yeah, well, my last post on this thread should have been on the "angel" thread, probably.
I was pretty much referring to the dialogue on that one about how threads begining as something totally benign and prosaic often wind up listed under "Controversial."
Glad to hear that others are also awed by being able to converse with people all over the world in "real time." It sure still gets me every time that I can play a game of Backgammon with someone in Australia, Istanbul, and Boise, Idaho, all in the same evening.
BTW, is there anyplace specific where someone should post a generalized sort of apology if, say, this totally hypothetical person were to suddenly realize they'd said something inadvertently a while back that was really, really dumb and sounded waspish as all get out? I mean, in case that were to ever happen to this hypothetical person and all... <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/redface.gif" width=15 height=15>

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
they'd said something inadvertently a while back that was really, really dumb and sounded waspish as all get out? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I can't imagine any of us here ever doing such a thing. <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/rolleyes.gif" width=15 height=15>

If you really feel the need..well, I guess whatever forum the thing was said in..but usually rather than apologize, we just fight. Were you wanting to start a new tradition or something? I mean...it's ok. Change can be good.

ral, Pat.

*Muffy you are sweet...<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

**take it from an Indian Chief I once lived with. NEVER say you are sorry. For it is a sign of weakness...

**I think that meant when you bumped someone's hand, grabbing a roll at the dinner table....But it say's volumes for a white man....Take the Indian's advice...Just move on...Time will sweep away those words.

RB, the way I see it (as it were) is, there's ways of apologizing, and then there's <u>ways</u> of apologizing, just like there's ways of skinning (or herding, if you prefer) cats. I do catch your drift, along with the Chief's. Not sure I entirely agree in all cases, but what the heck -- that doesn't mean I'm right, either.

Fighting is an option of course, but only if I absolutely must, and then only if I'm backed into a corner and there's no other way out. Some people thrive on confrontation. Some people like it because they feel it clears the air. I am decidedly not one of those people, however. I will go to amazing lengths to avoid confrontation.(Gives me gas, don't ya' know...) Therefore, I really appreciate your openness to change, Pat. <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

It wouldn't have been anything really major that this Entirely Hypothetical Person would have said -- just inadvertantly waspish and dumb. Had it been deliberately waspish the EHP wouldn't take it back even if hell <u>did</u> freeze over, but if it should ever happen that this EHP did say something that he-or-she (as the case may be) didn't realize sounded the way it did until later on ... well ...

I'm sure you all get the picture by now, and since it's also waaaay past my bedtime, I'm going to turn in. Thanks for the advice. I'll pass it along to Entirely Hypothetical.

Yeah Muffy: that mostly applys to bumping or doing something innocent, and saying 'your sorry'...Sometimes that's imbred in a person.

NEW YEARS is a good time, to make peace with rivals....SO BTW Smurf, where the hell are you hiding, and can we crash your wedding reception??? Ya, gotta fill us in kid!..<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/reddevil.gif" width=16 height=16>

Yeah, RB. They're more commonly known as "manners", those "inbred behaviors", are. <u>Good</u> manners in this case, painstakingly instilled into you by your parents, no doubt.

It's AKA "good breeding," in fact. "Class," too.
Hmmmmn.

hehee ti tienes un great wit, Muffy Chica!! heeheheh

hehee ti tienes un great wit, Muffy Chica!! heeheheh

ooops, tu tienes, i mean, (had to speed Bump, there)

It took me awhile to realize this was the best thread or topic I ever touched on! And between all the bad ones, there were many words of wisdom. Something that comes with yrs. of living....

*Manners: We all like the please and thank-you, routine. But in reality, it's like getting a dog, to do a trick for a treat. Why should a child thank his parent for making him breakfast (or giving him substanance)??? The child didn't ask to be born. When they're 18 you can kick thier ass out, and make em buy thier own breakfast!

**Please and thank-you are over rated! Why should I ask the man at the market a question, followed with a please. Isn't my money good enough? He seems to think so. Why should he thank me? His produce is great, or I wouldn't go there in the first place! Yes, I've told him that. I think, 'he' understood me!?

Happy New Years....<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/peace.gif" width=16 height=16>

Manners are a way of acknowledging the kindness, of others, Rb. They are a way of saying... "of all the ways you could treat me, you chose a kind, caring way, and I appreciate that"
The great thing is, manners are infectous, and they cause spontaneous smiles... hardness and tough times will come along. It's nice to create pleasent times in small ways, to counteract the tough, hard ones...

I dunno, RB. I guess I like for my interpersonal exchanges to be about more than money. That, and whatever one may assume is going to be understood by another, might not be.
As for kids not asking to be born -- there are entire belief systems that would argue that point to begin with, but if you want to run with that one, OK. Did the parents ask for reproductive systems, then? What's to keep these parents from dumping the kid off at the nearest orphanage with nothing more than a "sayonara sucker"? Or leaving the child out to die of exposure, the way some cultures used to do on a semi-regular basis? Is it the same to you if someone takes the trouble to cook you a satisfying, tasty, nourishing meal, as it is if they just set out any old can and a can opener on the table?

Think we shuld do away with applause for performers, while we're at it? After all, we wouldn't have paid to get in if we didn't want to see the show. Right? And we're free to leave if we don't like it. Performers should stop thanking the audience as well, because it's surely understood that the performer is grateful to be up on stage, instead of out digging ditches or waiting on tables for a living. Correct?

I dunno, RB. I just don't know about you, sometimes. <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/rolleyes.gif" width=15 height=15> You said it yourself: it's nice to get a thank you and a please. It feels good. And because it feels good to us, we do it to the next guy so he or she will feel good, too. It's got nothing whatsoever to do with produce or pesos.

As for the thing with parents and children: I really don't think it's a good idea to teach children that anyone owes it to them to act as their servant. But then, I think children should be treated with courtesy and respect, also.

Hey: You asked. Don't go blaming me if you didn't like the answer. Please? <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif" width=15 height=15>

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 1 times, lastly by muffy on Dec 29, 2001 ---</FONT></center>

Oh, and Bump: Thanks. <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

I like "please" and "thank you" and "excuse me" also how are you and all kinds of things like that..but I bet we could all do without "have a nice day" which actually was has been replaced by "have a great day" due to inflation, I assume.

LOL Pat. How did you know that was crossing my mind even as I was writing the last post?

It's a cultural thing, too. My old heroes, the Mayans (remember the Mayans?), have no word for "thank-you" or "yes" in their language -- and yet as a group, they are certainly among the most polite and considerate people around. It has to do with what you're expressing, I think, more than anything else.

CAUTION, MND CROSSING AHEAD!