And you’d better watch out. I have a rapier.

You started a topic several days ago, on this board where I understand tough debate is allowed. I have personal knowledge on this topic. I disagreed with your position, and you became more and more extreme. When I called you on it by taking your extreme position to its logical end point, instead of replying with an argument, you called me ridiculous, brought up my personal feelings and had the audacity to suggest that my reply to you was a result of depression. Of course, I would have to be somehow unhinged to disagree with you!

And you say I was hateful?? That was manipulative and cruel. Not to mention arrogant.

That’s what I expect an apology for: your behavior. That specific incident. I posted it under your somewhat disorganized rant on Community because Community is supposed to be a place to address people’s feelings, as I understand it. Instead, you came to Flame and made cute, oblique references to me as being the cause of ER’s departure (and you know what? No, it isn’t), when what you really want is for me to shut up, unless I agree with you. You prove that with your unsupportable accusations at the top of your post, above.

You made a reply to me about leg-trappers in a thread subsequent to the ridiculous-girl-must-be-crazy thread that added nothing to the discussion except gasoline and matches. I was succinct, and deliberately rude, in my reply, but again, it was Flame. If you would like a different reply, I can provide one: Don’t provoke someone and expect it to go unchallenged.

Is that what “this HZ” is? Dog-Faced Boy is the pet eccentric, so he can say whatever he wants, but if I stand up to him I’m a crazed stalker? Well, that’s straight from the stable floor. The day I’m scared of you they’ll put me in a wooden box. But if it comforts you to think I’m quaking in my little virtual boots, fine.

If you intend to stay out of my way, please do. That includes the cute remarks on the side, because if you talk about me as if I’m not in the room, I will speak up.

On the other hand, we can mend fences if you want. I’ll put away my rapier, and you put away your psychoanalyst’s shingle, and we’ll be square.

And yet you don’t seem to mind doing the “hippo fling” on anything anyone else writes. Go down the pages.

I’m not sure what you think Mary Anne’s “views” are. She and I would probably not agree on more than five percent of issues, but apparently that five percent is enough to lose her “Progressive Virtue” card among those here who have designated themselves Keeper of the Flame.

What I find unnerving is that the more victories the “progressives” have, the loonier they seem to get.

You don’t have to stay out of anyone’s way, any more than anybody here should have to.

I’m not stalking you, as you are me.

I’m not being hateful to you, as you are me.

I’m not hijacking your threads, as you are mine.

And I note you expect an apology from me for your behavior.

There are a lot of people here who enjoy you, even those who don’t share your political views. I hope you stay. AND the HZ is a big place, there is no reason for us to interact, even less reason for this personal animosity. As I said, it’s passe’.

I can accept that you don’t care for me, I can understand why I scare you. I read with interest your suggestions on how I should post, and note you feel free to tell me. And that you expect me to apologize to you.

I don’t think this conversation belongs on this HZ any more. It’s not that place, any more. And that’s not my decision. I can’t stop you, but I can stop me. And I can respect ERs decision. It’s not worth it. It used to be, it’s not now.

I don’t know what I’ll do, but at a minimum I’ll stay out of your way.

If one pats someone on the head, one runs the risk of getting too close to their teeth.

I’d rather wait and let the learning curve kick in and the new demeanor of the HZ work it’s magic.. That has two advantages:

1: We can keep a valued contributor, and

2. The ‘Zone will stay the lively, animated and less vicious place it’s become.

As one of the most active participants in the pissing matches of old, I can say they’ve become passe’ even as the gulf between differing political positions has widened. It’s been a frustrating place and an irritating place, but the hateful for the sake of hateful seems to have gone..

That’s my take on it, anyway. That is not necessarily the opinion of the sponsor, management or employees.