It seems you are convinced that I did. I must assume that you have learned TBs trick of "knowing what I really meant" by something I said.

I was certainly aware of your disdain since you declared at the time that you would never again read another post of mine. Subsequent to that, I wished you Merry Christmas to try to test the waters and to see about mending things but you ignored the post. The incident was an important reason for my staying away for a while - but it was certainly not the only one. I'm not really back. I guess I shouldn't be here at all. (now that's a good example of passive aggressive!)

Passive/aggressive means something specific. It does not mean "aggressive" which should be welcomed in debate (providing it's not confused with rudeness). I'm not going to beat this dead horse by defining it for you and providing examples of what I meant. I think that if I did go on with it, the waves of hatred that I detect would only increase. On the other hand, in case you are interested in what I meant, I would be more than happy to expand on it. Up to you.

As to recognizing humor, you never recognize mine either. It's ok. I will be happy to explain my jokes or explain that they are jokes, if necessary. If people misinterpret each other, the *only* way to avoid bad feelings is to stay in the dialog and explain things. Ruining a good (or not so good) joke by explaining it is a very small price to pay, to maintain a relationship.

This stuff:

"I never remember you stooping to the level I have witnessed from you as of late. You claim to be pedantic. You consider yourself one who must know the facts before you debate. If this is indeed true why do you paint conservatives with such broad strokes? Should not every one be judged on their own merit? This requires stepping outside of your universe and observing from a more tolerant perspective."

Honestly I don't know what it means. I'd like to ask for clarification, here if it would not be too much trouble.

- I'm not aware of my stooping to any particular level lately. If I am, then it would be great if you or someone would help me see it.

- I don't really claim to be pedantic - You accused me of it (unless you misspelled something rude about my sexual preferences) and I admitted to it. It is an insulting word, not something to brag about.

- I certainly do not "consider yourself one who must know the facts before you debate" if you mean background info from various sources. If that's what you thought I meant, then it is my fault for not expressing myself better. What I generally need spelled out is what the person I'm talking to is saying. What they mean.

Very often, I find posts that can be interpreted more than one way. Before I give my response, I waste a post to ask for clarification. TB feels that this is some tactic that I'm trying to trick him with and refuses to answer. (this is another reason I stay away - can't have a dialog if I feel unwelcome to ask a question.) I have a vague recollection that the post that set you off about me was a questioning one, but I'm not sure.

In my world if I launch a rant about something that someone said, then I should be very very careful that they said what I think they said. That's why I stop and question.

- "If this is indeed true why do you paint conservatives with such broad strokes? Should not every one be judged on their own merit?"

Wow! This one really contradicts my self-image. I don't see myself this way at all. Can you expand on it? (and frankly, if you've seen TB in action for 4 years and you think I'm offensively, broad-brush partisan... just wow!)

Anyhow. Sorry if I misinterpreted your joke.

- edit - changed some brackets to parentheses. They are html around here and it looked like a failed link.