Posted on 10/28/2003 10:27:31 PM PST by Normally a Lurker
In some of my posts (maybe in many of my posts) here in recent days I have been rude to various other posters; most often though just when responding to posts that were insulting and rude to me. However, in reviewing various threads last night I realized that I might have at times been rude to someone who had not initiated that rudeness with me.
To those individuals I hereby apologize.
I do not wish to diminish my apology, but I would like to explain my actions. There are a very large number of posters here who (IMHO) are operating from an emotional basis, rather than a factual and logical basic, and who are very rude with anyone who disagrees with there positions.
When a relatively few objective / logical posters are positioned (by virtue of common opinions) among such a 'crowd,' it's often difficult to distinguish them. This is especially true when, in a short period of time, one has just dealt with 8-10 rude, illogical, emotional posters; and one then encounters another poster presenting the same opinions and asking the same questions, albeit, sans rudeness.
In any case, that is my excuse. But my apology (to those certain objective, logical posters to whom I've been rude) is sincere, and I'll try to do better in the future.
I would give individual apologies privately, but with the unusually large volume of posters in these threads, I'm afraid I'd overlook a few who deserve my apology. (Also, some of you I'm still unsure about.) As appropriate with some of you here, I hope you will be able to sense this though from my future exchanges with you.
Finally a warning to others: For so long as you continue to be rude to me, I will likely respond in kind. And, if you continue repeated the same illogical questions over and over, I will likely become increasingly 'testy' in my responses to you.
BTW, that's the first time someone ever asked me for it; I usually tire of their games first.
Also, the inference of your "post to me" comments is belied by (some) of your actual posts in this thread.
Not My intent...I've been here long enough to know you don't need anyones "atta boy".
But with most people here, it's considered a simple common courtesy to stay on-topic in a thread.
As to enforcement, in some times past, Jim rod used to ban people who continually refused to stay on-topic in a thread. And, as a matter of fact, that is the definition of a "disrupter".
Duh!
The government is for the people, not for the judges. We , by way of our elected representatives, make the rules and laws of this society, not the judges.
I feel sorry for any American who does not undersatnd their own true power over govenment. Some call people like us zealots. Some would have called us Whigs long ago, durring the birth of this nation and an emotional historical period . It is really too bad that there are some , even here , who do not embrace this God given, consitutioanly given right to life , liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I guess some people , even in this modern age, pine for a king to tell them what to do , and how to think. They don't get for the people, by the people thing at all. It is so , so Sad.
One of my favorite quotes of yours is, "The important thing is to either win allies in the fight for life and sanity or scare its enemies into flight or inaction." You are living out this wisdom with fortitude. Thank you, dear fellow FReeper.
Then take back the apology by saying immediately afterward: "...though just when responding to posts that were insulting and rude to me," thereby excusing your behavior.
You admit: "I realized that I might have at times been rude to someone who had not initiated that rudeness with me."
You then go on to list all the various justifications for your behavior, as though others are at fault for what you have chosen to do. As you say, "In any case, that is my excuse."
You then close with the admission that you are going to continue in the behavior for which you are supposedly apologizing, and doing so for all the same justifications and equivocations you have already listed - i.e., it is everyone else's fault that you are rude: "Finally a warning to others: For so long as you continue to be rude to me, I will likely respond in kind. And, if you continue repeated the same illogical questions over and over, I will likely become increasingly 'testy' in my responses to you."
What kind of apology is that?
If you are truly sorry for what you have done, take responsibility for it - without excuse or justification, repent of it wholeheartedly and sincerely, and change your ways.
Given the huge volume of posts, in a later review, I realized that I had initially confused some of the posters who hadn't been rude with those who deserved to have rudeness returned to them. Ergo, the dual nature of my apology.
I hope this explanation clarifiy the one that I initially attempted above.
In any case, as complex and confusing as my apology was, I want to assue you and others, again, that it was sincere - but, again, only for those FEW that deserved it.
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