A while ago I posted an absurdly self-indulgent flame in response to a thread about “Whether it was ever okay to summon a demon.” I don’t recall what forum it was in and I really hope you’ll forgive me if I don’t go find it. I was really, really screwed up at the time and can’t afford to go back there. It has taken me this long to get the guts together to come back at all. I am sorry, genuinely sorry, is I annoyed/offended/bugged/outraged/hurt anyone at all. You had every reason to be angry, if so you were. I didn’t read the thread again (too screwed up) and would much rather not. I am not going to offer any excuses, either. Just a standard list of points.
Okay, I’m a Christian. That isn’t exactly news as I’ve found it desperately hard to keep it out of most of my posts, and for that I apologise too. Like most people I’m living a real life here in Glasgow and finding it very hard not to treat online life as a semi-fictional flameground. I’ma real mess at times, but I am a good man, despite my deformities.
I shouldn’t have said any of what I said in the flame. All is was trying to say was that evil shouldn’t be funny and I’m not even that unsympathetic to the humour of the thread title - if I’d been more myself, I’d have submitted as an interesting conversation starter. I dealt with it in entirely the wrong way, though. I thought my wife was pregnant and… okay. No excuses.
You guys deserve more respect than I gave you. There’s no two ways about it. I’m really, really sorry.
I broke the cardinal rule: Don’t Be A Jerk. Doesn’t help your thread or my state of mind. Sorry.
Thanks, thank you, oh how I thank you, that when I finally try to login again… lo, I have not been banned. This is too weird. I even tried signing on under a different name a coupla times because I’ve really missed this place. I don’t have that many friends and I can’t afford to lose the Dope.
If the fury of my post meant anything (and by the way I did not swear, I inserted the asterisks myself - that’s how frustrated I am), it was just that I really, really love Good. I’m sorry I went so bad with it.
Opal, you do whatever you like, honey. You are a beautiful person.
Anyway I probably won’t post much for a long time. I am very embarrassed by what I did. Not that I think myself great news: just that I have gained a very much clearer picture of my own wisdom. Not as big as it looked from a distance.
If it makes you feel any better, I don’t know what you mean, I wasn’t offended, but I accept your apology anyway. Go ahead and post- people here are generally forgiving.
We like people who take responsibility for their actions around here - we like them a lot.
There’s no need for any kind of self-imposed exile on your part; the fact that you respect this board enough to make the above OP is more than enough for this doper.
So DID you sign on under a different name? If so, please tell us now what those names were. See, multiple log-ins are NOT allowed at the Straight Dope Message Board, and we’d hate to ban you anyway. Especially after such an apology.
Ross, I remember that thread, specifically because I was so surprised at your post. It seemed entirely uncharacteristic; I’d come to look forward to your posts, and I’m glad that now I can do so again.
I think everyone on these boards can attest that they’ve gone through some rough times in their lives. It takes courage and dignity to pick yourself up and go on, and even more than that to apologize to those you may have offended.
Ross I remember that thread. I was even involved a little bit. FWIW, I was surprised by what you wrote, but I really didn’t think you were a big, horrible jerk.
Thanks for coming and apologizing though. You set a fine example for other posters on this board.
What has ME wondering about SDMB conspiracy theories is that Andros’ entire post count has been zeroed out, even counting the post IN THIS VERY THREAD! Very suspicious, if you asks ME.
I remember that thread, Ross. Even at the time the most I thought was, “gee, he’s upset”. You were unusually impassioned but not in the least offensive, IMO.
Everybody has sensitive spots and their share of bad days; comes with the territory. So the combination of topic and situation got under your skin. It happens sometimes.
Really, you did nothing to warrant condemning yourself to exile.
It isn’t like we’re such trembling violets that forcefully expressed opinions are exactly a shock, y’know? (<–assume broad grin)
That was one of the most comlete, gracious apologies I’ve ever seen here, btw, but don’t keep beating yourself up.
Fuhgeddaboudit.
