I just wanted to apologize for causing a member to have a mental breakdown and quit the site. I sort of just assume that everyone on here is of average intelligence, maturity, and rationality and then adjust those up and down from there based on my interactions with them, and I obviously failed at making my adjustments fast enough this time. In hindsight, I can see warning signs that should have caused me to make adjustments sooner.
I am human too, and I mainly replied due to my perceptions of some aggressiveness and condescension to other members of the board, as well as some annoyance at what I considered to be broad generalizations that I thought showed a lack of research. I have been raised around people (and currently go to school and work in an environment) where I can have friendly debates with others, and despite never agreeing with each other, it's just kind of fun to go back and forth with each other in a mature and friendly way, and I should have realized that not everyone can do that. I don't like arguing, but I do enjoy some debating. It's fun if the other person enjoys it too.
I also don't really take myself too seriously, I am always poking fun at myself, and I often make the assumption that everyone is the same way. Sometimes that can get me into some trouble when I run across someone who isn't the same way. Since I don't take myself all that seriously, it sort of baffles me that someone else did take me seriously enough to get upset. I don't apologize for my views or what I said (since I don't think anything that I said was provoking), but I do honestly feel bad that my comments caused someone such distress. I hope you guys accept my apology, I'll try not to cause someone such distress again.
As a side note, if anyone has any problem with me whatsoever, always feel free to PM me, or if you think anything you say will be against TOS, you can always contact me via my facebook (though I don't really know how to use facebook...) or leave a comment on my blog, both of which are accessible on the sidebar. I've had people say things to me before IRL and it never hurts my feelings (unless you're my soon-to-be-ex husband), so don't be shy. I strive to be a better person, and if you're able to give me reasons why you have a problem with me, I'll try to address your reasons and avoid making the same mistakes again. Otherwise, just saying "LH, you're a XXXX" isn't going to encourage me to take you very seriously.
wámi skitôpák nuwômôyô (I love everyone),
Henry
