It's sort of ironic. You DO realize that you are "proving my point?" Isolated hippie communes and the like are places where normal social norms don't apply and work so well, because they have created their own social norms. You could walk into such a place, say "hi, how are you doing?" and be physically assaulted because you insulted someone. Places like that are notoriously thin-skinned towards "outsiders" because of the way the cultures rub against each other.
Back to this forum, this thread - you are very worried that someone here could take offense at what I wrote, which you quoted. In other words, you are worried that there are some fairly thin skins around. Do you see a little irony in that (re-read the first paragraph directly above this one if necessary)?
Either way, the first reason what I wrote is fine is, people on public forums and what not who are adults simply need to develop thicker skins than what might be appropriate at an isolated hippie commune. Jesus H. Christ, what I wrote that you quoted, even if I was totally serious, **PALES** in comparison to what you see on total bland absolutely normal forums on the internet (you HAVE been to other forums on the internet... haven't you?). I mean, if you see potential offense in what I just wrote above, I'd hate to see you at a place where things might REALLY get contentious, like at a place where politics is discussed for instance. I mean, even at the starcraft forum, every other post contains stuff **WAY** more offensive than what I just wrote. And it's just normal stuff.
The second reason what I wrote is fine is...
I said "almost." I didn't say "did."I had ALMOST come to the conclusion...
The third reason what I wrote is fine is, even if I didn't say "almost" (I did), it was a private conclusion I "almost" came to. I can come to whatever private conclusions I want (or, "almost" come to them).
The fourth reason what I wrote is fine is, it isn't (necessarily) an insult to live in an isolated hippie commune, or be homeschooled. While I've never wanted to live in a hippie communune, I do wish I had been homeschooled myself, and will certainly homeschool my own kids, I'll just make sure they get out from time to time to see the real world and develop some sort of a skin so they don't have the potential problem we are discussing now.
The fifth reason what I wrote is fine is, while I had honestly almost come to that private conclusion, I voiced it to try and inject a little humor into the situation - granted in a dry sort of way. (By the way, people with thin-skins who live in isolated hippie communes are notoriously devoid of humor, or at least outsider humor. Again, that irony thing I'm pointing out.)
I can go on and on here. But the bottom line is, at some point, if people want to be offended at every little statement someone makes, and they want to go through life in a constant state of being offended, I can't much be worried about it. I mean, at some point people have to take responsibility for their own propensity to be offended at things. I mean, God forbid they go into an office every day at some normal job - they simply wouldn't be able to function. Hell, God forbid they went to the public schools I went to, or rode on the public school buses I rode on. I guess I'm glad they didn't - they'd be dead.
Well, I've run out of patience explaining every little thing I've said ad infinitum. It tends to make me think I really DID stumble upon some isolated hippie commune. I understand you said you didn't want to start an argument. Don't worry, no offense taken here, and "no harm no foul." :-)
Have a nice day :-)
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