I don’t think I’ll get hot over the fact that someone with the same brand of head pump as mine thinks it’s a poor product not worth fixing if it breaks down.
It is often the responsibility of the offended to decide how to feel about and respond to a percieved offense.
I have never, nor will I ever, intentionally insult or make a personal derogatory comment to another member of this forum. I know, however, that I have offended some members and I can only suggest that those recieving such an offense have as much responsibility as I in the offense. On the other hand, starting a thread to discuss, in general terms, an offensive comment or category of comments, seems like an excellent way of handling and working out an issue of etiquette or social offense.
I, for one, really appreciate the opportunity to learn about and understand what has upset another member of this forum. It may not change my behavior in any significant way, but it allows me the chance to reflect on my own motives as well as my words. There are subjects and words that I have learned to avoid or to append to my comments, in the hopes of avoiding such social conflicts.
I doubt there is anyone on this forum who doesn't have the life experience to recognize the wide variety of behaviors and expectations associated with polite, humorous, helpful or aggressive social interaction. Even if a particular interaction isn't obvious in its intent, the fact that we know our own comments and the comments of others have been taken in the wrong way before, should give us a little understanding and patience with our fellow sailors.
In the particular case of one sailor telling another that his equipment is junk and not worth his time, how many people ask about what is a good boat for ocean sailing, only to be warned that they should be more worried about the quality of the sailor first? It should be understood that most of what is said is opinion. Even with cited sources and quoted facts, the given statement is still an opinion. There was recently a very lively discussion about sealevel rise and Climate Change in which one sailor was constantly calling for cited sources when offering factual evidence. All well and good, but then opinion became a call for cited sources too. It is no good to entertain only thoughts that come from somewhere else as legitimate. It is, however, perfectly reasonable to provide a logical arguement to show why a particular opinion is held.
This is exactly why forums like this are worth participating in. We get to hear other opinions, reasons and experiences to base our own conclusions on. Just as we have the responsibility to choose how we respond to the words of others, we must take responsibility to analyze and synthesize our own conclusions. It is not reasonable to expect perfectly right answers handed to us without our own thoughts as filter.
This has been a post that is based solely upon the opinion of Will Gilmore, founded in 56 years of personal experience with a wide variety of social interactions and numerous long contemplations.
-Will (Dragonfly)
