Something that's been bothering me lately...

[Big Mikey]

When reading some posts, I remind myself that what I am seeing is merely the written word. I have not had the opportunity to see the individual whom has posted. Though we may use "smilies" to try to convey a particular trait, we can't see the tongue planted firmly in cheek nor the subtley raised eyebrow or the mischievous gleem in an eye. There are words that may stir up our emotions, raise our hackles or give us cause to pause and reflect but without benefit of face to face communication, we are not completely informed. Without that, we can't truly understand what an individual is trying to say. We don't always have to agree with what a fellow member is saying but we should readily accept his/her opinion.

[Nighthawk]

We don't always have to agree with what a fellow member is saying but we should readily accept his/her opinion.

This is exactly my point. There are those among us who have a problem with that. That's really what has me frustrated. I've been blowing it off for months- even avoiding posting in some threads because of it- but that's just not right. I know from responses in this thread and from PM's that I've gotten that I'm not the only one feeling this way. I say that I'm Celtic, and not Scottish or Irish, and I get jumped for it. I say that I like modern kilts as well as traditional ones, and I get jumped for it. There's no tongue in cheek in some of the things I'm talking about. I can let a lot roll off of my back. I just got to a point last night where I was tired of worrying that my opinion would start a fight and get a thread closed because someone somewhere can't show a little respect to differences of opinions.

Dan you're cracking me up

Nighthawk maybe it's just us folks from the Peoples Republic of Colorado that are bothered by it - we do have those coed bathrooms after all

You make a good point!