Michael Jackson - RIP

Laroche · Post by **Laroche** » 27 Jun 2009 10:21

Jeremy wrote:[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0Q5JFHrGNk[/youtube]

But I still don't understand how it doesn't bother you that a lot of your footbag peers dislike you because of (the complaint is..) your pompous know-it-all attitude? Aren't you in the IFPA and taking lots of leadership roles within footbag?

Frank_Sinatra · Post by **Frank_Sinatra** » 28 Jun 2009 10:07

He was the besht. My reshpect. Yee commoh

BainbridgeShred · Post by **BainbridgeShred** » 28 Jun 2009 14:42

Pour out a little liquor, Billy Mays is no longer with us.
Two wonderful voices gone in just a few days.

I will admit I always wanted to call him Billy Mays Hayes after Wesley Snipes character in Major Leauge.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 28 Jun 2009 17:12

Laroche wrote:
But I still don't understand how it doesn't bother you that a lot of your footbag peers dislike you because of (the complaint is..) your pompous know-it-all attitude? Aren't you in the IFPA and taking lots of leadership roles within footbag?

Your self respect is hilarious. Funnily enough, the discussions on serious issues within the IFPA are nothing like the discussions on modified, presumably because the discussions within the IFPA are between literate adults who are capable of responding maturely to being disagreed with, capable of reading and understanding what other people say and capable of responding to content rather than resorting to childish personal insults. Sure the discussion is not perfect, but even when people lose control, they quickly rein themselves in. I have a lot of respect, and feel respected amongst such people, and indeed, find it hard to imagine any of the people who attack me on modified ever having any serious involvement with footbag on the organisational side of things.

Somebody brought up my "debating" skills, but I think it's really just literacy skills that separate myself from my detractors on this forum. Obviously they will see this as a personal insult, which is understandable although just coincidence. I read what people say and I comment on their content, even when they write badly. My detractors (which are really a vocal minority) don't comment on people's content, or when they do, misunderstand it, but take cheap shots and make personal insults. That's nothing to do with debating skills, but just ability to read correctly and maturity.

My so called "pompous no-it-all attitude" is just because I only comment on things that I do actually feel like I have a good knowledge, and indeed have done actual research on. I have a very strong thirst for knowledge and I spend a large amount of time, even when I'm not formally studying, trying to learn about things. I don't comment on things I don't know much about except to ask questions. If you look at all the topics I haven't posted in, that's because I didn't know enough to say anything. Also when I recognise that somebody has a very strong knowledge about a topic I always just ask them questions. Of course I'm sure there are exceptions where I've posted complete rubbish, but this is my general attitude, and it gives a false sense of a "know-it-all" attitude, because you don't notice when I don't post.

As somebody who strongly believes in the importance of science, I therefore strongly believe in putting forward arguments for the sake of seeing them tested, and so I do that, and when people put forward good counter arguments based on content then I change my mind - great examples of this would be my conversion to vegetarianism (go look for past posts where I debated against this) and my video world record topic.

I am not concerned in the slightest that there are some footbaggers who I've never met, who apparently have a very "different" view of the world than I do, who don't like me. This doesn't impact on my life at all, especially because those people aren't involved in anything serious related to footbag, so I only have to deal with them when discussing exceedingly trivial issues like this one. If those people stepped up and started trying to give things back to footbag then it might be a problem, but of course if they had that attitude I doubt we would have any animosity between us already.

I would consider myself good friends with well over 90% of footbaggers I've met in person, but I clearly have the weakness of being very bad at tolerating idiots and responding to them. There are certainly worse faults to have than that, and indeed the people who respond to me could easily be seen to have the same weakness (since they obviously view me as poorly as I view them, probably even worse).

I view myself as in a very poor position to have any serious involvement with footbag. I live in one of the most isolated places in the world from the footbag scene, I have many other and more important priorities than ever going to worlds and I really only play for the social aspect these days (although I am going to start busking again soon). The only reason I have any involvement with the IFPA is because nobody else is doing it, and I'm a strong believer in taking action when you think action should be taken, rather than just complaining like a lot of other people do. It's a ridiculous situation that somebody who has never been to an IFPA sanctioned event apart from the Australian Championships, which typically has around 10 competitors at the most, would be the person who wrote up all the rules for the main freestyle events. No doubt that's one of the reasons it has taken so long for them to become official (hopefully it will happen this year). It's hard to imagine a more absurd situation. Yet who else was putting their hand up to do it? If I thought that was something that needed doing, what else could I have done to make it happen?

So yes, I have some involvement with the IFPA, but not because I particularly want to have any involvement, mainly because nobody else will do the things that I think need doing despite being in much better positions to make those things happen. Because footbag has introduced me to so many cool people and was such an important part of my life for a while, I'm prepared to do things for the sport that I don't want to do, because I feel like I "owe" it. I have a huge amount more respect for people who get things done than for people who make silly and childish insults while giving nothing back to footbag.

BainbridgeShred · Post by **BainbridgeShred** » 28 Jun 2009 18:34

Your self respect is hilarious. Funnily enough, the discussions on serious issues within the IFPA are nothing like the discussions on modified, presumably because the discussions within the IFPA are between literate adults who are capable of responding maturely to being disagreed with, capable of reading and understanding what other people say and capable of responding to content rather than resorting to childish personal insults

Plus, you'd feel pretty silly arguing heatedly over dex's and shit right?

Just chill the fuck out Jeremy. We don't need 8 fucking paragraph's of you arguing with yourself while simutaneously tooting you own horn. I do that in 2 or 3

crazylegs32 · Post by **crazylegs32** » 28 Jun 2009 22:33

RIP he had some good music up till the 90's/ He also shows a little about society, if he was weird the world in its current state made him that way.

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 29 Jun 2009 08:23

RIP Michael!!!

Reid · Post by **Reid** » 29 Jun 2009 20:26

Jeremy wrote:meh at celebrity "news."

Jeremy, this thread was created to show appreciation to a great artist that passed away. I agree you are allowed to have your own opinions and think of people however you like, but your comments in this thread and several others are inappropriate and unwarranted. You knew what this thread was about and what your first comment would instigate. I suggest you follow the mother's maxim of "If you don't have anything nice to say don't say it at all," and spare us all the aggravation and disrespect.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 29 Jun 2009 20:45

Why doesn't that rule apply to the people who responded to me?

I disagree that it was unwarranted, obviously, or I wouldn't have posted it, and you'd have to actually provide some content to your argument then just making that assertion. I don't even understand what you mean by saying it was inappropriate.

I note that a number of people from this forum have agreed with me privately. It is a shame they haven't been prepared to say so in this topic - probably because the responses from some people make them feel afraid to express themselves honestly, which in my mind justifies what I've written.

It is funny that you chose to revive the topic of what I wrote, given that it appeared everybody had said as much as they needed to.

Reid · Post by **Reid** » 29 Jun 2009 21:17

Jeremy wrote:Why doesn't that rule apply to the people who responded to me?

It does, and I apologize for only directing it at you.

Jeremy wrote: I disagree that it was unwarranted, obviously, or I wouldn't have posted it, and you'd have to actually provide some content to your argument then just making that assertion. I don't even understand what you mean by saying it was inappropriate.

I felt it was inappropriate because the title of the thread was "Michael Jackson - RIP" and not "Michael Jackson - In the media too much?". I also thought it was obvious from the first post that the thread was created to show respect for Mr. Jackson as only praise was shown. Why did you think your comment was warranted? Please PM your answer so we can clear the thread and let it get back to what it was supposed to be for.

Jeremy wrote:I note that a number of people from this forum have agreed with me privately. It is a shame they haven't been prepared to say so in this topic - probably because the responses from some people make them feel afraid to express themselves honestly, which in my mind justifies what I've written.

That could possibly be a reason for their silence, or it may be that they respect others peoples feeling on the issue and do not wish to divert attention from what they feel the thread was created for. There is no argument here because neither of us know for sure why they are silent. Both of us are simply postulating.

Jeremy wrote:It is funny that you chose to revive the topic of what I wrote, given that it appeared everybody had said as much as they needed to.

Again, I apologize. It was the first time I saw the thread and I did not pay any attention to time that had elapsed between posts so I was unaware that the discussion was over. I am sorry that I revived the issue. Please continue any further discussion in PM if you'd like.

james_dean · Post by **james_dean** » 30 Jun 2009 05:12

Although I wouldn't have posted here to say so, as people can discuss what they want in a thread on a forum and if they want to grieve him go ahead, Jeremy is completely right that the media attention is excessive and ridiculous, and it drives me crazy. Then again, a lot about the media drives me crazy.

habitat · Post by **habitat** » 30 Jun 2009 06:04

How do you "honor" someone who died by typing RIP and posting it on the internet? I don't get it. The only thing I've come up with is you just want other people to know you liked the person, but who gives a shit?

Another thing,

MJ was a weirdo who allegedly liked little boys whose majority of music sucks.

MJ was an amazing artist and a great human being whose music touched the world.

Both statements are valid. Both statements achieve the exact same thing, nothing. And where were the MJ appreciation threads when he was alive? Humans are weird.

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 30 Jun 2009 11:02

Jeremy wrote:I only have to deal with them when discussing exceedingly trivial issues like this one.

Don't kid yourself, you are not a part of this discussion, you intentionally posted in this thread to derail this discussion. That is different than being a participant.

It must feel great to get so much attention for being an asshole on the internet. Congratulations.

Laroche · Post by **Laroche** » 30 Jun 2009 12:33

habitat wrote:How do you "honor" someone who died by typing RIP and posting it on the internet? I don't get it. The only thing I've come up with is you just want other people to know you liked the person, but who gives a shit?

Another thing,

MJ was a weirdo who allegedly liked little boys whose majority of music sucks.

MJ was an amazing artist and a great human being whose music touched the world.

Both statements are valid. Both statements achieve the exact same thing, nothing. And where were the MJ appreciation threads when he was alive? Humans are weird.

You don't realize you'll miss someone/thing when they're gone.

I think a simple RIP post is appropriate, a passing nod to someone who indirectly influenced my life in this case.

Actually, just as a side note, was the Elvis thing blow out of proportion? Or in 30-40 years when MJ's legend has grown, will we equivocate his deaths importance as much as Elvis'?

PegLegHolly · Post by **PegLegHolly** » 30 Jun 2009 12:48

just let it go, jeremy.

here's a great movie thats sorta-kinda-not-really about michael jackson...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mister_Lonely

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 30 Jun 2009 14:21

Holly, I posted 4 words and then since then have only responded to people directly insulting me or asking me questions. If they didn't do that, I would have said anything else. Your statement to "let it go" seems completely devoid from the reality of this discussion.

I don't know what the reaction to Elvis' death really was. I suspect it certainly was blown out of proportion, but not as much as MJ was because the media has become far more sensationalist since then.

shredzilla · Post by **shredzilla** » 30 Jun 2009 18:10

Jeremy wrote:Holly, I posted 4 words and then since then have only responded to people directly insulting me or asking me questions.

If you don't see that your post was uncouth Jeremy, then you lack a basic principle of articulate communication. And you can't argue that to the grave, without missing another principle entirely.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 30 Jun 2009 18:28

I wouldn't describe it as "uncouth." I would concede that an argument could be made that it was a little thoughtless but I saw the topic and wrote how I felt, and I will continue to do so no matter how many personal insults are directed at me. Indeed when people respond to comments like the ones I've made in this topic with personal insults, if anything that makes me more likely to continue behaving the way I do. In any event I don't think the reactions are to the way I wrote it, but an emotional disagreement with the sentiment.

bdams19 · Post by **bdams19** » 30 Jun 2009 18:35

rip MJ. You were the king and a once in a generation talent.

and jeremy, just stop trolling.

sen · Post by **sen** » 30 Jun 2009 18:38

Jeremy wrote:if anything that makes me more likely to continue behaving the way I do.

Oh yay! Someone noticed me. I gotta try that again!!