In the final analysis, a MB is a marketplace of ideas. When one is passionate about one's ideas, their responses tend to be passionate. If one doesn't really care if X is Y or Y is X, they won't get stressed when someone says it's neither.
The one who does care will go into either fight or persuasion mode (or say
everybody's stoopid!, and log off). Unity implies a coming together of many on some basis. Any coming together of a group of diverse personalities with diverse opinions
into a union means a giving up, or a modification of ideas that each holds dear, i.e., compromise. In a marketplace of ideas, however, this is not necessary. Some people agree while others disagree on any particular idea (for instance, "what is the best economic system for African people?") and each faction throws their idea into the marketplace arena. Since there is no "prize" at the end of the convo, there's no need for compromise. It's a 'take it or leave it' dealey.
If one is looking for unity, well, better spell out what you mean by it. Do you want everyone to unified in agreement on everything? How do you do that? I mean, if I hate the color yellow and "whomever does the deciding on what I am to agree with" decides that yellow will be the favorite color of all the females on the board, am I to somehow "adjust" my
emotions to "like" the color yellow? Again, how do you do that? Look at the thread on Bill Cosby. Who should decide if we love or trash the Cos? To have "unity" there has to be a consensus on who and what the group is to unify on. Unity is a nice notion, but on a MB, it not only is near impossible, but would make for rather dull reading. Not to mention "Stepford Wives" posters.
Not only is a MB good for diverse opinions (the black community is NOT a monolith of thought, thus a united opinion of people, places, events, the w
orld on a MB is highly unlikely)... but if used correctly, can help to refine one's thinking on a particular subject (provided the person doesn't refuse to be confused by the facts!). In another thread, I said that if anyone spies any black self-hate in my postings, to please, let me know. I meant that. The ONLY way I can "refine" my ideas on any subject is that others see a flaw, or can give feedback (links, life experience, etc.) which IMPROVES the idea. Which is why it always amazes me when people throw an idea into the arena of a marketplace filled with
strangers and are surprised when one of them says it's
whack! We should always take into consideration that our friends, neighbors and relatives may think like us, but everyone doesn't.
As for love, well, I love my people, but if one comes (uninvited) through my bedroom window in the dead of night..... In other words, while we love black
people, no one loves
every single, black individual on the face of the earth!
That said, I cannot think of one person I might disagree with on this forum during the day that I would absolutely, categorically
refuse to party with at night.... then come back tomorrow and put them on blast for their "ideas." With some, maybe, but with me, it's not personal.