Eh, um, err, hmmm…
Well, Feynn. Here we are. Hmm.
I guess I have to come back and talk to you about this because I think you are a nice person, and I respect you and I want you to think well of me.
As Xenophon already so kindly pointed out, lighten up a little, huh? I admit quite cheerfully to being a hardened cynic, and occasionally even an asshole, but I do take exception to being named a “prejudicial asshole”. It’s supremely ironic that people in this thread seem to have taken me seriously when I talk about “reinforcing my prejudices”, because AFAIK, other than a (to my mind) quite reasonable prejudice against child molesters, politicians, and journalists, I am IRL one of the most do-your-own-thing people I know. I personally am the one who wouldn’t say “boo” to a goose. Are you familiar with the character of Milton, from that show, oh great, now I can’t think of the name of it, four people in a row have called me an asshole and all my brains are leaking out of it. Anyway, Milton is Me, Coke bottle glasses and all (although I do manage to get along without a Swingline stapler).
And as far as any perceived prejudices against Canada and Canadians, geez, lighten up. Is it that they don’t have “teasing” in Canada? Is it an alien American concept? Or what? I’m sorry you couldn’t detect the “teasing” undertone in my admittedly case-hardened and cynical post. I truly do apologize and I won’t say any more cynical or teasing things about Canada.
Except to point out, well, golly, of course we all think you’re a bunch of naive shrinking violets when you post an OP that says, “Ohmigod there’s a sex offender on the streets!” If my 16-year-old daughter said it, I’d be consoling and understanding and try and explain it to her. But you’re supposed to be a grownup, Feynn, you’re Married With Children. Hence my surprise that YOU are surprised. Weren’t you paying attention? Or does this kind of thing really truly not happen where you are?
Shit happens, and I can say that without being cynical. Here’s today’s Chicago Tribune front page: Hondurans still stuck in the mud after the 1998 hurricane because the inept welfare agencies charged with helping them don’t know their ass from their elbow. Also, many species of fish are over-fished and disappearing fast. Then there’s Affirmative Action losing ground on college campuses, and last but not least, O’Hare Airport is looking at a major messy midair collision sometime in the next 5 to 10 years just because of volume of traffic. True, none of the stories involve escaped sex offenders, but the point is, the world’s a big bad ugly place.
I hope this helps clear things up 'cause I’m really not trying to start a war here, okay? Or another “blame Canada/bash America” thread. :rolleyes: