I commend your persistence in putting those points forward and returning again and again to defend them; I was also initially concerned about Target's stance, and as a result of your perspective I will continue to shop at Target about as much as formerly...and I have also sought out the Salvation Army kettles at other stores this month to counter what has happened, whether I actually am buying or not.
I have a concern that those of us who are conservatives may be unwitting dupes to Leftist "wedging" tactics against otherwise supportive businesses.
If I understand correctly, you were advocating for thinking through the significance of the source of the information and the possible ramifications implied by that source, as well as what might or could be accomplished by supporting a boycott. Even if you ultimately prove to yourself that you were wrong in not supporting a boycott, as you stated: you felt a need -- as anyone would -- to be committed to that approach. You didn't need to volunteer that you and your spouse are employed by Target, and it was courageous to do so when you knew it would open you up to criticism -- legitimate or otherwise. I would have liked to have heard some legitimate debate on that point, but it never really went down that road -- alas. That would have been a very interesting topic to pursue, in itself, and probably would have elicited talk like that around the same dilemma the founding fathers faced in their "Committees of Correspondence" in the colonies and which ultimately led to their pledging their "lives, property and sacred honor." It wasn't an overnight decision for them, either.
For myself, I have simply learned to intensely dislike being maligned or shouted down if I don't take a "popular" view, and it is my reflex to battle on that ground first. It was a stupid distraction, unfortunately, but I learned something from the process in spite of that. In the future I will probably just sidestep that type of onslaught after the first try or two; as a friend advised me: Extinction is the best approach (re: O.C.) and that proved to be correct. (Wish I'd listened now.) I hope you feel vindicated in standing firm and not caving in to impugning, etc. In my estimation, you succeeded.
I'm still not totally satisfied with SJT's final response to you; I hope he will read through the whole thread again. You might do the same and examine your postings in the same way to see if he has/had a valid reason for continuing dissatisfaction with your conduct.
BTW, I don't personally mind a little profanity here and there as long as it isn't personal or pejorative...maybe it's the Irish in me, but I don't always totally trust someone whose lips are completely pristine! (I'm always reminded of the various men that God called to special service exclaiming, "No, Lord, not me! I am a man of unclean lips!")
Be of good cheer.
And again, my comments were only to Egon, not you. And they were a conciliatory attempt to end contentious debate, long after a thread was "over."
If anyone need examine their postings on this thread, it is neither Egon nor myself.