Conversation Between Yoda and Zotis


Showing Comments 5 to 8 of 36
  1. 05-09-20
    Well, if someone says something that can be taken either way, that could be aggressive, hostile, provocative, but isn't necessarily, then don't you think how the other person takes it is a test of their character? There's something I'm trying to figure out in all of this. I think it has to do with how I react once the other person has become hostile towards me. If they've misunderstood me and assumed the worst, it's a clue to their character. Maybe it's my pride. Always wanting to put people in their place when I feel they've wronged me or something like that. But I guess I just have to be the better man and let them insult me and falsely accuse me without letting vanity creep into my responses. Part of it is the nature of it being a public forum, and that it's not in private. So that contributes to feeling the need to address it, because other people are reading it too. But I guess that really isn't all that important, and I should resist that urge more.
  2. 05-09-20
    I agree it's the way you talk, and I accept the implication of that, which is that you don't necessarily mean anything by it. But I think that's kind of the point: there's a lot of these tussles, as we've discussed before, which clearly points to either a) malice or b) lots of habits that are easily construed as malice. I believe/accept it's the latter, which is why I think this is potentially instructive.

    Thank you for the measured response, regardless.
  3. 05-09-20
    Okay, well I appreciate the comment, and it's worth thinking about. I think to some extent that's just the way I talk. I can try to refine it gradually, but I do try to cater what I say to who I'm saying it to. And I liked starting that particular post that way. I don't think I was being aggressive, and I can see how it might be misinterpreted, but I think Iro and I have a pretty good understanding of each other. So, I think it was fine in that case.
  4. 05-09-20
    Right, but since you went on to explain why you disagreed anyway, what does it add too that? My question is phrased deliberately: it's not "what does this mean?" but "what does this add?" Check out the post in question again. Remove the "So what?" Doesn't that transform it into a completely substantive, constructive response that makes exactly the same point?