'm not much interested in such people this TV show represents, but it's not bad, just it was a bit boring for me. I gave it average score - 5.

Too bad for you. Why you wasted your time to tell strangers about your personal taste, I don't understand. Nobody aside from your mom will care what you like or don't like....meh.

Oh, wow what a toxic comment. This is forum where people express their opinions, tastes or whatever they want about TV shows. Someone said (actually it was you) that it was boring (oops, you just told some strangers about your personal opinion) and I just responded. Did I offend you by telling that I didn't like it? By your logic, we strangers also do not care what you think about this or that TV show, so why don't you talk about it to your mom instead of sitting here and lecturing people? And why are you telling a stranger what was too bad for them or not? Why are you even interested if some strangers "wasted" their time telling others about their personal taste? Who the hell are you to tell me what to do and what not?

Looks like someone's a bit triggered. Getting triggered, raging and being defensive leaves you open to making mistakes and saying stupid things. So AFTER YOU CALM DOWN, as I don't want to hear from a triggered lunatic, you can point out where, in this thread, I said Peaky Blinders is boring.....because it's anything but. Actually, the plot MAY be boring to people with a low intelligence level, as people like that need alot of bright colours and fast movement. Also. Please refrain from using the word 'toxic'. That is an SJW term for playdough people who can't handle constructive criticism. And I don't have the patience to deal with SJW's and their 'fluidity'. 🙄

That wasn't constructive criticism. You were just simply toxic and rude. And what did I do to you? I didn't even insulted you, I don't even know you. Toxic people like you are ones who seek trouble and when they get appropriate answer they go more offensive to justify their crazy behavior.

All I asked you to do was: 1) Tell us WHY, with intelligent thought, you don't like the show. You gave us the equivalent of " I don't like chocolate ice cream....duh". Smarten up. Give us intelligent reasoning as to WHY you don't like the show. And saying "because I don't like old timey people is not good enough. 2) I told you to STOP SAYING 'TOXIC'. No one likes SJW's that find everything toxic. 3) Whining about being picked on is childish and nobody wants to hear it. Speak like an adult. I am REALLY getting the sense that you are 12.

So do you understand HOW to use this site now? SAYING "I DON'T LIKE THE SHOW" period is not enough. This is NOT IMDB kid.

Now, if you are autistic or mentally retarded, then please share that and I won't expect as much from you.

Wow, just wow. I'm shocked after reading your replies. You are seriously mentally ill person. You need to visit psychiatrist. I don't have desire to continue discussion with mentally sick person like you. Please get a help. P.S. You are toxic as hell.

"I think you are misunderstanding the purpose of this site....it is to DISCUSS MOVIES AND TV SHOWS. Coming on here and JUST saying "I don't like it" is stupid. "

For the record, Ditendra did say why he or she didn't like the show very much, mentioning the time period and the types of characters, adding it isn't a bad show, but not interesting, in his or her opinion. Not that Ditendra is required to say what did or did not appeal to appeal to him or her.

When this site was created there was discussion among the first users, a discussion I participated in, about what parameters would be established for the forum. I lobbied for no monitor, free expression of ideas, and no banned words. And those points were essentially adopted. IMDB failed largely because people complained constantly to the site monitor about comments others posted with which they did not agree or objected to. I was reported simply because I was critical of one actor's performance in a show. Reporting criticism of a performance was childish in the extreme. It made the job of the monitor impossible. On this site everyone is free to express their opinions freely without penalty.

Couch, I read some of what you wrote above. You commanded Ditendra not to use the word toxic in one post, and then scolded her for using it again later on. What's up with that? Do you think you should be able to dictate someone else's speech or opinions? I know that the "politically correct" crowd tries to do that, but they really don't have a legal or moral right to do so. Not in America, and not on this site.

Looking over the entire thread it appears that you were looking for a fight. But perhaps it was a bad day for you and you over reacted just a bit. Ditendra just stated an opinion.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Right?

@write2topcat said:

"I think you are misunderstanding the purpose of this site....it is to DISCUSS MOVIES AND TV SHOWS. Coming on here and JUST saying "I don't like it" is stupid. "

For the record, Ditendra did say why he or she didn't like the show very much, mentioning the time period and the types of characters, adding it isn't a bad show, but not interesting, in his or her opinion. Not that Ditendra is required to say what did or did not appeal to appeal to him or her.

When this site was created there was discussion among the first users, a discussion I participated in, about what parameters would be established for the forum. I lobbied for no monitor, free expression of ideas, and no banned words. And those points were essentially adopted. IMDB failed largely because people complained constantly to the site monitor about comments others posted with which they did not agree or objected to. I was reported simply because I was critical of one actor's performance in a show. Reporting criticism of a performance was childish in the extreme. It made the job of the monitor impossible. On this site everyone is free to express their opinions freely without penalty.

Couch, I read some of what you wrote above. You commanded Ditendra not to use the word toxic in one post, and then scolded her for using it again later on. What's up with that? Do you think you should be able to dictate someone else's speech or opinions? I know that the "politically correct" crowd tries to do that, but they really don't have a legal or moral right to do so. Not in America, and not on this site.

Looking over the entire thread it appears that you were looking for a fight. But perhaps it was a bad day for you and you over reacted just a bit. Ditendra just stated an opinion.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Right?

Exactly. I just expressed my opinion and she attacked me, started this fight, I don't know if she had a bad day and wanted to release all this negativity here, or she's like that. She also tries to dictate me what to say and what not. As far as I remember this is free site where people are entitled to express their opinions. She's just a regular member like us and has no right to dictate me what to do and what not. She also claims that she asked me why I do not like this TV show ("All I asked you to do was: 1) Tell us WHY, with intelligent thought, you don't like the show. "). She never even asked me anything, straight away started attacking me. We all remember her first reply to me. I don't know if she's having a hallucinations or she's just a liar, but after reading all her replies, picture is clear - she has mental problems or she's just a very toxic person who wanted to start the fight and picked me up. I don't know what else to call her reaction but a totally crazy & aggressive behavior. She asked me to not call her toxic, but I have right to call her that word judging by her behavior. I do think she is toxic, likes it or not, it's my opinion which I have a right to express.

Ditendra, I am an older guy and grew up during a time period and in a culture where it was widely accepted that everyone has the right to their own opinion. I don't know your age (or gender, which is why I keep using the laborious "he or she" format) but it seems that you hold to that same, common sense, very American ideal.

"Everyone has the right to their own opinion."

And this is true whether others agree, whether it is a commonly held opinion, or one only held by a few people, or even by only one.

I am a bit alarmed by the trend in schools these days where students are taught to place high value on 'group conformity', which some call 'group think'. I've read how students who resist adopting the approved opinion, belief, or point of view are subjected to ridicule and peer pressure. Sometimes teachers even encourage students "in the group" to take part in applying peer pressure or ridicule to the individual with their own point of view. This is a form of behavioral conditioning. And it is very wrong. When young people are trained to believe they are justified in attacking others because they have a different opinion, they may develop anti-social behaviors. [I believe this is directly linked to the rise in political violence in our society. People have been attacked because they were wearing a ball cap with the letters MAGA on it. No matter what one thinks of the party in power, it is wrong to physically attack someone because they support the "other candidate", or the "wrong party", etc.] Behaviors which used to be universally recognized as criminal and very wrong are now often viewed as justified by the young people who have been conditioned to value group conformity. There are even people who want to re-write our Constitution to get rid of some of our basic rights, including the First Amendment which prevents the government from telling you what to believe or what to say.

Ok, I tend to ramble a bit sometimes. But I want to commend you for voicing your own opinion, as is your basic human right to do.

@write2topcat said:

Ditendra, I am an older guy and grew up during a time period and in a culture where it was widely accepted that everyone has the right to their own opinion. I don't know your age (or gender, which is why I keep using the laborious "he or she" format) but it seems that you hold to that same, common sense, very American ideal.

"Everyone has the right to their own opinion."

And this is true whether others agree, whether it is a commonly held opinion, or one only held by a few people, or even by only one.

I am a bit alarmed by the trend in schools these days where students are taught to place high value on 'group conformity', which some call 'group think'. I've read how students who resist adopting the approved opinion, belief, or point of view are subjected to ridicule and peer pressure. Sometimes teachers even encourage students "in the group" to take part in applying peer pressure or ridicule to the individual with their own point of view. This is a form of behavioral conditioning. And it is very wrong. When young people are trained to believe they are justified in attacking others because they have a different opinion, they may develop anti-social behaviors. [I believe this is directly linked to the rise in political violence in our society. People have been attacked because they were wearing a ball cap with the letters MAGA on it. No matter what one thinks of the party in power, it is wrong to physically attack someone because they support the "other candidate", or the "wrong party", etc.] Behaviors which used to be universally recognized as criminal and very wrong are now often viewed as justified by the young people who have been conditioned to value group conformity. There are even people who want to re-write our Constitution to get rid of some of our basic rights, including the First Amendment which prevents the government from telling you what to believe or what to say.

Ok, I tend to ramble a bit sometimes. But I want to commend you for voicing your own opinion, as is your basic human right to do.

Thank you. I'm male, 34, from Europe. I'm not very much aware of things happening in US (never been there), but my wife is American & I read world news. I've dealt with some toxic people on the Internet, but the way she behaved simply shocked me. Some people are prone to negativity and tend to be aggressive by nature, seeking troubles, dictating and forcing others their own opinions, people like her.

Greetings. I visited parts of Europe during a 9 month period in 79-80. I found it fascinating and really enjoyed meeting people and learning about the history and culture wherever I stayed. I was mostly in Spain, Belgium, and England, though I passed through other countries in my travels. I'm male and 61 years old. It feels funny saying I am 61. You can't imagine how quickly it goes by. I'll bet you recall your early 20s like they were yesterday almost. When you're my age, it won't feel much different. Getting older does give one a bit more perspective I guess. Some of the cultural changes I've witnessed in America are good, but others cause me grave concerns. (Like you, I don't have any real sense of how things are across the Atlantic. I read, and watch the news, but that isn't much.)

I know I was much more headstrong and quick to voice my opinion when I was a teenager and perhaps to some degree that goes with that age. But what I see happening today is different; young people seem much more belligerent and dictatorial in their interactions. I think I understand how you felt, shocked. My guess is that our modern culture played a large role in what she said to you. It saddens me to see it. It is much more difficult to have a good faith conversation about current topics, even if they are not hot button issues. Far too often when someone offers an opinion at variance with others, they are subjected to personal attacks, pejorative name calling, and so on, instead of being engaged in a mature discussion of the issue. This is a learned behavior.

Well, I tend to talk far too much at times. I just wanted to offer a hand of friendship from the US.

@write2topcat said:

Greetings. I visited parts of Europe during a 9 month period in 79-80. I found it fascinating and really enjoyed meeting people and learning about the history and culture wherever I stayed. I was mostly in Spain, Belgium, and England, though I passed through other countries in my travels. I'm male and 61 years old. It feels funny saying I am 61. You can't imagine how quickly it goes by. I'll bet you recall your early 20s like they were yesterday almost. When you're my age, it won't feel much different. Getting older does give one a bit more perspective I guess. Some of the cultural changes I've witnessed in America are good, but others cause me grave concerns. (Like you, I don't have any real sense of how things are across the Atlantic. I read, and watch the news, but that isn't much.)

I know I was much more headstrong and quick to voice my opinion when I was a teenager and perhaps to some degree that goes with that age. But what I see happening today is different; young people seem much more belligerent and dictatorial in their interactions. I think I understand how you felt, shocked. My guess is that our modern culture played a large role in what she said to you. It saddens me to see it. It is much more difficult to have a good faith conversation about current topics, even if they are not hot button issues. Far too often when someone offers an opinion at variance with others, they are subjected to personal attacks, pejorative name calling, and so on, instead of being engaged in a mature discussion of the issue. This is a learned behavior.

Well, I tend to talk far too much at times. I just wanted to offer a hand of friendship from the US.

I have very good personal experience with Americans. I have one American friend who is 66 years old, living here in Georgia (it's in Eastern part of Europe). I agree on most things you said. It's sad, but truth. I gladly take your hand of friendship.

I just finished the 5 seasons of Peaky Blinders and I must say that it is a fantastic series, really Not to be missed. I give it an easy rating of 4/5 And you, what grade would you give to this series?