Apology following an Unpleasant Epiphany

[Dildo Argentino]

Dear PD members who currently think I am a shitbag,

First of all, I have given you plenty of reason to think so. I acted like a dickhead and failed to notice this even after several people pointed it out to me, some in great detail (thanks due to Roger, Phox, Nigel, mostly).

Although the PD board appears to be intentionally designed or naturally evolved to bring out the worst in new-comers, that does not in any way diminish my responsibility for the fact that it succeeded in doing that to me quite spectacularly: after all, I freely chose to come here. And, having reread all of my posts and the context for a fair few of them, me at my worst is pretentious, dismissive, inattentive, nitpicking, posturing, insincere and ridiculously vain. So I need to work on those. And I need to thank you all for helping me have this realisation. I am sorry it took so long. (I think I almost got it at the beginning, actually, but the trap just opened wider... and I fell for it, developing and nurturing a major case of what you call butthurt while remaining in staunch denial about it.)

But the fact is, hard to realise and admit as it was for me, this is still the board of my dreams. I do wish to become an accepted, respected member of it. I realise (now) that this takes time and posts (a few months and a few dozen posts at the very least, I imagine) even if all goes well, which, in my case, has not. The essential mistake I made (and yes, Phox pointed this out to me several times back in December, and yes, I completely failed to grasp it) was misjudging the situation. This may be explained (not excused, just explained!) by the fact that apart from one I started myself, this is the only board I have come across in which there is truly a community at work. And given the idiosyncratic (Discordian?) style of the board, I mistook it for one of the other kind (in which I include both venting venues and mutual admiration circles - their common feature is the lack of real engagement with and interest in the others). As a result, I failed to realise that the people that were being rude to me have earned the right to be rude on this board, while I had earned nothing.

So: I apologise for being dim-witted, easily offended and unheeding of my actual situation here. I experienced a profound sense of shame yesterday evening, which was still in evidence this morning. It is now passing. It was highly unpleasant, but I deserved it. And needed it.

All of which, by the way, does not change the fact that I do think that my views on homeopathy, the evolution of individuality, sense-of-self and consciousness, and music are reasonable and worthy of consideration, though I need to articulate them better. I hope I will manage to find a way of discussing them with you in a reasonable manner, but if that is not possible, I would just as well give those topics a miss.

May I start over?

[P3nT4gR4m]

Traditionally these epiphanies have a 15%* probability of being genuine and/or sustainable long term. I'm rooting for ya, tho. The world needs more bipeds.








* figure plucked from an ass full of unsubstantiated statistics

[Reginald Ret]

I would just as well give those topics a miss.

May I start over?

Please don't avoid any topic, just be willing to accept a heated debate. There is not a member on this forum who hasn't gotten his ass handed to him on a gold platter several times. Verbal beatdowns combined with the spine to apologize (where neccesary) and stand your ground (on some issues) are what make this community work.

Fine by me.

[Nephew Twiddleton]

Yeah man it'a all good. But,

Although the PD board appears to be intentionally designed or naturally evolved to bring out the worst in new-comers

It's not. It just seems that we attract a type of person who acts like that when they first get here.

People liked me here almost immediately, same with Phox. Coyote too.

I don't know what it is. I honestly don't understand why some newbs have a hard time.

[LMNO]

Some of your ideas that don't immediately seem to be supported by rationality might get som poop flung at them, but I'm willing to give them a fair shake, holist.

[hooplala]

Many of us had rough entries... it can pass.  Enjoy.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I'm down with it.

I have two suggestions, if you're interested.

[Luna]

I do love watching somebody get up on their hind legs.

[Dildo Argentino]

I'm down with it.

I have two suggestions, if you're interested.

Thanks. Of course I am interested.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I'm down with it.

I have two suggestions, if you're interested.

Thanks. Of course I am interested.

1.  Remember that this is only the interbutt supermarket.   It's not worth getting wrapped around the axle.

2.  If you want to discuss homeopathy or whatnot, make a thread and discuss it nowhere else.  That thread will, of course, go kablooey, but if it's kept THERE, you'll find yourself being shat on a lot less.  While discussing it, of course, be prepared to back up your statements in a concrete manner, and remember that you're discussing, not preaching.

Special bonus advice #3:  Keep a sense of humor and a very, very thick skin.

[Anna Mae Bollocks]

It's All Good. 

And I don't have a burning hatred of alternative medicine, BTW. In many cases, I actually prefer it. Homeopathy just isn't something I've seen any real results with.(Other than Zicam, which probably doesn't really count as homeopathic).

[Don Coyote]

Yeah man it'a all good. But,

Although the PD board appears to be intentionally designed or naturally evolved to bring out the worst in new-comers

It's not. It just seems that we attract a type of person who acts like that when they first get here.

People liked me here almost immediately, same with Phox. Coyote too.

I don't know what it is. I honestly don't understand why some newbs have a hard time.

Eh, I was accused of being Wade, and trolled by CB, and behaved in a fairly unbiped manner.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Yeah man it'a all good. But,

Although the PD board appears to be intentionally designed or naturally evolved to bring out the worst in new-comers

It's not. It just seems that we attract a type of person who acts like that when they first get here.

People liked me here almost immediately, same with Phox. Coyote too.

I don't know what it is. I honestly don't understand why some newbs have a hard time.

Eh, I was accused of being Wade, and trolled by CB, and behaved in a fairly unbiped manner.

IIRC, the Richter, Suu, Cram, and Pixie walked in without a scratch.

[Don Coyote]

Yeah man it'a all good. But,

Although the PD board appears to be intentionally designed or naturally evolved to bring out the worst in new-comers

It's not. It just seems that we attract a type of person who acts like that when they first get here.

People liked me here almost immediately, same with Phox. Coyote too.

I don't know what it is. I honestly don't understand why some newbs have a hard time.

Eh, I was accused of being Wade, and trolled by CB, and behaved in a fairly unbiped manner.

IIRC, the Richter, Suu, Cram, and Pixie walked in without a scratch.

JUST BECAUSE I'M WELSH!!!

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Yeah man it'a all good. But,

Although the PD board appears to be intentionally designed or naturally evolved to bring out the worst in new-comers

It's not. It just seems that we attract a type of person who acts like that when they first get here.

People liked me here almost immediately, same with Phox. Coyote too.

I don't know what it is. I honestly don't understand why some newbs have a hard time.

Eh, I was accused of being Wade, and trolled by CB, and behaved in a fairly unbiped manner.

IIRC, the Richter, Suu, Cram, and Pixie walked in without a scratch.

JUST BECAUSE I'M WELSH!!!

That's like saying "Just because" I'm Pol Pot.