Another irritating thread about me...

[Deranged Nasat]

I know I've done this sort of thing once before, a while back, but I felt like posting this in appreciation of your patience with me (that's all of you). I'm conscious of the fact that in the last few days I've been a little on my high horse, launching myself into mini-"fights" a bit too readily and digging in with uncalled-for-venom. Indeed, tonight I was gently asked to back off a bit because I was getting too personal and aggressive. The comment was accurate, and I'm somewhat guiltly evaluating my last mass of posts in this forum; all were somewhat...undermining of the threads they appeared in. I fear I have been having another of my super-emotional periods and funneling my bitterness and anger onto you. I've made several small apologies, but evidently I did not truly cleanse myself of the urge to lash out. Now, sadly while I hate being angry and aggressive (you may remember my "get rid of the anger" thread, in which I articulated a desire to return to my earlier state of total non-aggression...) I seem to fall into the trap when sensitive subjects come up (I of course have the same instinct here as anyone else, to boost my collapsing esteem by attacking). I'm distressed to realize my presence of late, at least in this forum, may have been less than constructive, and I fear becoming a troublemaker, of sorts. I'm concerned that I might become known as "the guy who takes things far too personally", "the guy who gets on his high horse over things" or, even worse "the unpredictable guy who might be all one minute and go off on a rant with a slightly vicious undertone the next". The people who post here on Trek BBS mean more to me than you perhaps know, and I'm concerned I haven't treated you all too well of late. So, here's an apology (a big one, not my standard "sorry") and I hope in the weeks to come I can climb back into the role of the poster I strive to be, but I fear I don't live up to.

Anyway, there we are.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Don't even worry about it, bro. You have nothing to apologize for and you are in no way, shape, or form gaining a reputation as a "troublemaker." Everyone has issues which are more personal to them than others, and can result in them getting upset or taking it more seriously than someone else might. There's nothing wrong with that as long as you're able to understand why that difference in perceptions exists, and you clearly do.

Please don't take the request for you to take a step back in the other thread as any indication that you should not continue passionately advocating for the things you believe in that topic or anywhere else. It was simply said for both your benefit and the benefit of the people you were discussing the topic with, and because I knew that you are a very reasonable guy who would respond to that request in the spirit it was given.

Don't let this or anything else here get you down. I - and I'm sure many others - think you're a very positive influence on discussion in this forum and welcome your contributions now and in the future. Thanks.

 

[RJDiogenes]

^^ Agreed.

You're a nice guy, DN, and it's certainly better to be sensitive than insensitive. It's just a question of taking a few moments to compose a more diplomatic Post-- sometimes I'll rewrite a Post a couple of dozen times before submitting.

 

[Colonel Green]

I believe we had a run-in once, but I think you're a pretty good poster. There aren't many around here who're willing to own up to their mistakes.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I don't have a strong opinion about you one way or the other, so that tells me you aren't any kind of notorious troublemaker or attention whore.

 

[Pingfah]

I know I've done this sort of thing once before, a while back, but I felt like posting this in appreciation of your patience with me (that's all of you). I'm conscious of the fact that in the last few days I've been a little on my high horse, launching myself into mini-"fights" a bit too readily and digging in with uncalled-for-venom. Indeed, tonight I was gently asked to back off a bit because I was getting too personal and aggressive. The comment was accurate, and I'm somewhat guiltly evaluating my last mass of posts in this forum; all were somewhat...undermining of the threads they appeared in. I fear I have been having another of my super-emotional periods and funneling my bitterness and anger onto you. I've made several small apologies, but evidently I did not truly cleanse myself of the urge to lash out. Now, sadly while I hate being angry and aggressive (you may remember my "get rid of the anger" thread, in which I articulated a desire to return to my earlier state of total non-aggression...) I seem to fall into the trap when sensitive subjects come up (I of course have the same instinct here as anyone else, to boost my collapsing esteem by attacking). I'm distressed to realize my presence of late, at least in this forum, may have been less than constructive, and I fear becoming a troublemaker, of sorts. I'm concerned that I might become known as "the guy who takes things far too personally", "the guy who gets on his high horse over things" or, even worse "the unpredictable guy who might be all one minute and go off on a rant with a slightly vicious undertone the next". The people who post here on Trek BBS mean more to me than you perhaps know, and I'm concerned I haven't treated you all too well of late. So, here's an apology (a big one, not my standard "sorry") and I hope in the weeks to come I can climb back into the role of the poster I strive to be, but I fear I don't live up to.

Just learn about line breaks and we'll be solid.

 

[Deranged Nasat]

Just learn about line breaks and we'll be solid.

Thanks.

And thank you, everyone, for responding. I'm quite reassured.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

DN, I know you've been this sort of person who cares about what you say, and also cares about how other people react to what you say. I think this is no bad thing. As suggested in the quote below, it's better to be careful about your actions, instead of being blunt and reckless (and I've seen a lot of that among other people in various places on the Net).

You're a nice guy, DN, and it's certainly better to be sensitive than insensitive. It's just a question of taking a few moments to compose a more diplomatic Post-- sometimes I'll rewrite a Post a couple of dozen times before submitting.

I opt for the Sisko Technique: I write whole posts expressing my concerns over a particular point in the discussion so far, then look at what I've written and ranted and raged about, then once it's all been out of my system, simply delete it instead of submit it or rewriting it as a diplomatic post, and for better or for worse remain silent on the matter, publicly at least.

Sometimes, if it IS something I want to convey to someone rather than write and delete (for instance, if I really, really want to tell someone something), I just send it via PM to the party or parties involved, and hope that they understand.

I have done these things a surprisingly frequent number of times.

 

[KimMH]

I've always thought of you as a pretty rational guy with the funny AV! We're better for you being here!

 

[JustKate]

I think you're a sweetheart, DN. A little highly strung now and then, but who isn't?