Yeah, ok. But I've never said you were an asshole. I don't think you're an asshole. I do think you have a very direct style and it does not surprise me that people find it overbearing. That is exactly where this conversation started with you stating that think you're the most ignored/muted/whatever username on hubski, and that it's okay because you're defending a viewpoint and you expect to make enemies. Maybe I've haven't been on online groups long enough to find out that you can't help but make enemies, or maybe I don't have strong enough opinions.

A couple of funny things:

(a) I do accuse you of making it easy for people to perceive you as overbearing. Your response to that could be perceived as overbearing. A self-referential contradiction on your part. (b) You accuse me of treating you as an enemy when I'm trying to prove that you don't need to make enemies. A self-referential contradiction on my part. (c) We could mute each other and really bring this conversation full circle! That's not a contradiction, but still chock full of self-referential structure on both our parts.

But no, I don't want an enemy today and I apologize for my part in the escalation. I should have stopped the conversation way up after "depends on what you mean by 'good' politician"! I thought it would fun to poke at you a little, but I don't think it ended up adding much of value to the discussion after that.

-- Mike :-)

(the smiley proves I'm not an asshole)