So Exactly What is the Axis?

[RandomAnthony]

Are we the fox news of goodreads, where conservatives express their views freely and without fear?

Are we an open forum for friendly conversation?

Are we a den of vipers waiting to pounce on anyone who disagrees with us?

Who exactly are we, now?

[Rusty]

Speaking as someone who is not ashamed to admit they have watched Fox News, and will watch it in the future – Axis is definitely not Fox News, in that it is not a place that slants to the right. And is it a bad thing if “conservatives express their views freely and without fear?” That statement confuses me, because I know Fox News carries negative connotations for many people, so is it also a negative thing for conservatives to express their views?

In my opinion, Axis is a forum where reasonable people can express their reasonable opinions, even if they differ.

But, if someone says: “Obama is a vacuous, vapid, inexperienced, far-left, white person-hating, terrorist-sympathizing, Steve Erkell look-alike post-turtle.” – they will be jumped.

Also, if someone says: “McCain is a tottering, lying, pandering, flip-flopping, cranky, warmongering, Bush II, far-right fascist” – they will be jumped.

Personally, I have never found a forum on GR that is as far right as I am, and I don’t expect to. There are plenty of forums I could name which are mainly populated by like-minded very left-leaning people, who get together and enjoy their very similar opinions, but here at Axis, people with differing opinions co-exist. Thus, Axis is unique, and I (and my blood pressure) appreciate that.

[Arminius]

This is a good group to argue the idea but not bash the author of the idea. And I think we have various opinions here. That makes it fun.

[Jackie "the Librarian", Cool Star Trek Nerd]

I think of Axis as Charissa's salon where politics and other ideas are discussed over canapes, and where I can find some of my favorite GoodReads folks.

[Dave]

Great, I'm an ellipsis.

[Jackie "the Librarian", Cool Star Trek Nerd]

Dave, you're one of MY favorites.

[RandomAnthony]

I don't always believe Jackie. She's so damn polite. Except to cops.

[Jackie "the Librarian", Cool Star Trek Nerd]

I was VERY polite to the cop, RA. Too polite, I'd say, for a policeman who was going to give a ticket to a LIBRARIAN whose record was CLEAN. I should have cried. Dang it, why didn't I cry?

Now I have to call South District Court in Long Beach about a deferral of some sort.

[[deleted user]]

I'm of the opinion that you want to be somewhere where everyone has a different perspective. You want differences. You want your preconceptions challenged.

A lot of what ails this country, hell, this world, is that there are too many people on both sides of the equation who insist "MY WAY, NOT YOURS!" and will ostracize you for being the opposite. I don't agree with some of the political viewpoints here, but it's important to express those viewpoints.

Axis Mundi is a good place to start.

[Dave]

Jackie, thanks. I think I've previously stated that you're one of my top favorite Goodreaders.

Donna, don't mind me. I'm just on one of my overly-sensitive kicks.

[Jackie "the Librarian", Cool Star Trek Nerd]

Bunny, of course you are one of my favorites, too. I'm sorry you're feeling sandpapered today.

I am a bit on the sensitive side myself. I feel so chastised after getting pulled over yesterday!

[Jackie "the Librarian", Cool Star Trek Nerd]

Oh! I'm chastened! I don't think I've ever used that word for myself before, but that is definitely what I am.

And yes, I need hot chocolate desperately. Fortunately, I have a stash here in my office. Thank goodness for virtual marshmallows, though.

[RandomAnthony]

Who got sandpapered? sorry, Bunny.

Jackie, were you all hopped up on hot chocolate when you got busted speeding? Maybe you should refrain.

[Jackie "the Librarian", Cool Star Trek Nerd]

No, RA, I was hopped up on Nick Cave. It's really all YOUR fault I got that ticket.

[Jackie "the Librarian", Cool Star Trek Nerd]

Yep, that's exactly how I feel, Bunny. In truth, I like state troopers. Just not the one is this particular case, today.

[Cyril]

The Axis is my moral compass, along with tea leaves, augury and entrail-reading. Just today I had ordered a take-out sandwich, and when I went to pick it up, I saw a tip jar. Not seeing any birds and not having any entrails handy, I thought, "what would Axis Mundi do?" I then helped myself to a few bucks - thank you Axis!

[Charissa, That's Ms. Obnoxious Twat to You.]

::::hugs the Bunny Watson very very hard::::

[Jackie "the Librarian", Cool Star Trek Nerd]

:::looks around for her Charissa hug:::

[RandomAnthony]

If you guys hug, can I watch?

Sorry, Char brings it out in me...

[Charissa, That's Ms. Obnoxious Twat to You.]

According to those who shall remain nameless *cough*DavidfromMiniAm*cough* we are the Third Reich in here. Which of course reminds me of why I stopped hanging out over there.

Unless you tow the liberal line in many circles you get called "Nazi" "hawk" "Republican" "conservative" "baby killer"... etc. Which is why I no longer call myself a liberal. It's funny that King D still considers me a liberal. Which just goes to show... I *can* get called Eva Braun and a liberal in the same 24 hour period. Stunning.

I love that this forum has attracted people from widely differing backgrounds with such radically differing viewpoints and sets of opinions. I love that for the most part people play nice in here, agreeing to disagree, but struggling to come to some kind of understanding with one another nonetheless. Truly it is the only consistent forum I have seen in action that has this quality.

I also love that it is just as often silly and riffs off into pure play.

Thank you all for making this my favorite place to chill in a long long time. :::hands Jackie a canape::: I wish you all could come to my party tomorrow night!!! I'd hand you actual canapes and give you a hug to boot. xoxoxoxo

[Charissa, That's Ms. Obnoxious Twat to You.]

:::::hugs Jackie in front of RA and watches his eyes roll back in his head:::

what do you think he'd do if we kissed? heh.

[RandomAnthony]

You and David can fight all you want...I like you both.

I don't see Miniam and the Axis in conflict with each other...they're both good groups. Some people in miniam may conflict with those from the axis but that's ok.

So...girls kissing? Where were we?

[Jackie "the Librarian", Cool Star Trek Nerd]

Charissa: what do you think he'd do if we kissed? heh.

I think we'd be hearing "aoooogah, aoooogah!", and RA's eyes would bug out of his head about 6 feet.

[RandomAnthony]

Clearly Jackie overestimates my strength.

I'd faint and then wake terrified I missed everything.

[Rusty]

Actually Charissa, I think David called us the Fourth Reich, which, I assume, makes us even Nazier than the Third.

::Cues announcer voice: “Axis Mundi, now with 15% more Nazi.”::

[Jackie "the Librarian", Cool Star Trek Nerd]

:::gloms onto group hug with Bunny, Ko, RA, and Charissa:::

I've been reading that Christian right debate, Ko. Tough subject, and you've been roped into defending a group you aren't even part of.
I agree with whoever said that we all get a vote and a voice, even if we virulently disagree with what some of those voices are advocating for.

[Charissa, That's Ms. Obnoxious Twat to You.]

Oh dear... see how I haven't been keeping up with the Great Northern Kingdom? I am remiss. :::::hugs Koe suuuper hard:::::

Rusty... HA HA HA HA HA... 15% more Nazi.... that's a lotta Nazi. But truthfully, any amount of Nazi seems like too much for me. I'm wacky that way.

RA... shall we all sign your public statement of neutrality? :::hands him the swiss flag... but not any of her money::::

[RandomAnthony]

I won't be neutral when I fly out west and punish you.

Oh, no, you'd like that too much:)

edit: Anyone got a link to this christian right thread? I missed it.

[Charissa, That's Ms. Obnoxious Twat to You.]

RA... it's the "I'm annoyed" topic started by Xysea.

Warning... it's pretty flamey in there.

[Charissa, That's Ms. Obnoxious Twat to You.]

yeah... I have a really hard time wanting to stay in discussions that lean that hard Left. I have studied too much world history to get that worked up about an American political candidate. Or party. It's too easy to just paint one whole genre of people as evil and have done with it. I can't get on board for that.

I am so disturbed by the polarization of politics in this country.

[Varmint]

i had this impression that left wing forums were civil places, serene as a stuffed animal tea party. then i went to daily kos. and all i found were 9/11 troofers, and guys telling michelle malkin ping pong ball jokes.

the only other place i really hang out is a right wing veteran's biker forum. it can get pretty vile. but it's for old vet bikers. there is no pretense.




i see this all the time. people exist in these balkanized intellectual ghettoes. they never encounter a divergent opinion. then, when they go out into the real world, they are crushed by the first person they meet who has an argument they've never heard before.

that's why it's important to fight online. how will you know an idea has any value unless you test it against someone else's?

[Jackie "the Librarian", Cool Star Trek Nerd]

I would prefer to discuss, rather than fight, though, Varmint.
I think all of us here want the best for our country, although we may disagree what the best is.

[Charissa, That's Ms. Obnoxious Twat to You.]

::::starts trying to come up with a michelle malkin joke that involves ping pong balls::::

::::can't stop thinking about the inflated scrotum of the ancient Berkeley hippie men::::

::::reaches for bleach:::::

[Jackie "the Librarian", Cool Star Trek Nerd]

Pass the bleach to me when you're done, Charissa. What was that all about, anyway?!? How is it a protest?

[Charissa, That's Ms. Obnoxious Twat to You.]

but Jackie... some people don't actually want what is best for the country. some people would be perfectly happy if the country were completely destroyed. some people think humans should be wiped from the planet altogether.

but yes, more often the debate is about what exactly defines "best". that's when the real work begins.

also... you're very funny, ya big silly kinnigget. ::punches her in the arm:::

[Charissa, That's Ms. Obnoxious Twat to You.]

I don't know Jacks... I don't think I want to know. Is being naked in public when you are a million and a half and haven't bathed really necessary in order to convey to the world that you don't approve of "blood for oil"? Seriously. Put some damn clothes on. My EYES!!!

[RandomAnthony]

starts trying to come up with a michelle malkin joke that involves ping pong balls::::

Sometimes I don't have the slightest clue of what Char is speaking. And I think I like it that way.

Man, Jackie's lost her card to complain about the country ever since she got busted for breaking traffic laws...

[Charissa, That's Ms. Obnoxious Twat to You.]

Jackie is a rebel, RA. Stay off the sidewalks. : )

[RandomAnthony]

Pictures Jackie in her car, Nick Cave's "Tender Prey" on full blast, screaming at the top of her lungs, taking out people at the bus stop she sees mistreating library books

[Jackie "the Librarian", Cool Star Trek Nerd]

I paid my debt to society already, RA, thanks to the handy online payment service, so I can complain all I like.
You just better hope I don't ever catch you abusing a library book, or I'll be there in my library van faster than you would believe.

I'll throw the book at you, so to speak. Probably Dickens. His books have good heft.

[Varmint]

if you all don't get the ping pong ball reference count yourselves lucky.



if jackie wants, we can start another thread. if you think i'm unhinged about politics, you should see my 20 page frothing rant about the out of control traffic cops in this state.



anyway, time to get back t work.

[Jackie "the Librarian", Cool Star Trek Nerd]

Charissa: but Jackie... some people don't actually want what is best for the country. some people would be perfectly happy if the country were completely destroyed. some people think humans should be wiped from the planet altogether.

Yes, I know. That's why I prefaced my remark by limiting it to people HERE. In Axis Mundi. I think, anyway, that Mundians want the best for the country.
Not counting Irene. Who knows what she wants...

[RandomAnthony]

I'm not afraid, Jackie. I bet you throw like a girl.

[Jackie "the Librarian", Cool Star Trek Nerd]

You are TOO afraid, RA. You are shaking in your boots right now.
And I've got a slingshot.

[Charissa, That's Ms. Obnoxious Twat to You.]

I think Irene mostly wants meds.

[Cyril]

I was commenting on an item on Huffington Post the other day. That place is as left wing as it gets with pretty much every poster agreeing with each other. There was an article about Roseanne the comedienne attacking Angelina Jolie because she had made a comment favorable McCain. I quoted a Jolie statement in which she said she was undecided and waiting to see what the candidates stances were on issues important to her - such as refugees and the rights of children. I then asked wasn't it reasonable to wait for debates to see what the candidates actually believed. Someone immediately replied that it was unreasonable to do so. How can you have a debate with someone who supports a premise like that?

[Jackie "the Librarian", Cool Star Trek Nerd]

I've been unmasked! My secret is out - I am the Library Avenger and "action is my reward." That's why librarian pay is so low.

[RandomAnthony]

Jackers, that reminds me...is there like a National Library Week or something? I'd google it but you probably know have close personal experience with National Library Week. What is the proper way to thank your local librarians on National Library Week? I'm serious. I want to do something nice for my librarians. They rock.

[Jackie "the Librarian", Cool Star Trek Nerd]

Yes, there IS a National Library week, RA. How thoughtful of you to ask!

The next one is April 12-18, 2009. Baked goods are always appreciated! Or, coffee for the staff room coffee maker and some half and half, if you want to do something a little more original.

I was going to suggest you do something for Children's Book Week in the meantime, but it's just been moved from November to May (huh?), so that won't work.

[Reads with Scotch]

I don’t like Irene, She makes me break form.

There are tons of people here I disagree with all the time. But through conversations at lest I can see where they are coming from. There has even been a time or two when I “flip-flopped” on an issue. I think that happened 2 times.