I guess you could say I've done it. Probably more often than I can think of, but I know I did it intentionally with my "In God We Trust" thread.

I posted that goofy email, then intentionally left my opinion out. But I did it to try to get a pulse on how others reacted to it. Then WHAM! somebody sideswiped it with logic!! LOL

I wanted to see if people were that concerned with the phrase on the coins, if they held strong opinions one way or the other, and if they would believe everything they read. One of the first responses was, "Check out Snopes about it." lol

I guess you'd have to say I found out that not everybody believes what they read, and they'll willing to look for the facts. That's a good thing, right?

I did get sideswiped in the grocery store the other day. I ran into a cousin that I hadn't seen in years, and met her husband for the first time. We were commiserating about the gas prices going up, a fairly safe topic, when he says Obama scares him.

When I asked him why (thinking that was the funniest statement I'd ever heard), he said, "You've read Revelations before, haven't you?"

Ah man, I suddenly wanted to be anywhere but there.

You're going to get people pushing their opinion no matter where you go. Some people aren't content with the give, take, share method of discussing. They want to swing everybody their way.

My editor is a Republican, more specifically, a Ron Paul fan. She sends me emails all the time, even though he's out now. I just move on.

Ya know Dot, I've heard them list off "short list" names frequently on the news, but I haven't bothered to remember any of them. I'll have to check it out and respond on your question. =D

I agree JaW that most if not all of us have a tendency to do that type of thing. I do too! After being with TBD for awhile I think it is ok to do that as long as the person can handle the answers back without stooping to argumentative insults.

Maybe I'm just perceptive. When someone asks a set-up question, I usually respond in a tone that lets them know I am on to them, don't like it and am not adverse to saying something about it.

Then, when they respond in a personal and nasty message, I know I was right. If they want to escalate, I never re-respond. A fool is better off having the stage to him or herself. His or her act is easily judged by intelligent people and anyone who wants to agree with that person - well, I am well able to consider the source! God made lots of fools and morons so they could keep each other company when they march lockstep off the cliff. The intelligent folk are not so obvious but they are there and when you talk to them, there are rewards that are instant and lasting.

I prefer a real conversation but I have thick skin. I've been a salesman, a writer, a therapist and a cab driver - all of which get the backlash of the crazies of the world ... especially the cab drivers. As a therapist, I can always justify it by projecting it back on them. As a writer, I can always look to the wise people who published my work. As a salesman of both retail items and rental space - if you think you will sell everyone who comes through the door, go into another trade.

Don't allow the people who need psychotherapy and use TBD to ventilate their ire get to you. Tomorrow, you will wake up and have people who admire you. Tomorrow they will wake up with the same cold and empty can of beer locked in their closed fist and the same wet and lonely bed.

Life is wonderful despite those few who would cast a dark cloud upon it for others. That is why computers, radios and televisions all have off buttons.

Lollipops and unicorns.