I'm sorry to go way OT here for a minute, but I feel terrible about something and this seems like the best place to address it.
Somebody just PMed me and said they were offended when in my previous post I said,
When I encounter that response, I often sort of roll my eyes and think that if I apply my searing logic they'll change their minds.
The person asked if I was joking. And in fact, I was. Sometimes I get into discussions that begin to feel like debates. Actually, I enjoy them. So in this particular case, I was making fun of myself, being facetious. Of course you can't apply searing logic to every aspect of a movie with huge emotional impact. That's what I was trying to say. Ironically, it sounds like the PMer read that it just the opposite way, and looking back I guess I can see how that's possible.
So anyway, if this were only a disagreement about one line or with one person, it could easily be cleared up. To start with, I would rush to change the line or the whole post. I'm mortified to think that anybody would misinterpret and be offended by it. (I am tempted to delete the whole thing, but I'm leaving it up so people will know what I'm referring to.) To anyone else who was hurt or offended by that line or anything else in that post, I really, really apologize.
But I want to say more, because the person also said s/he has resented my attitude on other posts, and that others have complained about it, too. The PM was quite strongly stated, including using the word "arrogant" three times. S/he said this has created an unpleasant environment, not entirely because of me but at least partly. S/he said s/he feels like s/he's being "run off the threads." Meanwhile, Phillip has written a very nice diplomatic post elsewhere on this forum about this same issue.
I like debating things and sometimes I probably come on too strong (that's the attitude of mine I was making fun of above). I really don't think I'm the only one who likes to debate; many of us here often pose pretty formidable opinions. Personally, I don't mind that; in fact I think it's fun. I assumed it was fun for others, too. Not for everybody, I see now.
I really, really like everyone here. So I can't begin to tell you how bad I feel about the news that others have been angered or offended. I don't want anyone here ever to feel bad, let alone bad enough to leave. I was upset when four people left yesterday, because I like all of those people and will miss them. it's dismaying to think that people get unhappy enough to make a dramatic exit (though in that case, the issues appear to have been very different).
So I'm really sorry to hijack your thread, Ruthlessly. I apologize to you and to everyone else. I figure most of the people I talk to most will be likely to read this sooner or later, so goes to all of you. I'm going to try to be much more careful from now on.
If anybody has any response to the above, one way or another, please PM me rather than post it here so I won't have to feel any guiltier than I already do about going so OT. Now everybody get back to discussing -- in a nice way! -- why Jack quit Ennis.
