analog

Then I'd respectfully point out if it's so easy to re-translate it into meaning the exact same thing using different words, you can see why word choice shouldn't be something people hold me over the coals for. If it means the same thing, then it is up to you to "read" it how you want to read the emotion in it.

If you can so easily translate my "strong emotional connotation to the negative, dismissive, arrogant side of the spectrum, and provocative" words directly without losing any of the meaning of the sentence, then why is it so hard to see that this entire ordeal is the product of misunderstanding.

This is just an example: I tell someone to fuck off. There really is no way to say that another way and retain the exact meaning.

But since you can take what you deem to be "proper" words and reconstruct the precise meaning of my sentence.... are we not just discussing semantics? Are we not just falling victim to the lack of intonation inherent to the text-based world here?

Most of all- is it really my fauilt that, through NO intention of my own, my words are being MIStranslated, MISinterpreted as negative and dismissive and such? How can that really be MY fault? While I still very much apologize if anyone saw that in my words, I'd point out that for every person in any thread who has ever said that it came across as negative, I can give you an example of at least one person to match who sees exactly what i'm saying, and how i'm saying it, because they're not reading my words to be mean, or negative, or anything. They understand that a person can speak with conviction and with feeling, having nothing whatsoever to do with disrespect, or attacks. I'm not saying anyone here CAN'T understand that, I just think that when it comes to me, specifically, you simply won't see it.

I'd also respectfully point out that if I took a roster in any thread where this sort of thing has happened, I can easily match up all the same names from all the threads in which this has happened- the "usual suspects", so to speak. It's a simple fact that there are some people who will never see what I write as anything but mean, or nasty, or negative, or an attack. They just never will. I'm not going to name names, that would be terribly inappropriate- but you know who you are.

I do everything in my power to help cater to those who misinterpret what I write, but it seems to no avail. I can't change the entire structure of my writing style because a handful of people misinterpret (and i'm NOT saying you do it on purpose or anything like that) the words I use.

The bottom line is- if another word can be used to mean the same thing, but YOU say MY version is mean, then where does that leave me? Your personal opinion has now made me angry? I'm not angry. Because you deem my words to be x, y, and z, suddenly they just ARE because you say so?

That is why I find it difficult to make everyone happy. No one's ideas are all going to fall in line. Not every person will say "this" means "this" in every case. Many times people read words and "this" becomes "that".

I'd just mention, as i've brought up earlier in this thread, that it is a very long-standing rule of debate in TFP, most notably created and used for Tilted Politics, that it is not ok to attack the person, just the opinion. I never attacked him, and he has specifically said he didn't feel attacked. Some of you are insisting I attacked him, though I adamentaly deny it because I would never attack a person, and he has specifically stated he didn't feel attacked.

So... I mean, there's only one way to say this and i'm sorry, but, the only people who feel it was an attack are those who weren't on the receiving end of what they called the attack, and who regularly come after me for my "tone" in posts. How many times can the same handful of people come after me, attacking me the person in public no less, over my word choice before I feel like I just can't make you happy, and I can't ever speak nice enough for your taste, your preference, your opinion, or what have you.

Side note: If someone came after another member like you guys come after me, throat-first, with your very personal condemnations and how harshly you speak down to me, this would not stand- you'd be asked to take it to private, and keep it civil. I have, however, never squelched a person for voicing against me however they saw fit. Ever. I have never touched a single post of anything ever said against me. Why? Because I'm NOT the asshole you say I am. I'm NOT the bad person you insist I am. I'm NOT the crazy power-hungry, plays-by-his-own-rules whatever else you call me so frequently. I am a good person, dammit. I let everyone and anyone take their shots at me and all I ever do is take it and offer my sincere, whole-hearted apologies for upsetting you.

I think Sultana's current signature sums it up pretty well (and I'm not being sarcastic)...

"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." - Shakespeare, Hamlet

Some people will just always read what I write and see it as bad, no matter what. For that, I am truly sorry- but I can't help anyone with that.