# The Collounsbury Mea Culpa

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collounsbury-mea-culpa/164041>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [March 25, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collounsbury-mea-culpa/164041 "2003-03-25T16:16:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collounsbury-mea-culpa/164041/1 "2003-03-25T16:16:35Z")

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My Dear Straight Dope.

First, the purpose of this thread is to present a mea  
culpa. Let me start with that, then. As I told the  
Administration, I don’t “regret” the banning, I think  
it was a good move all around – good for me, good for  
them and good for all of you, although not pleasant.  
Spankings are rarely pleasant but often salutory, and  
in this manner I wish to emphasize my agreement with  
the criticisms of my last 6 months of posting  
especially and the punishment thereof. My ‘bubbling  
over’ was of no small regret on my part, and I am  
indeed very sorry for the hassle that all went through  
during that period on my behalf. It was in many  
respects rather disrespectful. Certainly I can explain  
certain events for the purpose of clarifying rather  
than excusing, but let that come later in this mea  
culpa.

There is it, mea culpa – I committed no small error  
and my return is based on a mending of past ways, for  
which I am sorry. But you all deserve, in my mind, a  
discussion to back this up, merely saying I am sorry  
is insufficient.

Understanding full well the skepticism likely to arise  
from my return, I thought it then useful to present  
you all with the very statement and representations,  
lightly edited, that convinced the Administration of  
my sincerity. I am sure that it is flawed, perhaps  
incomplete and no doubt an incomplete rendition of  
what should be said, but I am not here to pretend I am  
not the person I am with all my flaws and the like. As  
well as, I would hope, certain benefits.

Rather, I present this so that you can make your own  
judgments and criticisms. As in the past, I take my  
lumps, and in more ways, I respect the well made  
criticisms of my poor past behaviour. I do not believe  
I shall undertake any defence for the largely  
indefensible, but feel free to chime in as you like  
(as if anyone would hesitate of course).  
In regards to the statement, I have removed some items  
pertinent to them alone, but the essence is here. I  
believe that the community has a right to understand  
my representations, as well as what led me to come  
back. As I note above, in this manner you can be your  
own judges. One item I do request, let us refrain from  
‘all is forgiven posts’ and the like. Forgiveness  
properly comes with time and proof, which is of  
course, as you shall see, my end of the contract.

The Statement:  
After a few months away from the SDMB I was provoked  
into thinking I might request reinstatement, largely  
motivated by a desire to comment on and share my  
insights in an intelligent forum on the present Middle  
Eastern crisis and in particular, the present war.

Aside: Although I did not note this in my note to the  
moderators and administrators, a single event really  
prompted this. As it happened just prior to the war’s  
opening, I ran into an old acquaintance of mine, a  
Christian Arab who I knew to be pro-American from some  
long date. We stopped to exchange pleasantries. Much  
to my surprise, I was subjected to a half-hour  
diatribe on how the present administration is stupid,  
incompetent, that America has lost its morals, etc.,  
over the Iraq  
situation. Now, I have clearly seen a rising tide of  
disgust towards America, or more properly the Bush  
Administration, wherever I go. I was in London for  
Board meetings during the monster demonstration, and  
throughout my professional contacts, I detect an  
emerging sense of bitterness towards what is (rightly  
in my opinion) perceived as American contempt for the  
rest of the world, or better the Bush administration’s  
contempt for other opinions.

But to have this fellow, educated in the US, well-off,  
more pro-American than myself, engage in an  
impassioned, frustrated diatribe quite literally  
shocked me. Perhaps I have been too sunk into work,  
but this was astounding that someone of this character  
and nature was expressing anti-American (well anti  
present Administration) feelings in such a manner. Now  
back to the statement:  
I thought about this, and for the first time in a  
while I visited the Board. The discussions on the  
issue disappointed me, but at the same time I thought  
and think, the Board is one of the more intelligent  
for out there.

This was not undertaken trivially. I fully understand  
my return could be trifle controversial with many and  
did not send the request frivolously. Quite the  
contrary, I am quite aware of the difficult position  
the moderators are in and that my banning provoked  
some discussion and rancor, as well as the few months  
leading up to that. I am also aware that some have no  
small reason not to applaud my presence per se.

Now then, where then to start? I am not great believer  
in whinging and posing. As I indicated in the past, I  
believe in standing behind one’s own actions and  
owning them, for good or for bad. I confess having  
recently reviewed my writing from 2001 to 2002 that I  
can not deny a decline in quality and tone, the former  
being embarrassing, the later of partial  
disappointment on several levels, including the  
decline in reputation.

I believe, then, without trying to excuse the pattern  
of behavior and posting which led the Administration  
to pull the plug, I might then start with a discussion  
of that same behavior and the rather multiple reasons  
for it, so as to lay a basis for my representation  
that a reinstatement would not ‘burn the moderators’  
or cause, at least by actions on my part greater harm  
than good.

First, I should say that I had lost patience with what  
I viewed as egregious ignorance. This does not of  
necessity reflect well upon a return to SDMB, but I am  
not writing to pretend what was, was not. Nor does not  
in any manner excuse my what might be termed exuberant  
attacks on the purveyors of the same, in violation of  
the Great Debates rules. However, I believe I can  
provide a reasonable context for my representing to  
you that I shan’t … how to say it, boil over again?

I may mention that at the same time as my ‘decline’ I  
was in the midst of negotiations for my new career out  
here in that very region of interest, an interesting  
change in industries and one of great importance to  
me. I lacked the time and personal patience at the  
time to properly and coolly argue the issues, as had  
been my wont in the early days of my posting at the  
SDMB. Pressed for time, I felt, wrongly to be sure and  
I might add ultimately disrespectfully, I could walk  
up to the line Great Debates rather than take the time  
to open a Pit thread. I should say that while my  
position (in re my time constraints) may not have  
fully changed, I believe, as I shall note below, that  
the other factors have been put to bed, so to speak.

In the final analysis, I was and am content that I was  
banned, as I think it was necessary, absolutely  
necessary, to prove a point for everyone and take away  
the ‘collounsbury’ aura or whatnot. That is, I think  
it was necessary, as I don’t believe special treatment  
charges etc. would go away otherwise. It may be they  
will not regardless, and for that of course I owe a  
better level of restraint all around.

There was some more, but this captures the essence of  
a longer and I think frank discussion. At my best I am  
not Tamerlane nor TomnDeb, et al, and as I said to the  
Administration I would not know how to counsel them on  
this very subject, that is my return, but I made the  
following representations as part of the somewhat more  
extended commentary.

(a) I do represent that I shall endeavor to closely  
follow the guidelines and not insert pit worthy  
feelings into other fora.  
(b) I intend to limit my interactions to attempting to  
bring a sort of observer’s status to the SDMB in re  
the war along the lines of my participation during  
Afghanistan, which I believe was of no small value. I  
believe it may be valuable.  
© While I do not represent I shall be all sunshine  
and smiles, it is not my nature in the end, I do  
represent I shall endeavor to restrain my expression  
and maintain the sort of interaction I became known  
for prior to 2002.

I believe this is a fair statement upon which the  
Administration relied, with some minimal further  
comment not substantially different from what I have  
laid out here, to reinstate. Very obviously I am  
taking a certain kind of position that I did wrong,  
that is was in fact not respectful and that to return  
I should be more careful of community rules – and very  
clearly if I can not live up to my end of the  
contract, that is that. Should my feet be of more  
fragile clay than either I or the administration  
imagine, I only ask that no rancor be directed at the  
Administration or others, no special favors for me in  
any respect do I want. At the same time, I do hope  
that I have communicated in a fair and sincere manner  
why a return to the board adds rather than detracts  
value.

Respectfully yours,  
“Collounsbury”

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collounsbury-mea-culpa/164041/2 "2003-03-25T16:20:19Z")

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Well, I didn’t know you from before, **Collounsbury** , but you seem like a decent, reasonable and intelligent fellow to me, so, I’d like to say “Welcome back”, wholeheartedly.

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**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collounsbury-mea-culpa/164041/3 "2003-03-25T16:24:07Z")

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Welcome back, **Collounsbury**.

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**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collounsbury-mea-culpa/164041/4 "2003-03-25T16:34:39Z")

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Very glad you are back, **Collounsbury**.

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**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collounsbury-mea-culpa/164041/5 "2003-03-25T16:41:51Z")

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I’m glad to see this. I used to read your posts in Great Debates with a mix of cringing and fascination: despite wading through vitriol, I learned a great deal from your posts. It will be delightful to continue learning from you without wading through vitriol to do so.

Daniel

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**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collounsbury-mea-culpa/164041/6 "2003-03-25T16:42:01Z")

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Heh. I take back every rotten thing I said about you! 😉 For now, anyway. Welcome back. 🙂

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**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collounsbury-mea-culpa/164041/7 "2003-03-25T16:42:01Z")

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Yes, indeed, **Collounsbury** , welcome back. In celebration of this happy occasion, I am now eating a hunk of cheese, and imagining that you made it.

😉

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**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collounsbury-mea-culpa/164041/8 "2003-03-25T16:43:20Z")

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When I read a post from Polycarp, I know I will find a patience, sincerity, strong sense of belief, and yet an open minded attitude.

When I read a post from tomndebb, I know I will find a thoughful post from an individual with an individual who seems to absorb knowledge like a sponge when it crosses his path, and is willing to share some of what he has learned with the rest of us.

When I read a post from Tamerlane or Collounsbury, if it’s about the middle east and the surrounding areas, I know that I am getting a depth of information that I am unable to get anywhere else, short of actually picking up and moving there. Even then, I doubt I would be able to understand the nuances of the issues without spending several decades there.

While I often disagree with all of the above posters, I’d hate for any of them to depart from these boards on a permanent basis. Welcome back, Collounsbury, and damned good timing!

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**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collounsbury-mea-culpa/164041/9 "2003-03-25T16:47:58Z")

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Welcome back. You’re knowledge passion and eloquence are much needed.

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**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collounsbury-mea-culpa/164041/10 "2003-03-25T16:51:13Z")

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You write purty.

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**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collounsbury-mea-culpa/164041/11 "2003-03-25T17:01:08Z")

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Yay!

But what’s with the odd text format?

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**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collounsbury-mea-culpa/164041/12 "2003-03-25T17:03:31Z")

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Welcome back, Coll.

As it’s already been stated, you are a font of knowledge and, although your posts were getting a little, er, bitter towards the end, I still learned from them.

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**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collounsbury-mea-culpa/164041/13 "2003-03-25T17:07:12Z")

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I know you said you didn’t want “welcome back” posts, but sorry, I can’t help it. Maybe it will help if you think of this forum as a test for your conflict resolution skills. It can be frustrating, I know, but I sincerely hope we can all refrain from intentionally provoking each other.

Now hie thee into GD and fight some ignorance! There are a number of relevant threads twisting in the wind…a couple of which are mine. Call it selfish, but oh well.

(And as you’re in that neck of the woods, or at least much closer than I am, please send some warm thoughts to my cousin, who is a journalist currently embedded with the 3rd Infantry about 50 miles from Baghdad, last I heard. As soon as he makes it home in one piece – God willing, and I’m not a religious person – I’ll see if I can glean any insights from him about the conflict that he wasn’t given the opportunity to broadcast. In a moment of overwhelming optimism, I’m taking requests.)

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**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collounsbury-mea-culpa/164041/14 "2003-03-25T17:09:41Z")

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Yay, good news! I am very happy to see you back and await your contributions to the current threads with great anticipation.

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**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collounsbury-mea-culpa/164041/15 "2003-03-25T17:10:00Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Neurotik \*  
> \*\*Yay!
> 
> But what’s with the odd text format? \*\*

Because it’s lyrical! Like poetry!

" I think that I shall never see, A poet, quite like Collounsbury"

😛 😛 😛

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**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collounsbury-mea-culpa/164041/16 "2003-03-25T17:19:00Z")

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Now wouldn’t it be funny if **Col** returns to all those war threads in GD and becomes the calm voice amidst all the screaming, knee-jerking and ideological posturing?

I hope you can keep your cool in there. I certainly can’t, which is why I don’t post in those threads. Good to see you.

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**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collounsbury-mea-culpa/164041/17 "2003-03-25T17:30:34Z")

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Welcome back, **Col**.

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**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collounsbury-mea-culpa/164041/18 "2003-03-25T17:36:05Z")

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Good.

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**Author:** ![Anahita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9a28c/32.png) [@Anahita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anahita)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collounsbury-mea-culpa/164041/19 "2003-03-25T17:48:44Z")

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I hope you can use your vast wealth of knowledge to fight some of the ignorance on the boards in the past several weeks!

Plus, I missed you!

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**Author:** ![hansel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@hansel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hansel)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collounsbury-mea-culpa/164041/20 "2003-03-25T17:49:41Z")

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I would welcome him back, but that fucked up formatting has convinced me that Collounsbury hasn’t learned a damn thing. Back into solitary with him!

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