Why are we silent?

[Anijen]

I am a member of the silent majority. As I attend class, I have noticed a very loud liberal agenda. Here in South Dakota (where I am attending grad school), the state legislature just passed a bill that does not allow those who identify themselves as transgender to use the rest rooms of the opposite sex. I have seen so much publicity in the news of how this is a "hate" bill. How it is discrimination etc. Not just in the print, press, broadcast news, but is a huge issue on social media as well. Even here on this MDDB forum it is often a popular topic.

Up to now I have remained silent because I tend to hold a contrary view to the loud voices of the LGBT. I do not hate gay, black, polygamous, or any other group or people, but I know I will be labeled and typecast as a  hater or racist simply because I do not agree with their beliefs.

My question that I would like to discuss is; are there are a lot in the silent majority like myself who do not want to enter the controversial fray because they want to avoid the contention and being thought of as a flat-earther, behind the times, racist, prejudicial, or other hater term? Also, should we be more vocal? Am I wrong, am I in a silent majority or am I now in a minority?

 

[Nofear]

Examples of both speaking up and being silent occur with the Savior's mortal life. For example he spoke up with woman caught in adultery situation but remained silent with the interrogation by the high priest.

Discernment, I suppose, should be used. Sometimes there is value in speaking up and sometimes not. Numerous possible reasons exist for each situation, though I would venture to say fear of ostracism isn't one of the better ones.

 

Edit to add link: https://www.lds.org/ensign/1998/10/speaking-up-for-morality?lang=eng

Edited February 18, 2016 by Nofear
add link

[Anijen]

5 minutes ago, Nofear said:

fear of ostracism isn't one of the better ones.

Thanks Nofear, I always appreciate your candid remarks.

I agree, the fear of being ostracized is a bad reason for not being vocal on which side you stand on. Plus I reluctantly started this thread because I know I should be studying, but have lost motivation, so I am in a time wasting Facebooking, MDDB trolling, funk. IOW why did I start this thread when I do not have time to stay up on it?

My internet/Facebook/MDDB/Netflix/Youtube addiction is killing my GPA.

Hi, my name is Jeff and I shouldn't be online. Woes me, hides face due to being ashamed...

[Jeanne]

Frustration.  No matter how you feel,,it is justification for silence when you can't feel you can make a difference.

[bluebell]

8 minutes ago, Jeanne said:

Frustration.  No matter how you feel,,it is justification for silence when you can't feel you can make a difference.

I think this.

Also tied to this is the frustration that comes when you know that the majority is going to shout you down and not let you actually explain yourself or defend your remarks.  It's different on a message board where everyone get's equal access to sharing without interruption, but in person especially, trying to share a contradictory view in a group of highly emotional people that isn't moderated to some degree is almost impossible.  You won't get anything out and the majority will be patting each other on the back to much that they will leave the discussion feeling completely vindicated in their ideology.

It's one of the reasons that true democracy does not work-mob rule is a real thing, and mobs are too emotional to be reasonable.

[thesometimesaint]

Democracy isn't the best form of governance. It is just better than all the others.

[bluebell]

2 minutes ago, thesometimesaint said:

Democracy isn't the best form of governance. It is just better than all the others.

I hope not, since our government is a republic.

[Garden Girl]

If I was in the ladies' room and some man came strolling in, I'd not be silent.. I don't care who he is... who knows how many men would take advantage.  It can actually be dangerous. 

GG

[thesometimesaint]

2 minutes ago, bluebell said:

I hope not, since our government is a republic.

Until the Return of the King I want a say in my government.

It is not an absolute republic either. We vote for our representatives. Also some states have a more direct form of democracy wherein citizens can initiate and vote on individual issues, and recall their state representatives; California being one of them. 

[bluebell]

50 minutes ago, thesometimesaint said:

Until the Return of the King I want a say in my government.

It is not an absolute republic either. We vote for our representatives. Also some states have a more direct form of democracy wherein citizens can initiate and vote on individual issues, and recall their state representatives; California being one of them. 

True, it's a democratic republic fashioned after the Roman empire.  Our founding fathers specifically shunned pure democracy, knowing what it did to Greece.

[Ahab]

2 hours ago, Anijen said:

I am a member of the silent majority. As I attend class, I have noticed a very loud liberal agenda. Here in South Dakota (where I am attending grad school), the state legislature just passed a bill that does not allow those who identify themselves as transgender to use the rest rooms of the opposite sex. I have seen so much publicity in the news of how this is a "hate" bill. How it is discrimination etc. Not just in the print, press, broadcast news, but is a huge issue on social media as well. Even here on this MDDB forum it is often a popular topic.

Up to now I have remained silent because I tend to hold a contrary view to the loud voices of the LGBT. I do not hate gay, black, polygamous, or any other group or people, but I know I will be labeled and typecast as a  hater or racist simply because I do not agree with their beliefs.

My question that I would like to discuss is; are there are a lot in the silent majority like myself who do not want to enter the controversial fray because they want to avoid the contention and being thought of as a flat-earther, behind the times, racist, prejudicial, or other hater term? Also, should we be more vocal? Am I wrong, am I in a silent majority or am I now in a minority?

 

If you're going to say something,  just say it, and be as clear about what you want to say as can be.

I'm not totally sure about what you were saying but from what you said I have the impression that you think transgender should use the bathroom of the sex they actually are, regardless of their transgender appearance or mutations. That you agree with the proponents of that law on that issue.  

Is that what you meant when you said what you said? 

If not just be a little more clear to say what you mean. I don't see you as silent.  Just not totally clear.

[RevTestament]

3 hours ago, Anijen said:

I am a member of the silent majority. As I attend class, I have noticed a very loud liberal agenda. Here in South Dakota (where I am attending grad school), the state legislature just passed a bill that does not allow those who identify themselves as transgender to use the rest rooms of the opposite sex. I have seen so much publicity in the news of how this is a "hate" bill. How it is discrimination etc. Not just in the print, press, broadcast news, but is a huge issue on social media as well. Even here on this MDDB forum it is often a popular topic.

Up to now I have remained silent because I tend to hold a contrary view to the loud voices of the LGBT. I do not hate gay, black, polygamous, or any other group or people, but I know I will be labeled and typecast as a  hater or racist simply because I do not agree with their beliefs.

My question that I would like to discuss is; are there are a lot in the silent majority like myself who do not want to enter the controversial fray because they want to avoid the contention and being thought of as a flat-earther, behind the times, racist, prejudicial, or other hater term? Also, should we be more vocal? Am I wrong, am I in a silent majority or am I now in a minority?

I'll speak up about it. I'm always in the minority, so I'm used to it. But it seems in the S Dakota legislature at least, I am not in the minority. I think it is ridiculous to allow "transgender" males in the female bathroom - unless it is a one occupant type bathroom. How is anyone else supposed to know? R they supposed to get a "transgender" button or something? Or can any male just walk up and say, let me in, I'm transgender. They don't have any rights being taken away. They can go to the male bathroom like all other males. They don't have the right to force companies to build them transgender bathrooms either. This society is getting totally wacked out.

[thesometimesaint]

12 minutes ago, bluebell said:

True, it's a democratic republic fashioned after the Roman empire.  Our founding fathers specifically shunned pure democracy, knowing what it did to Greece.

Even in ancient Athenian Greece it wasn't a pure democracy. Only certain upper class males were permitted a say.

[Ahab]

3 minutes ago, RevTestament said:

I'll speak up about it. I'm always in the minority, so I'm used to it. But it seems in the S Dakota legislature at least, I am not in the minority. I think it is ridiculous to allow "transgender" males in the female bathroom - unless it is a one occupant type bathroom. How is anyone else supposed to know? R they supposed to get a "transgender" button or something? Or can any male just walk up and say, let me in, I'm transgender. They don't have any rights being taken away. They can go to the male bathroom like all other males. They don't have the right to force companies to build them transgender bathrooms either. This society is getting totally wacked out.

The guys that dress up to look female aren't always that easy to tell apart from females dressed the same way.  What are you going to do to speak up about it?  Tell some person you think is a guy that SHE shouldn't be going into the ladies' bathroom just because you thought she was a guy???

I don't see that turning out very well for anybody. 

Those who speak up still should be careful about what they say.

[RevTestament]

8 minutes ago, Ahab said:

The guys that dress up to look female aren't always that easy to tell apart from females dressed the same way.  What are you going to do to speak up about it?  Tell some person you think is a guy that SHE shouldn't be going into the ladies' bathroom just because you thought she was a guy???

I don't see that turning out very well for anybody. 

Those who speak up still should be careful about what they say.

That doesn't change anything about the legislature should or shouldn't pass this law. I don't think women should come into the men's bathroom either. Otherwise, just make all bathrooms unisex, and get over it.

[Kemara]

I think one should express their views regardless of the risk of being labelled or ostracized. If you are in the minority, for whatever reason, it is even more important to do so. The dangers of remaining silent far away the dangers of speaking up.

[Anijen]

3 hours ago, Ahab said:

If you're going to say something,  just say it, and be as clear about what you want to say as can be.

I'm not totally sure about what you were saying but from what you said I have the impression that you think transgender should use the bathroom of the sex they actually are, regardless of their transgender appearance or mutations. That you agree with the proponents of that law on that issue.  

Is that what you meant when you said what you said? 

If not just be a little more clear to say what you mean. I don't see you as silent.  Just not totally clear.

Ok, I'll say it; I do not think a male should use the girls bathroom because he identifies himself as female, and vice-verse.

Yes I agree with the proponents of the law.

Yes, that is what I meant. Sorry for the confusion.

Sometimes many people wish I were more silent , Sometimes I am not clear. I confuse myself...

[Anijen]

I can try to see a transgenders point of view. If he/she really identifies their-self with the opposite of their biological gender, I could see where going to the bathroom for them would make them uncomfortable. However, where do you legislate, for the one transgender or for the  six women who all they know a man just walked into a public bathroom? I am sure many/most of these women would feel uncomfortable, shock, some probably would even have great fear seeing a man come into the bathroom where they are. I mean, how would they even know that the person who walked into the bathroom was harmless person who identified himself as a woman?

I can see both sides of the argument, yet I still feel making it legal for a transgender to use the restroom of his/her choice would cause more concern than it would solve. And yes I feel the sexual predator would use this as a way to get into a private place with his victims and as a possible defense in trial (a weak defense...) there are many things to consider. For now I side against transgenders using the bathroom that they identify with. I for one would not like a man walking into a bathroom where my wife and daughters are, even if he was harmless.

Edited February 19, 2016 by Anijen

[bcuzbcuz]

7 hours ago, Anijen said:

I am a member of the silent majority. As I attend class, I have noticed a very loud liberal agenda. Here in South Dakota (where I am attending grad school), the state legislature just passed a bill that does not allow those who identify themselves as transgender to use the rest rooms of the opposite sex. I have seen so much publicity in the news of how this is a "hate" bill. How it is discrimination etc. Not just in the print, press, broadcast news, but is a huge issue on social media as well. Even here on this MDDB forum it is often a popular topic.

Up to now I have remained silent because I tend to hold a contrary view to the loud voices of the LGBT. I do not hate gay, black, polygamous, or any other group or people, but I know I will be labeled and typecast as a  hater or racist simply because I do not agree with their beliefs.

My question that I would like to discuss is; are there are a lot in the silent majority like myself who do not want to enter the controversial fray because they want to avoid the contention and being thought of as a flat-earther, behind the times, racist, prejudicial, or other hater term? Also, should we be more vocal? Am I wrong, am I in a silent majority or am I now in a minority?

 

As and of this post you no longer qualify as a member of the silent majority.

[strappinglad]

Where I live there is a big todo because the government of the day is requiring school boards to accommodate kids of all ages who self identify as a particular gender to enter any washroom they feel most comfortable in. Can't have a one person washroom that those kids could use. No, that would be discrimination and subject them to possible bullying etc. There is a backlash forming but the government feels it has a mandate to enact such laws and is pushing the LBGTQ MNOP agenda hard.

[Anijen]

18 minutes ago, bcuzbcuz said:

As and of this post you no longer qualify as a member of the silent majority.

Woot, graduated...

[california boy]

30 minutes ago, Anijen said:

 

 

 

First of all, I want to state that I think no one should feel they should be silent about anything they want to express their feelings about.  But if you  have something to say, I think it is important to really think about what you want to say and what your objections are.  When we are talking about transgender people, this is what we are talking about

 

 

Now how will you even know this person is transgender?  Does she look threatening to you?  Do you think it would be an issue if she walked into the mens room?  Do you think she is a sexual preditor that is going to attack you?  Should she be forced legally to use a mans bathroom.

 

Now how about this guy?  This is what a female to male transgender looks like.  Would you feel comfortable with him using the womans bathroom?  Would your daughter be comfortable with him being forced to use the womans bathroom?  Do you think he would cause more of a disturbance in a womans bathroom or a mans bathroom?  This is what we are talking about.  

 

Do you even know enough about this subject to make a statement?  If you are, fine.  If you are not, then perhaps silence is a prudent course of action.  Do sexual preditors need bathrooms in order to attack you?  Do you know of ANY case where a  person claiming to be transgender who sexually attacked someone in a bathroom?

 

 

 

[carbon dioxide]

California, probably should not post a picture of a topless woman here.

[california boy]

24 minutes ago, carbon dioxide said:

California, probably should not post a picture of a topless woman here.

lol.  oops forgot about that.  Quite honestly, i completely forget that they are still women.  If this guy walked into a mens bathroom, I would not even turn my head to notice.  Yet people seem to get hysteical about this issue.  Usually through ignorance on what transgender even looks like.

 

 

[Russell C McGregor]

7 hours ago, Garden Girl said:

If I was in the ladies' room and some man came strolling in, I'd not be silent.. I don't care who he is... who knows how many men would take advantage.  It can actually be dangerous. 

GG

Ah yes, but what would you say?

And how would your response be different if he was carrying a white cane and being led by a labrador with a guide dog harness?