General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I am a "CENTRIST" Democrat, have been for 46 years, and am proud to be so! [View all]Tom Rinaldo
(22,912 posts)It was triggered by word association, specifically your use of the phrase "i'm not stupid". I write semi-professionally, and sometimes I reach too far in trying to be clever playing on words because I enjoy crafting word play - I do it almost without thinking about it. I can get too cute at times trying to craft a phrase that plays upon another. In this case it was my writing something akin to "I don't think you are stupid but that interpretation was dumb" as a conceptional couplet.
That is the honest truth. It is the reason why a word like "misunderstood" did not come to me instead. I did not mean to talk down to you. My first thought expressed, "I don't think you are stupid", is the truth. I don't. Sometimes I do think you can be "sarcastic and dismissive" but I greatly respect you acknowledging that about yourself. I can get too full of myself. I know that. People aren't perfect and that includes us.
When I wrote "I am fine with it" what I was referring to was when people say something derogatory to me about something I said. I didn't mean "I am fine " with you feeling insulted. I am fine with people saying derogatory things to me in the context of an honest exchange. You just wrote some derogatory comments to me about my attitude as you experience it. Perfect case in point. I "am fine" with your having done so because I can tell you are being sincere about how you felt. I am sincerely sorry that I made you feel the way that I did
I can get frustrated with you at times because it seems we have a hard time engaging on the substance of our disagreements - and perhaps that frustration leaks through. In addition to having written a phrase to you about a "dumb interpretation" I also tried to open up a discussion on the theme you raised, the pros and cons of seemingly taking an all or nothing position. I put thought into that because it's a serious question. You "accused" me of supporting "all or nothing" thinking which you framed as highly negative. I felt that attempt at actual dialog was ignored by you. You felt insulted which explains why your reply focused on how you perceive me treating you.
Though you didn't exactly have anything nice to say about me in the post I am replying to here, I appreciate the openness you expressed. I would love to have more real contact with you while we share this board. Again I do not think you are stupid, I would appreciate knowing more about your thoughts that underlie the statements that you make here.