Where's Hossman?

He’s downstairs. Should I get him?

maggiesmom tells me you were looking for me. I’m still here, but now that I am back to full time employment, I don’t have the time to look at or answer all the questions, or even just the ones that come up in my “Questions for you.”

I’m also trying to limit my involvement to responses where I feel I have something to say that is unique from what is already being said. I’m uncomfortable with responding unless I’m pretty sure I am either well-grounded in fact, or at least am making logical inferences from facts. Since my responses are frequently contrary to popular opinion or political correctness, it then requires a longer response to ensure I am thorough, as a brief and casual response might be misunderstood.

And there have also been some complaints voiced that I was dominating conversation or offensive. I can think of one instance I was provoked into being way out of hand, another which was sort of a mutual fray, and a third where I was unfamiliar with the correct etiquette for this forum, and somebody way overreacted. Most of the complaints I am aware of (but I’m betting there have been more that were not brought to my attention) seem to largely be a matter of people who are used to not having the positions I take, or their positions I oppose, being supported by logical argument. It’s much easier being politically correct when no one is questioning the rationale of the position.

What I really miss are those who have evidently enjoyed being engaged in vigorous, but mannered debate of an issue. There are some people here who would prefer this site to be devoted solely to more practical questions like “where do I go for good sushi in Akron?” So I have been holding back so that I’m not perceived as trying to dominate all the conversations here. On the other hand, one other user expressed a concern that logical argument was “bullying” other users not able to craft a coherent post. I guess if that’s the definition, I must be guilty.

I like your contributions (though I understand wanting to limit your time on the site due to other commitments.) It leads me to think through my answers more thoroughly knowing you might be lurking on the thread. :-)

Hossman, I always enjoy reading what you have to say.

Well, Hossman, that’s exactly why I enjoy your answers—they generally don’t conform to the other responses and are well-crafted, insightful, and just plain interesting.

Thank you. It’s not only great to know my comments have been appreciated, it’s also great to know you evidently read them quite carefully, which is also both scary and humbling, as it suggests I have a prior standard to uphold, and I do need to be careful to stay in the bounds of propriety.

I also appreciate that each of you are posters whose posts I have also enjoyed reading, ESPECIALLY when we disagree, as each of you have posted what is clearly rational thought rather than knee-jerk repetition of something you believe you should believe.

And I’ll shut up now, as this thread is undoubtedly irritating those who have suggested this would be a better site without me.

I love the time, thought and insight that Hossman puts into his answers. If I see a long response, and know I have an extra minute or two, I grab a cup of coffee and read through them. I always learn something . . .