[bowerbird]

natch said:
> Talk to people like they're actually functionally intelligent

i do! whenever people strike me as being "functionally intelligent".

in addition, if they strike me as being stupid, i talk to them like that.

but people who want me to talk to them as "functionally intelligent"
when they're holding up their end of the conversation with stupidity,
they get _sarcasm_ from me. because that's the best they _deserve_.


> even to the point of apologizing
> for giving offense that was never intended.

did you _intend_ to offend me with this sentence?

or with your post as a whole?

more importantly are you ready to _apologize_ for doing so?


> you are driving folks away even as you claim to wish to persuade them.

hold it there. i never said i "wish to persuade" _anyone_ of _anything_.
in fact, i expressly disclaim that as an intention, wholly and completely.
frankly, i don't care what anyone thinks, if they disagree or agree with me.
i speak my mind, and you can make of it whatever you wish, fine by me...


> You have managed to get more folks to put you on ignore in a week than
> I've seen happen in the preceding almost two years that I've been around MR.

some people don't want to hear anyone else speak frankly. so what?
others take offense much too easily, especially the insecure. so what?

i too ignore a lot of what i read here, because it has very little truth value.
it doesn't make sense. when i weigh it as evidence, it registers no mass...
i don't bother to filter out what people say, because i've found that it's not
generally a good idea to stick my head in the sand, but if other people want
to stick their head in the sand, i'm totally fine with that. indeed, i would prefer
that people put me on "ignore" than try to chastise me for speaking my truth.
i'm not "rude". i'm a gentle soul who believes in truth, and has enough respect
for my fellow human beings to be honest with them when they're being stupid,
honest enough to tell them directly. if you think that's a bad thing, i suggest
that you too put me on "ignore", so my words will magically be turned into
white space and you live in ignorant bliss. sincerely, i want you to be happy.

-bowerbird