*sigh*... and I was having such a good day, too.
Long story short - I expressed an opinion regarding the phenomenon of "adoptables". I was apparently a bit 'aggressive and argumentative'. I got banned from the ComicFury forums for a week. I'm not very upset about it. The mod who banned me was professional and (mostly) gracious about it, despite the comment about my "non-apology" regarding the matter. I'm not mad at them because they're right. It WAS a non-apology.
Mind you, I did apologize for my tone, but not what I said. I stand by that. I won't elaborate on what I said here but yes, it was a negative opinion regarding something that I personally find nonsensical and I'll even admit that it was delivered in an angry, ranting tone. I don't back-pedal and I don't apologize for simply FEELING a certain way. However, the trouble started when I apparently hurt some little zoomer's Pwecious Wittle Feewings regarding an aspect of graphic arts that they hold so very dear, so they figured they had to 'fire back' in defense of their precious adoptables.
Fine. If anyone understands "strong feelings regarding pop culture", it's me. I proffered an explanation as to why I felt that way and sited my experiences, but I guess that just wasn't enough. I've been on the internet for over 28 years, and I have learned that many many folks, particularly those who have no lives outside the internet, want to feel like the Wronged Party in any given argum-- er, "discussion" and Demand Satisfaction. Particularly some of the younger generation. Being the Victim is their seat of strength. This 'Generation War' that they've manufactured never really works in their favor, however, when it comes to MY generation.
I won't break into the "Generation X is feral and we don't give a fuck" shpiel that's been making the rounds across the internet for the last 2 years or so. That goes without saying. I will say that I personally DO give the occasional fuck when some jackass tries to tell me that I'm not allowed to feel the way I feel and gets all sassy at me. As stated, I offered a sincere, neutral explanation for my philosophy to 'Deimosphoibus', the initial person who replied to my rant.
"Good to know.
Despite my penchant for Nerd-Ragey ranting, my attitude is more borne of sheer confusion than rage.I admit that I am coming from the outside of this thing and I see it as it was explained to me by others.
I'm also glad to hear that someone is actually USING the OCs that they purchase as that has not seemed to be the case in the many various instances that I've witnessed."
Then someone else (Damatris - whose art and comics I actually LIKE) decided that they were going to 'defend' their precious Adoptables with a snarky, holier-than-thou TONE:
"Why are you so hostile towards people who enjoy adoptables and the concept itself? This is a genuine question since I really don't understand why you apparently hate a totally benign thing you don't have to participate in. People enjoying adoptables doesn't affect you in any way."
I responded in kind. I reiterated the explanation for my opinion and offered an apology for my tone to Damatris, the first person to try to "call me out" or whatever. I did my best to remain at least somewhat stoic in my answer and I offered an admittedly half-assed apology and a genuine reason for my ire to that person as it seems that they just needed to hear one - then, yet another fuck-nut started in with their 2 cents:
Very bafflingly aggressive there Proteus. Do you feel this way about every hobby you don't understand..?
That time, I'll admit that I felt attacked and I rarely stand for such bullshit, so I made my feelings plain with a bit of snark and bile of my own.
"Yes. Yes I do.
You should hear the evil, bile-dripping and inflammatory things I have to say about those MONSTERS that are into Pickle-ball.*sigh* let me try and head this off at the pass before it becomes any more of a "thing".
I said what I said.
My "strong feelings" against a thing are no more or less valid than anyone else's 'strong feelings' FOR it.
I have given an explanation for my position and my tone and have given as close to an apology for said tone as I am going to, but as previously stated, I said what I said and I stand by it.
I am not asking anyone to try and convince me otherwise and to be honest, no one is GOING to no matter how hard they may try.
Endeavoring desperately to 'call me out' or 'shame me' or whatever for an opinion differing from someone else's will bear no real fruit, I assure you.
So, once again and for the LAST time - if anyone took my TONE as rude or inflammatory, I am sorry that it came off that way. I apologize for THAT and that alone.
I do not and will not apologize for the opinion I have formed regarding the issue as it is based on experiences expressed to me by people deeper into the experience itself than I, as well as events that I have personally witnessed with my own eyes, over time. If these experiences are differing from your own, then fine. More power to you. I'm glad these things were more positive and logical experiences that made sense to you.
Such has not been the case for me.
Curiosity sated, yielding negative results and/or a lack of logic that multiple members of any certain populace simply go along with because its popular opinion, tradition or "just the way things are DONE" (Do I even have to drag politics, religion, the internet and 'society at large' in as examples or will that spark another "discussion' where I'm the "bad guy"?) tend to engender a level of anger and disgust within me, due to more negative past experiences with such a mindstate than I can express here without fingercramps and typing blisters.
That's why i was and still AM angry about the phenomenon of adoptables.
That, as well as the previously posted explanation (which I am guessing few have even read), is an explanation for my 'baffling aggressiveness', as I don't give excuses.
While I do hope this makes the aforementioned aggressiveness less "baffling", feel free to take it or leave it.
In the words of Gump - "That's all I have to say about that".
Next topic, please."
Next thing I know, about an hour or two later, I receive a PM from the mod, Andy G. saying that I am suspended from posting to the forums for a week.
"Hey,
I appreciate you apologizing, but unfortunately this really just comes across as a non-apology to me. In fact, the tone is just as, if not more, argumentative and aggressive than your initial post. Tone is a tricky thing over the internet, but we do have a "don't be an asshole" rule for the forums, and the wording of your posts in this thread is unequivocally abrasive and confrontational—you admit as much yourself. You are more than entitled to ask questions or express confusion over something, but this is a shared space, and angrily ranting about something members of the community are likely to enjoy and engage in is obviously going to make people feel bad and start an argument.
For this reason, I am giving you a week long temporary ban from the forums.
Thanks, and let me know if you have any questions."
I have no problems with mods dropping the hammer on me if I'm out of line, and maybe I was out of line at first regarding TONE, but my opinions, however "aggressive" are my own and I am damn well entitled TO them. However, EVERYTHING after my initial apology and explanation of the origin of my feelings was someone ELSE trying to play White Knight and jumping down MY throat over the expression of an OPINION! I simply defended myself and my position. TWICE. I'll ride out the ban with grace. That's not that big a deal, but I would honestly like to know if Damatris and Harrie also got a week's grounding. Not to sound TOO stereotypically childish, but They Started It. Each of them could have dismissed me as some grumpy crank who "doesn't get it" and kept their OPINIONS to themselves, but they had to crusade! Does their baiting me get them any punishment? The thread was closed, but it's easy to find out whether or not someone has been posting on CF.
Everyone is so incensed about how angry and aggro I can be? They should have been concentrating on how petty and passive aggressive I can be when I'm pissed off. And, as previously stated, nothing pisses me off like being condescended to, talked down to and told how I'm allowed or not allowed to FEEL, particularly by people that I would bet dollars to donuts are young enough to be my fucking children.
