# An Apology
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-apology/67856
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [June 6, 2001, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-apology/67856 "2001-06-06T23:35:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2001, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-apology/67856/1 "2001-06-06T23:35:36Z")
Okay… here goes…
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.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. You guys deserve more respect than I gave you. There’s no two ways about it. I’m really, really sorry.
4. I broke the cardinal rule: Don’t Be A Jerk. Doesn’t help your thread _or_ my state of mind. Sorry.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
Be well. All of you.
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### Author:  [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2001, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-apology/67856/2 "2001-06-06T23:39:46Z")
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.
Zette
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### Author:  [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2001, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-apology/67856/3 "2001-06-06T23:46:45Z")
Thank heavens for that.
It meant a lot to me, anyway. And has now marked a turning point.
You guys are cool.
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### Author:  [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2001, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-apology/67856/4 "2001-06-06T23:53:29Z")
That took some guts, Ross. Well done.
Go forth and jerk no more. 😉
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### Author:  [@reprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reprise)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2001, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-apology/67856/5 "2001-06-06T23:53:32Z")
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.
Looking forward to your future posts. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2001, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-apology/67856/6 "2001-06-07T00:26:58Z")
[blustering, because I have no idea what you’re talking about]Well, okay, then! Just don’t let it happen again![/blustering]
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### Author:  [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2001, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-apology/67856/7 "2001-06-07T01:01:40Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Ross \*
> **5. 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.**
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.
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### Author:  [@Freedom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freedom)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2001, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-apology/67856/8 "2001-06-07T01:12:01Z")
Hey…
Could someone please post a link?
🙂
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### Author:  [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2001, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-apology/67856/9 "2001-06-07T01:16:00Z")
Oops. Sorry. No. It didn’t work. I figured your machines were too smart for me but maybe Opera was too dumb. Either way I never got signed in.
Theory
Coldfire = warm, really.
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### Author:  [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2001, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-apology/67856/10 "2001-06-07T01:16:03Z")
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.
Welcome back.
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### Author:  [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2001, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-apology/67856/11 "2001-06-07T01:48:51Z")
**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.
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### Author:  [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2001, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-apology/67856/12 "2001-06-07T02:06:51Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2001, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-apology/67856/13 "2001-06-07T08:45:03Z")
Whut the? Hmmm. There may be a reason for this. IF it is what I think it is. Which it may not be. Or maybe it is.
We’ll see.
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### Author:  [@DRY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DRY)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2001, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-apology/67856/14 "2001-06-07T10:09:54Z")
I’m not at all familiar with the incident, **Ross** , but I’d like to add my kudos for your class act in apologizing!
[sub]And to think I was getting ready to summon a demon…[/sub]
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### Author:  [@Medea\_s\_Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Medea_s_Child)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2001, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-apology/67856/15 "2001-06-07T11:59:41Z")
wow.
Never saw the thread, but I’m pretty sure I’m happy to have you back. I like class acts. This is how christianity is supposed to work.
I love finding pretty behavior in the Pit!
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### Author:  [@Morrison\_s\_Lament](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morrison_s_Lament)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2001, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-apology/67856/16 "2001-06-07T12:11:53Z")
That was VERY classy dude, happy to have you aboard!
Now if the rest of the world would just be this reasonable and sincere, we’d really have something 😉
— G. Raven
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### Author:  [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2001, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-apology/67856/17 "2001-06-07T21:49:30Z")
Well said, **Ross.** Good to see you back.
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### Author:  [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2001, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-apology/67856/18 "2001-06-07T22:23:59Z")
Dear Ross,
I posted to the thread, and I don’t think you were offensive.
That was a fine apology, though!
Just to welcome you back:
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Ross \*
> Like most people I’m living a real life here in Glasgow…
(Boring pedantic voice) actually most people don’t live in Glasgow… 😉
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### Author:  [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2001, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-apology/67856/19 "2001-06-07T22:59:37Z")
> [@](#):
>
> 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.
WHAT the . . .
oh.
Yeah. That.
:shrug: So I’m a newbie. So sue.
😃
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### Author:  [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2001, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-apology/67856/20 "2001-06-08T04:30:55Z")
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.
Veb