StevieWondermann wrote:
Just wanted to say that I looked and DavesApps is a real guy.
Yes, it wasn't for a while until I realized that. Initially, I got the distinct impression upon reading Dave's post, that he was a spammer who held no regard for the rules of the forum or for other people. That's what got it started. When I realized that his intentions were honest and genuine -- even though his post came across as a blatant form of spam -- I felt bad. I clarified to him that I didn't want my irreverent behavior to be inferred as a mean-spirited act toward him. Had he been an actual spammer -- a person who intends to break the rules for their own monetary self-interests at the expense of others' time and efforts -- then I do believe a fair amount of humorous ridicule is well-deserved. I'm not talking about ridicule that's intended to be cruel, hateful, and directed at someone in a personal manner. Even if we were dealing with a true spammer, my ridicule wouldn't reach the point of hateful and genuinely derogatory attacks. I find no pleasure in that whatsoever. That type of thing does nothing to help anyone in any situation.
StevieWondermann wrote:
The dozens of ranting, raving and bizarre poetry[^] posts was unnecessary.
I wouldn't say there were dozens of posts; I'd say around one dozen would be more accurate. That's not important, though. I'm sorry you didn't like my poem. As I had mentioned several times in other recent posts, poking fun at others in jest can be mistaken for derogatory and hateful intent, or anything else altogether. If someone had posted that sort of poem and it was directed toward me, I would have immediately laughed about it and I would have found appreciation in its humor. Others see it differently. It doesn't matter what you say, how you say it, or what you intend to imply. Textual communication, over the Internet, by people you don't know is entirely open to misinterpretation. It's a major part of the reason why hostility toward others over the Internet is so rampant. Miscommunication and misunderstanding that escalate into a hostile interaction happen in real life, too. Even between good friends, it happens. You can have the best communication skills in the world, and it doesn't matter. As long as you're a human being, this will happen. It doesn't matter which side of the interaction you may be on, it happens to everyone. Everyone has misspoken something in
