Can't we just all get along, or shut the hell up?

Now, here's something I must restructure (and sadly, not link for security and privacy issues) so as to not disclose any personal information, so please excuse the omissions:

 

 One individual on public forum which cannot be modified says:

  "Hi,  the "mainstream" culture of the US is very Puritanical. Most US citizens believe their own propoganda and are ignorant about the rest of the world/humanity."- from a person who has recently immigrated to the US.

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 Official Bitch-session:

  Well, isn't that nice.  I just love being lumped into categories I don't belong in, based on a false sense of what "mainstream" represents here in the US.

  There's a tactful way to approach a person when you have questions about an element of their governmental structure, religion or way of life. 

  While a recent immigrant may have views on our nation and culture that I would otherwise find very, very interesting, I no longer want to engage in any dissussion with this person due to his flippant and caustic manner of posting to a locally based forum discussion which originally addressed  the laws in Holland on prostitution. The member who posted the initial inquiry is from Portland, Oregon, and had only the views presented to him via media and heresay.  He was grown enough to explain this, and furthermore asked for some insight or legal facts. 

  Understanding that I too, might have a false sense of what the inhabitants of a country are involved in or believe, I might have some questions or concerns needing to be heard.  But there's a tactful way to do this.

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 Before we enter into that uncomfortable ground of categorization, we should take a moment to gather our senses and possibly discuss proper etiquette before someone is justifiably insulted.

To quote the 6th grade graffiti wall at my daughter's alternative school:

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"As a whole, declaring that any culture, nation of people or ethnicity, religious affiliation or life-style preference could be categorized or "mainstreamed" is absolutely not going to be received well. This applies to the citizens of this country and any other. Assuming not only closes minds, but it teaches others incorrectly. Really, does any nation particularly appreciate assumptions about their culture or way of living? I can personally (but not speak for everyone, of course) agree with the ever-growing masses who are utterly exhausted on the notion that we as a culture share the same mode of thinking as our current governmental administration. We are a vast nation of diverse people. To assume that any nation of inhabitants shares a truly collective (in this case, directly indicative of negative beliefs) way of thinking is dangerously close to defamation and accusation.

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(Non-profit organization) encourages education and learning about other cultures and laws according to those cultures, but will not condone any furthering of exaggerated viewpoints on specific ethnicities or cultures. Any defamation of culture or character will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
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To extract a quote from the Wiki Page on an Ideal (organization member):
   "People who are open-minded...  in listening to others in a way that is more tolerant than judgmental."
   (link to organization terms of use Wiki Page)

While all members are FULLY responsible for their viewpoints, actions and/or judgments, I do believe that it is NOT a wasted effort to remind each other of potential harms erupting from loose generalizations. The spirit of (non-profit organization) is one of unity and acceptance which easily become the fruit of education without prejudice.


Also very important to keep in mind while posting to public discussion groups where your comments are not going to be modified or removed after posting - in other words, you're stuck with and responsible for anything you post:

In regard to the Terms of Use:
5. Your Content -
You may NOT post or submit any content that:
(a) is defamatory;
(c) may disparage any ethnic, racial, sexual or religious group by stereotypical depiction or otherwise....


Please make certain that your comments or inquiries about other cultures are within expected social graces, so as to not unintentionally or otherwise defame any person who might fit into or appreciate that culture.

In the same hand, do not discourage anyone from learning about factual topics such as the laws within another state or country, by posting gross assumptions about how a debate might be presented from one side of the world.

It's a big globe, with many points of interest, so let's all learn from each other without prejudice!"

 

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Thoughts? 

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Pitches