I try to be as straightforward as possible... but it's difficult with guys. Guys are afraid of hurting my feelings, which i guess is understandable, But I would appreciate a little less of the sugar coating and a little more honesty. Even if the intial pain of honesty hurts, the pain of knowing that you were lied to lingers.

Is there a little disconnect here? If everyone required that others proffer respect before they reciprocate, then the world would be totally devoid of respect.

I hope you will reconsider this philosohpy, Michael.

Please, please, please don't call me Michael?
 

Perhaps.

I don't ask that people treat me, specifically, with respect before I'd reciprocate. Really, I just prefer to see that others have some appreciation for the difficulties that other people face. Causing people further difficulty (especially due to one's own insecurity) is not something that I have any respect for.

There have been times when I show a great deal of respect toward people without first asking appropriate questions. In many instances, I have been deeply hurt by that; and, in fact, continue to be hurt. When people do nothing to give me any indication that they are going to be aware and responsible when dealing with other's lives and emotions, I can't think of much else that warrants losing my respect - or, never getting it.

It's complicated. It's not bulletproof. It's me. I'm flawed. When all things are considered, I'd like to think that I make a little sense - at least - or that my experiences have taught my a little bit more about the human condition than most people should ever have to know. But, maybe, after all, I'm the one who deserves the least respect. Who knows.

Re: Please, please, please don't call me Michael?
 

M,
You live your life trusting your own mind, and your own opinions without really caring how others feel. I wish there were more people like you, and less people who get offended so easily by other's opinions.

While I agree with 90% of the things you say, I certainly respect 100% of it.

As you said before once to me:
I think I know you well enough to know you are intelligent enough to live your own life.

I don't understand why anyone would bash M for his previous post? I'm sure many others (myself wholeheartedly included) agreed with him. He simply vocalized it. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, everyone is allowed to let their OWN mind decide their opinions. Not everyone chooses to do so...

It is those people who do not have MY respect...

Carry on Mike.

Re: Please, please, please don't call me Michael?
 

As far as I'm concerned- Nothing in life is bulletproof. Wearing a bulletproof vest, one can still be shot in the head, and oftentimes, that's where life will land the crosshairs. Everything, everyone in the world is flawed- for if perfection existed what more would people have to live for? As far as I've seen, that is the human condition- striving to find one's own perfection. It's a life's journey which can never be complete.

Mike, for what it's worth, here's someone else who agrees with you.

Punctuation? We dont need no stinkin punctuation:D

Cory

You're never getting your spelling OR your grammar back.

Just FYI, ya know...

M. Krass..

Lighten up. I'm not complaining, or whineing, it may seem like it, but this is just a fourm to enlighten us all with thoughts and fellings, and you come along and crush it. And so what if a person did that? I agree that you will have a problem if you start to wonder if that person cares about me, but I view that far-and-inbetween problem, especially from here, and you come in-as if you have heard it a million times-and just layed the "smack-down" to end the thread/discussion. Take a chill pill. Lately you have been like this, and you have to realise what you are typing. I can rember agreeing w/ you about 90% of the time in the past years, but now you are just bashing everyone w/ your opnoion and trying to end the discussion w/ one reply...

Agian, this is not a bash, just look at what you type...

I'm tired now--I'm out...

Men are from Mars, Women from venus... enough said.

Try to keep to topic, people. If you have a problem with what people are posting on this board, PM or e-mail that person and talk to them about it. No need to turn the whole thread into a discussion about what people should and shouldn't post, and how they should and shouldn't write their messages. Its simply too hard to limit people what they can and can't say.

And be nice, and try to be understanding of each other. If you see something you don't like, just skip it.

Obviously, you've never been in that situation. Having to question the motivation of everything someone does is not a happy place to be. It's not something I want to experience ever again, yet I experience it every day. It's not something anyway deserves to have to deal with.

Doubt is, perhaps, the most damaging and destructive of all feelings.

My opinion is nothing more than an opinion. I don't count for anything and I know that better than anyone. If someone wants to assign what I write some greater value, that's their decision. I say what I think and I'm not apologetic about it. I don't try to end discussion, but I sometimes have that effect. I like it when people challenge me, usually, because it forces me to examine myself - and that is the only way I learn and grow and change.

If people want to learn about others, I don't want to stop that in the least. But, please, realize that not everyone on this planet has succumbed to bizarre ideas of political correctness, pacifism and 'agreeing to disagree.'

Conflict leads to thought. Thought leads to revolution. Revolution leads to change. Change leads to growth.

Rearranging that a little:
Conflict leads to change. Change leads to thought. Thought leads to action. Action results in more conflict.
A never-ending cycle.

Okay, now I think that we all may be starting to sound a bit too much like yoda. ;)

Conflict leads to pain. Pain leads to suffering...Suffering turns to anger..The DARK SIDE ::mmmHmnmm!::