Examples of addressing the ball:L.N. wrote: ↑Wed Nov 29, 2017 4:15 pmThat's a great illustration. It would be silly for the person in the ball to be upset if anyone hits the ball. Notice also that the ball in the picture is not being used as a weapon, but as a fun way of interacting with others.
On the other hand, if the person in the huge bouncy ball somehow found a way to actually hurt someone else with the ball, then the person so hurt would not be out of line for saying, "Please don't do that again." And presumably the person in the ball would say, "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do harm you or anyone with the ball." Alternatively, the person in the ball might say, "It's your own fault for being hurt. I'm going to play however I want to!"
Similarly, if some third party witnessed the person in the ball seeming to act in a way which could cause injury to others, that third party might say: "Please stop playing with the ball in that manner." And presumably the person in the ball would say, "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize this might hurt someone." Alternatively, the person in the ball might say, "Mind your own business, you hypocrite. You are virtue signaling."
Very applicable illustration. Thank you.
- "Your words are insensitive."
"Your posts are liberal/conservative."
"You comments may be taken personally."
- "You are pig-headed."
Any reference to "your confusion."
"Your approach is anti-dhamma, or hateful, etc."
It appears different Members have different ideas about what it means to "play the ball, not the person." And it appears different Members have different thresholds for when to take a comment personally. This includes myself. We are all different.
As noted, others may reasonably disagree with the distinction set forth above between "playing the person" and "playing the ball." I hope that despite these differences in perception, we can respect those whose viewpoints differ from ours, and we can discuss the comments and viewpoints expressed without assuming there must be some ill-will or character flaw in the person with whom we disagree.