Anne Romney Hasn't Worked A Day in Her Life

[Hermit]

Seraph, while Jesus's post was obviously an attempt at a joke, there was a very good chance it wouldn't be taken that way by Seth, who could easily have regarded it as being a personal attack even if the post in general was mostly a joke. There was some disagreement among the staff over whether to post a reminder or not, several thought it was unnecessary as the joke was clear enough. I think it's fair to say the reminder was posted just to be on the safe side. We do have a clear policy that personal attacks that are clearly in jest are not against the rules, specifically ones that are or should be understood to be jest by both parties. There was just enough ambiguity to make the staff decide on a reminder just in case. It's not a bit deal, as it is simply a reminder of the rules.

Thank you, Pappa, for the reasonable tone, but I have understood all that quite some time ago. My objection remains. I regret that I could not make myself understood.

Moreso, I regret - and that is the reason for this post - the tone, excessively blunt and strident, I had adopted. Unfortunately I've always been unable to express myself in a more moderate (snigger), diplomatic fashion, and my current situation exacerbates that failing. For this I came to apologise to everyone generally, and particularly to FBM and Ronja.

[Warren Dew]

While I am sleeping and if you are so inclined, feel free to take a look at the first thread where I had a major disagreement with Coito and a second where I think I managed to behave in a much more constructive manner yet which interestingly enough frustrated me far more than the first:
1) http://rationalia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=19351
2) http://rationalia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=29426

Based on those thread, I think what you're actually irritated at is Coito's positions, and you're only rationalizing it as irritation at his posting habits.

The truth is, Coito tends to have a large post count in any thread he takes an interest in.

[Warren Dew]

Moreso, I regret - and that is the reason for this post - the tone, excessively blunt and strident, I had adopted. Unfortunately I've always been unable to express myself in a more moderate (snigger), diplomatic fashion, and my current situation exacerbates that failing. For this I came to apologise to everyone generally, and particularly to FBM and Ronja.

Don't apologize to all of us. Some of us like the blunt approach.

[Hermit]

Moreso, I regret - and that is the reason for this post - the tone, excessively blunt and strident, I had adopted. Unfortunately I've always been unable to express myself in a more moderate (snigger), diplomatic fashion, and my current situation exacerbates that failing. For this I came to apologise to everyone generally, and particularly to FBM and Ronja.

Don't apologize to all of us. Some of us like the blunt approach.

Maybe I should have said "unnecessarily abrasive".

[Azathoth]

WOOHOO DRAMAZ

[Pappa]

Thank you, Pappa, for the reasonable tone, but I have understood all that quite some time ago. My objection remains. I regret that I could not make myself understood.

Moreso, I regret - and that is the reason for this post - the tone, excessively blunt and strident, I had adopted. Unfortunately I've always been unable to express myself in a more moderate (snigger), diplomatic fashion, and my current situation exacerbates that failing. For this I came to apologise to everyone generally, and particularly to FBM and Ronja.

I often suffer from the same affliction, as the other mods could no doubt attest.

No need to apologise, you were just raising understandable concerns.

[charlou]

While I am sleeping and if you are so inclined, feel free to take a look at the first thread where I had a major disagreement with Coito and a second where I think I managed to behave in a much more constructive manner yet which interestingly enough frustrated me far more than the first:
1) http://rationalia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=19351
2) http://rationalia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=29426

Based on those thread, I think what you're actually irritated at is Coito's positions, and you're only rationalizing it as irritation at his posting habits.

The truth is, Coito tends to have a large post count in any thread he takes an interest in.

That would be my take on it, too.




Good to see people talking this through.

[FBM]

Thank you, Pappa, for the reasonable tone, but I have understood all that quite some time ago. My objection remains. I regret that I could not make myself understood.

Moreso, I regret - and that is the reason for this post - the tone, excessively blunt and strident, I had adopted. Unfortunately I've always been unable to express myself in a more moderate (snigger), diplomatic fashion, and my current situation exacerbates that failing. For this I came to apologise to everyone generally, and particularly to FBM and Ronja.

No worries, Seraph.

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

Ban them all!!

[Ronja]

Thank you, Pappa, for the reasonable tone, but I have understood all that quite some time ago. My objection remains. I regret that I could not make myself understood.

Moreso, I regret - and that is the reason for this post - the tone, excessively blunt and strident, I had adopted. Unfortunately I've always been unable to express myself in a more moderate (snigger), diplomatic fashion, and my current situation exacerbates that failing. For this I came to apologise to everyone generally, and particularly to FBM and Ronja.

No worries, Seraph.

+1 This was nice to wake up to. Thank you Seraph!

[FBM]

Ban them all!!

Hush, you.

[JimC]

Nah. I think everybody knows you were joking. We were just making sure nobody took it the wrong way.

Omitted the subject in the second sentence. Can see how that could be misleading. Will be more careful next time.

How the fuck does that gel with "Jesus, this is a reminder that this post contains comments that could be taken as a personal attack. Please keep the play nice rule in mind. Gracias." ? If you (plural) meant to just make sure "nobody took it the wrong way", could you not have simply said exactly that instead of phrasing the blue stuff in a way that is indistinguishable from an official and formal caution?

Let me put a perspective on the from a staff point of view...

Personally, I argued in staff discussion that it was a joke, and didn't need a reminder. I was in a minority, but I accept with a good grace (as has the recipient) the extremely mild reminder that was issued, which took great pains to say that it could have been taken as a personal attack, not that it was intended to be one...

The blue phrasing is vital, since it indicates that it isn't simply a brainstorm of an individual mod, but the result of a process to establish consensus. I make this post not to undermine the decision to issue a reminder, but to show that there is a process, and that we are not arbitrary, or without internal debate, but that when consensus is reached, one goes with the flow...

[kiki5711]

So, has Mrs. Romney cleaned her house yet? Or does she have an illegal maid working 24/7 for $1 a day.?

[Coito ergo sum]

It has been almost a week since I was blasted for posting too much on-topic discussion concerning the OP. Since then, nobody has posted anything that really addressed the topic, not even the person who took me to task. That sure improved the thread.

I see kiki, despite posting something clearly sarcastic and pointless, is at least in the same ballpark as the OP, since it references Romney's homemaker activities.

To respond:

1. You have no idea whether she cleans her house. Some wealthy folks do engage in homemaking tasks, and don't leave it all to assistants. Although, having an assistant in the house with five kids, if one has the means, is not a crime.

2. If they were employing an illegal maid, you can bet that the Democrats' investigators and detectives would be all over it. They'd find out who the domestic help was, and find out if they are legally in the country. Bank on it.

3. Suggesting that domestic help that is illegally in the US are working for "$1 a day" or other substandard wages is just plain false. They make good money. How do I know? I know some illegal aliens who have house cleaning businesses. They can make a ton of money. They aren't W-2 employees, so they contract maid service on a per hour basis. If you've ever hired one, you'd know that. They'll charge $75 to $150 for small to average sized homes, and for large homes of wealthy people with large homes it goes up to $300+ for a visit. They accumulate many customers, pocket lots of cash payments, etc. But, they can easily make middle class income, and above average income. So, please, let's not pretend that house-cleaning folks are being put upon. If it's that easy to find one for $1 an hour or even minimum wage, please, forward their information to me - I'll hire them in a heartbeat.

[kiki5711]

Suggesting that domestic help that is illegally in the US are working for "$1 a day" or other substandard wages is just plain false

It is ABSOLUTELY NOT FALSE. There is so much human trafficing going on, and one who got away was interviewed after she started to work for a diplomat, who after found to be abusing her human rights, could not be prosecuted or charged with anything due to his diplomatic immunity.

It DOES happen more often than you know.