phil wrote:Harsh speech is akusala kamma patha, so thinking it is kind of cool to be rough and easy expressing our views is just burning ourselves. And by harming ourselves, we set up conditions to harm others.
I think so too.
I also feel that Jhana4 made some good points earlier. Situations like this come with the territory, of people communicating with one another anonymously, online. We really can't know how people are behaving out in the "real" world. Some may act the same, many might behave quite differently.
But most of us (whether online or offline) will at times hold tightly to our opinions, positions, wishes, identities, expectations, likes, dislikes, etc. Everyone does it, that's the mind clinging, creating self-centric perceptions.
"I think this, I have been hurt, I expect this, I dislike that, I am misunderstood, He's a jerk, They are the cause of my suffering, He did this to me, etc."
We can't force one another to drop these perceptions, stop clinging. When we're ready, when we see the futility of blaming others, of holding on to grievances, see the suffering we're creating for ourselves through our attachments and misperceptions, we let go. It's always up to each of us. This is what our dhamma/dharma practice is about, not just the theory, the real meat and potatoes.
In my view the DW staff has gone way out of their way to address Jechbi's grievances, give him space to air his views. Tilt has apologized, now its up to Jechbi to accept that and let go, move on. Until then, he's got his blog, he can vent for as long as he needs to, the DW staff doesn't have to respond to him or satisfy all his expectations and demands. Neither do they have to silence or ban him.
Just let go, and let him work it out in his own time.