Okay, I confess. I'm a schmuck.

[Cyrano]

I started a thread a short time ago. It doesn't matter what it was about, but I got pulled into a dialogue.

Threads are not supposed to be dialogues between two people. They are forums where many join in with varying opinions. Yet, I mindlessly let it deteriorate into a two person "I'm right, you're wrong" dialogue. I could easily have stopped it by not replying. But, instead, I replied, and then replied again, which makes me a major league idiot. My apologies to all for breaking my own rule of not letting this sort of thing happen.

[Walleye]

1. No worries, who among us hasn't gotten sucked in once in a while

[senseandsensibility]

2. You should be free to respond as you wish as long as you follow

DU rules. I wouldn't beat yourself up about it.

[pwb]

3. We all get grumpy sometimes.

.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. Happens. No worries. You are a valued DU poster. . . . nt

[CANADIANBEAVER69]

5. self awareness is a life long lesson that doesn't end

Be kind to yourself. Many today don't look inward at their own actions and responses and have no sense of self awareness. You have, and you learned more about yourself. You took responsibility for your actions and learned you still have work to do. Like we all do.

[Cyrano]

9. Your headline are words of wisdom. Thanks, CANADIANBEAVER69.

[CANADIANBEAVER69]

11. Thanks Cyrano

[Mossfern]

6. I tend to do that myself

Especially if I think that I'm not being heard or understood.
Yes, I can be stubborn at times.

[iscooterliberally]

7. It's happened to me before too and I have a low post count.

I just let it go and move on with my life. This is the only "social media" that I engage in anymore. I deleted all my other accounts like Facebook, etc and I don't miss them at all. We all have buttons that can be pressed. I mostly post in the Pets forum so there's not too many arguments there.

[MOMFUDSKI]

8. DU is like a family around the kitchen table.

Sometimes it gets a little nuts. But we all walk away better informed and well fed. It is all good

[multigraincracker]

10. You confessed.

So now you are forgiven. Now go and sin no more.

[limbicnuminousity]

12. Think a lot of us can become aggressively defensive.

Many/most feel threatened in some way. Elements within the right-wing want all of us dead or collared. It can be hard to remain civil when you think the person you're arguing with is siding with the people who want to kill you.

Good on you for catching yourself.

[Cyrano]

14. That wasn't the issue in the dialgue I mentioned.

But you've given some good advice for dealing with right wingers.

[SarahD]

13. Last word.

Some people believe no response means they got the last word, meaning they won the argument
Sometimes they even reply to a nonresponse with "crickets."

[Cyrano]

15. I understand you, SarahD.

A while back, I was part of a site that didn't have the rules and controls of DU.

I was only there shortly, but there were no rules at all. Anyone could say anything, no matter how outrageious.

As a result, I had my own "rule." -- Never Respond to an Asshole.

That "rule" is, of course subjective.

Nonetheless, after leaving that site forever, I kept my rule intact. If more people would try it, it would shorten many discussions, and perhaps even raise the intellectual quality of others. Who knows?

This is a diversion from this thread. Yet, my hope is that some will pay attention. This one "rule" may just enhance the "online world."