Missing some quality interaction on Chowk

Normally I would avoid participating in these kind of debates. However, there is an important point that I want to bring to fore in this on going debate about quality of interacts.
The real issue is of responsibility. If we directly or indirectly endorse intolerance, bigotry and hate, we are responsible for deterioration in the fabric of our society. Small things lead to bigger things. Some one uttering inciting words in a gathering can result in murder of an innocent person the next day. It has happened and I have personally witnessed consequences of such hate and intolerance.
I strongly feel that Fouz, Delirium and the like are being simple minded here. Over the years I have seen Tahir's bigotry, spewing venom against people who differ from his ideology.
Reaction against him is the result of hurt feelings, insults and the hate he has shown openly against minorities and people of different faiths. Also, it is true that he has innate disrespect of women. (He himself may not even realize it but it is clear to see even in his patronizing interacts with her female fans)
It is huge responsibility for intellectual people to understand the impact of their thinking and actions on the culture and society. Small things gather into big things. What we say are like seeds we sow in the soil. If we express intolerance, bigotry and hate, we sow the seeds of discord, knowingly or unknowingly.
We may differ with each other but we can do that with respect for each other's ideology. Respect for others is the last thing you find in Tahir's interacts.
Frankly, people like Fouz and Del who are new to Chowk, have not gone into the history of things to understand why there is such a reaction against this person.
It is the responsibility of every thinking person to discourage such hateful thinking. Such thinking appeal to our emotions and work mostly (as nicely said by another interactor) on our reptilian part of the brain. “Violence breeds violence” is the phrase to describe it in another way.
I am writing this iLog as I have personally witnessed the terrible consequences of hate-mongering. Lending support to like of Tahir is plain disservice to cause of peace and harmony in the society. You cannot be just nice people and ignore the terrible consequence of bigotry. You must look beyond and contribute by supporting the right thinking, not just cheering every and any thing under the sun.

(I am posting this as an ilog)

I do not disagree with you here. But this advicee has to be heeded by the other party also. Hate mongering against minority sect and sexist behvaiour has to be stopped. All we are trying to do is to raise this issue that this is not a right approach.
The issue has become personal mainly because the source of religous bigotary is a PERSON here. While we criticise this hate mongering, we can not avoid criticising the person who is doing it.
That is it.

Exposure

All I am talking about is harmony and peace and sense and sanity to prevail.A bit of avoidance and ignorance but more of patience and tolerance should do the trick.

Everyone has a role to play, I believe, and I would be pleased to make my own contribution.

If there is a petition to be filed or an appeal to be made it should rather be to stop the fireworks and make chowk a fun and healthy forum.

i feel for u, taji.

v r all being victimized by chowk for its refusal to fix
the "ignore" feature. personally, i am fine with
any trash that anyone wants to post, as long as i have the
ability to stop it frm appearing on my screen.

so if there is to be a petition to chowk staff, let it be to
fix the "ignore" function.

Delirium, the situation has come to this point because of lack of open mind by bigots like tahir. Kindly see his interacts and stupid i logs.
You talk about Fouz being entitled to having his opinion, then my answer is that when his opinion is that Tahir is a great guy and all the critics are bunch of clowns, we also have the right to answer back in the same tone.
You talk about the importance of rasining issues, my question is that what issues can be debated with a person like Tahir? Eventually if bigotary and sexist bullshit is being hurled by an individual, then it is natural that individual will be targeted.

Taji

Nothing to disagree with here. The increasing trend to get personal against interactors is appalling to say the least. Nothing wrong with being critical of someone's point of view, thoughts and ideas...rather it should lead to some healthy debate or discussion. That is the whole idea I believe! But why does it become mandatory to get spiteful and venomous against individuals and their personalities?

Thanks for making your point.

Exposure

Am not defending Tahir or Fouz here. They can respond to the point or explain their position if they wish to. But just to take the debate further and ( hopefully ) extract something positive out of it, don't you think Fouz is as much entitled to his own opinion as you are to yours ? Its just a matter of perspectives after all. You or I or anyone else for that matter, completely or partially, may or may not agree to what he has to say. You differ with him. Fair enough. Make your point and lets listen to everyone's point of view with an open mind. Why can’t a bit of tolerance and flexibility lead to something refreshing, conclusive and worthwhile?

Thanks for the positive vote Padash.

Nirvana & Exposure: I am all for expressing candid opinions, debating of issues, and arguing for one's position, it is just that use of abusive langauge by some is very jarring. Plus both sides are no longer making any new points, it is all endless repetitions of the same.

Ana: I agree with you totally.

But people like yourself make Chowk bearable and worthwhile Taji! =)

Dear taji, i appreciate your efforts in this regard and understand the need for having quality interaction at chowk. However, let me just say one thing here,that there can not be anything constructive unless religous bigots and hypocrites like mr. tahir are indulging in sexist behaviour and hate mongering. I am appalled at people like Fouz, who can write an entire i log to chowk, demanding apology from them due to some "mistreatment" to Mr Tahir, but he has hardly uttered a single word against his friend who is a cheap bigot.
Frankly Mr Tahir has to mend his ways. Being from a minority sect, I have been shocked at Mr. Tahir's behaviour and also at complete inability of his "friends" to say even a single word. Except BHS 75, no one said a word. Here we have Mr Fouz talking about this "non sense" and how come this is allowed to continue and yet he turns a complete blind eye to his miserable friend's behaviour. And he claims to be centre to left in political orientation!!!

well, i have joined chowk just a few days back -- the way i see it is a bit different then Taji and yous lot -- i like the way it is -- its an open discussion forum -- people read the article and interact-- and they can interact the way they want to or say exactly what they want to unless they are swaring theres nothing worng with what they say --we should take it -- overall, i think its a non issue things change we should let them.... gracias!

In fact, you are right anna and arshia. Sometime our reptelian brain takes over when we are hurt. Then there is no letting go. I know it is that reptelian brain, but it is part of our human brain. What can we do?
I know violence breeds voilence - and I did come part of this uncontrollable vicious circle. Hurts are hard to heal you know.
Will think about letting it go. Thank you.

AlfBay:

A comment, and some questions. The personal feud of which you speak is not the first of its kind here. There have been hate-mongers here since Chowk's inception. Keeping people on "short leashes" has done no good to stop hate-mongering here.

So how long does a "feud" continue? How long do you fight a hate-monger until you become the thing you hate yourself? Hate-mongers are abusive when they become incapable of defending their ideas in any other fashion. Do you keep fighting the ideas in your "feud" or do you begin to abuse the person like the hateful one does?

This has something to do with why Chowk has devolved. And I've been a part of it myself, so I know.

and I hardly think that if he has some other beliefs, you would possibly change that by crude language and frequent ilogs. Isn't it ?

there is no personal fued - this guy has abused others only because of creed, belief and quomiat
if he is kept on short leash, quality will return in our interact
I will not give up until this hate-monger is put in his place

I do completely agree! There doesn't seem anything wrong in taking sides, obviously there are people with like ideas or thoughts but that should not give them the liberty to sort-of-spam though out ilogs.

ban that stupid THR ki postings and quality will return
spreading hate and intolerance will breed hate and intolerance

Well I am all for taking sides on issues & ideas, but taking sides in personal feuds is quite another matter.

Ameen!

I would disagree with you on one point though Taji, most of the interacting Chowkies do take sides. A neutral Chowkie has become a rarity.