Kudos to Kevin and the Team for Respectful Debate

[Tom P.]

Hi folks,

Most of you probably don't know -- or care -- but Twitter is my social media platform of choice. I avoid all things Facebook, but do enjoy Twitter. And I follow several members of the DIS team there, including @DisneyKevin.

This morning, Kevin and I got into a rather lengthy Twitter debate concerning gun control issues in the wake of the Orlando massacre. I won't go into any of the details here, not wishing to run afoul of the board's "no politics" rule, except to say that Kevin and I are on opposite sides of that particular issue.

What struck me throughout the conversation, though, was how civil and respectful it was. There was no name calling, no profanity-laced tirades, no wishing ill on the other person. It was just a simple airing of different opinions. And, quite frankly, that is rather the opposite of what I am used to on Twitter. Another person replying to a tweet of mine on the issue, for example, decided to end their reply with a hash tag beginning with ST and ending with FU (the filter here won't let me type it out) -- hardly an invitation to open and honest debate.

It is so unusual to find civil discourse these days on any topic and in any sphere, let alone on the Internet, that I wanted to use a forum that allows more than 140 characters to publicly thank Kevin for that, as well as to say how much I appreciate that the entire team seems to welcome open and honest debate and disagreement. Whether it's something as trivial as the latest free dining promotion at Walt Disney World or as serious as the situation in Orlando, I've never seen any member of the team become upset that someone had a different point of view, or try to shut down a debate. And that, to me, is the kind of thing the Internet -- and our society as a whole -- needs more of.

I just wanted to take a moment to share that.

Thanks,
Tom

 

[Tonyz]

It doesn't surprise me that Kevin is a respectful debater. It does surprise me that a fan of this show felt it necessary to debate gun control with someone 24 hours after a horrific terror attack that clearly affected the other person not only because of where it happened, but because of who the intended targets were.

 

[NeuroCindy]

It doesn't surprise me that Kevin is a respectful debater. It does surprise me that a fan of this show felt it necessary to debate gun control with someone 24 hours after a horrific terror attack that clearly affected the other person not only because of where it happened, but because of who the intended targets were.

+1

 

[Tom P.]

It doesn't surprise me that Kevin is a respectful debater. It does surprise me that a fan of this show felt it necessary to debate gun control with someone 24 hours after a horrific terror attack that clearly affected the other person not only because of where it happened, but because of who the intended targets were.

I came here to offer up a compliment to Kevin and the team, and to express my respect, and the first reply I receive is one questioning me for engaging in that respectful debate with him. *sigh* It's almost as if one side of the debate is allowed to offer their opinion whenever they deem it appropriate, but it is inappropriate for the other side of the debate to offer a response.

FWIW, the reason he and I began engaging in conversation is because I follow him, and he was re-tweeting numerous tweets calling for gun control as well as offering his own opinions on the subject as well. He was the one raising the issue repeatedly on a public social media platform. To then say that no one should engage in a discussion of that point of view does not make sense to me. And never did I get the sense that Kevin was upset or offended that I was engaging him in conversation on the subject. But I will let him speak for himself on that.

 

[UKYRob29]

This is what bothers me most about theDis....the ONLY issue they care about and belittle are guns. Constitutional right for LGBT to be married? Cool!we all about that! --- Guns!? No way Jose' repeal that!
Come to where I live in Chicago guys. YTD 254 killed - 1,679 Shot. Strictest Gun control in the country....but that doesn't fit into the narrative so it isn't talked about....
Ban guns tho...Utopia comes the day after!

 

[KingLlama]

It's such a difficult question, and I'm not sure there's a "correct" answer....how long after a tragedy is an appropriate amount of time to move from expressing grief and sorrow to looking for solutions and ways to prevent future occurrences?

Some people's initial reaction when something like this, or Paris, or San Bernardino, or Newtown, is to take time to focus on the victims and their families before moving on to a conversation about the larger issues that may have led to the event itself. I completely understand that way of thinking.

Other people's initial reaction is a desire to immediately focus on solutions and ways to prevent it from happening again. I completely understand that way of thinking as well.

Sorrow, anger, grief, frustration, confusion, reflection.....every emotion that people(and by "people", I mean normal people, not the barbarians who support such things) feel is appropriate. And whatever their "timing" is in moving on from grief/sorrow to a larger discussion is appropriate as well, whether that's a week or an hour.

I follow the entire DIS team on Twitter, and while their responses varied, I felt all of the responses were appropriate, respectful, warranted, and timely. I appreciated their insights both as Orlando residents and as members of a community that was clearly targeted. And it reminded me that the DIS doesn't exist in a vacuum. When I first heard about the attack, my initial thoughts were about the team. Were they there? Were friends of theirs in attendance? In that moment, before I even knew all the details, I wanted to know that A) they were okay, and B) their friends were okay.

Somehow this got more mushy than I intended. I guess it just reflects the fact that I've moved from seeing them as hosts of a show that gives me WDW information, to "friends" who, even though they don't know me and probably never will, have come to mean a great deal to me, and have helped me in ways they'll never know. I hope their healing has begun and will continue, and however the larger DIS community can be part of that, I hope we'll step up and do it.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

BRAVO, King Llama, my friend, BRAVO!!!

 

[Tom P.]

Thank you, Llama, for that. I agree wholeheartedly, and share your sentiment.

I apologize that this already took a turn I did not intend. I wanted to express my respect for Kevin and the other members of the team. If that in any way came across as inappropriate, or if Kevin took offense at my having that discussion with him on Twitter so soon after the event, I sincerely apologize.

 

[hookedonears]

It doesn't surprise me that Kevin is a respectful debater. It does surprise me that a fan of this show felt it necessary to debate gun control with someone 24 hours after a horrific terror attack that clearly affected the other person not only because of where it happened, but because of who the intended targets were.

The day after is the perfect time for this discussion. The subject is front and center with the American people right now. Wait a month and it's back to when can I get my dining package for ROL.

 

[hookedonears]

This is what bothers me most about theDis....the ONLY issue they care about and belittle are guns. Constitutional right for LGBT to be married? Cool!we all about that! --- Guns!? No way Jose' repeal that!
Come to where I live in Chicago guys. YTD 254 killed - 1,679 Shot. Strictest Gun control in the country....but that doesn't fit into the narrative so it isn't talked about....
Ban guns tho...Utopia comes the day after!

Some of the toughest gun laws in Europe and it didn't help those people in France either. This country needs to enforce ALL laws, gun related and other that are on the books and in the Constitution right now, and it would be a safer, better place to live.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Get ready for major changes to Disney security screenings. The 2 largest terrorist attacks since 9/11 have happened within 30 miles of both resorts. They have to be pondering this right about now.

This is what bothers me most about theDis....the ONLY issue they care about and belittle are guns. Constitutional right for LGBT to be married? Cool!we all about that! --- Guns!? No way Jose' repeal that!
Come to where I live in Chicago guys. YTD 254 killed - 1,679 Shot. Strictest Gun control in the country....but that doesn't fit into the narrative so it isn't talked about....
Ban guns tho...Utopia comes the day after!

You paint with a very wide brush.

You only know what I care about because I tell you what's on my mind.

You have also placed words in my mouth that I've never said.

You have also quoted something from another thread which has little to do with the topic of this thread.

My right to get married harms no one. The shooter, who purchased guns legally in Florida after being investigated by the FBI, took the lives of 50 people with several more in extremely dire shape.

The fact that you equate the two tells me that this will not be a productive discussion.

If this bothers you as much as it seems to, there are certainly other podcasts to which you can listen.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I came here to offer up a compliment to Kevin and the team, and to express my respect, and the first reply I receive is one questioning me for engaging in that respectful debate with him. *sigh* It's almost as if one side of the debate is allowed to offer their opinion whenever they deem it appropriate, but it is inappropriate for the other side of the debate to offer a response.

FWIW, the reason he and I began engaging in conversation is because I follow him, and he was re-tweeting numerous tweets calling for gun control as well as offering his own opinions on the subject as well. He was the one raising the issue repeatedly on a public social media platform. To then say that no one should engage in a discussion of that point of view does not make sense to me. And never did I get the sense that Kevin was upset or offended that I was engaging him in conversation on the subject. But I will let him speak for himself on that.

It was my choice to be fully involved in the conversation.

As I explained to Tom..I am hurt, angry, sad...all of my emotions are right there at the surface.

The sense of loss is crushing. 50 young men and women are gone for no reason other than hate.

Also, my sense of vulnerability makes me want to pull everyone I love into my house and build barricades over the window,

I realize this is just a knee jerk reaction and that this feeling will fade quickly and that life needs to go on.

It also felt good "doing something" about something I feel strongly about. Tom and I had a great back and forth and while I don't agree with him, I'm not angry at him for anything.

I am angry that this happens with alarming regularity and while we are very emotional and caring immediately following such an atrocity, those feelings fade until the next horrific event.

Something must change.

While I realize that I am just one guy, I am hoping that many other folks will have the important discussion that needs to happen in order to insure this doesn't happen again.

Thanks Tom.

 

[NuttyDisneyDad]

Nicely said Kevin.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

Very well said, Kevin.

 

[Realfoodfans]

You paint with a very wide brush.

You only know what I care about because I tell you what's on my mind.

You have also placed words in my mouth that I've never said.

You have also quoted something from another thread which has little to do with the topic of this thread.

My right to get married harms no one. The shooter, who purchased guns legally in Florida after being investigated by the FBI, took the lives of 50 people with several more in extremely dire shape.

The fact that you equate the two tells me that this will not be a productive discussion.

If this bothers you as much as it seems to, there are certainly other podcasts to which you can listen.

Tom said @DisneyKevin but not coming up can you tell me your Twitter name please?

 

[dgthree]

The team's social media handles can be found here: http://www.disunplugged.com/team/

 

[Cherinva]

Well said Kevin....my heart goes out to all the families, loved ones and the DIS Team. Hugs to all of you.

 

[DisneyKevin]

@KevinLKlose

 

[tink1970]

When any two parties can engage in discourse about a subject upon which they might not concur, and actually listen to the other side, consider the other side's perspective, and come out with mutual respect (even if the decision is to agree to disagree)...then a small victory has occurred. It is the lack of respect, civilized discussion, and intolerance for a different opinion which is found all too frequently that I find frightening.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

When any two parties can engage in discourse about a subject upon which they might not concur, and actually listen to the other side, consider the other side's perspective, and come out with mutual respect (even if the decision is to agree to disagree)...then a small victory has occurred. It is the lack of respect, civilized discussion, and intolerance for a different opinion which is found all too frequently that I find frightening.

Amen. I couldn't agree more, especially when it comes to online discussions.