Apology and Mea Culpa

cnorman18 · Post by **cnorman18** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 2:39 pm

The Irony Gods have struck again; immediately after praising another member for a retraction and apology, I find myself compelled to post my own.

The following exchange of private messages will do to begin with, I think.

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From: Otseng, Administrator of the forum

Charles,

I'd like to ask you to avoid usage of crude language when responding to posters.

http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 602#325602

Usage of "c***" and "b****" does not set the level of civility that I would like to see on this forum. You are free to pour your emotions into your posts. And I know you are extremely eloquent enough to express yourself without resorting to usage of such terms.

Thanks

Oliver

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From: cnorman18, member and moderator

You are quite right, and I apologize. I will do so publicly on the "Chat" board later in the day. I was about to anyway.

It occurred to me yesterday, as I was about to edit "G**d****d" from another member's post, that I couldn't since I had used the word myself. I'm sorry, Oliver. My emotions are kind of at the surface lately, and I should have known better.

May I have your permission to post this exchange? It might also publicly make the point that we on the moderating team are also subject to the rules and appropriate discipline.

Thanks,

Charles

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From: Otseng

Thanks, Charles. Yes, feel free to publicly post this.

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My errors and discourtesy have appeared on other threads as well, and I apologize for all. No matter to what degree I have been personally offended by another member, or how strongly I feel about a given issue, there is NO EXCUSE for foul language, blatant discourtesy, or open contempt. That is the standard I have applied to others, and I was being a hypocritical, um, something, by not applying that same standard to myself, never mind my lame disclaimers.

I am very ashamed and sorry, truly, and I resolve not to do this again. I ask all the members here to forgive me (which is traditional for my people during the High Holy Days anyway, though I'm a day late) and hope that whatever confidence in my fairness and integrity that may have existed before these lapses might be restored.

Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

Abraxas · Post by **Abraxas** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 2:28 pm

I don't think there is anyone here who doesn't still have full confidence in you. That you took the initiative to apologize for the lapse in courtesy and did so publicly, as well as committing to avoid the error in the future demonstrates that the trust is well placed. You are human, you make mistakes, as we all do, but you choose to learn from those mistakes and do better next time which is why you have held our respect and will continue to.

Also, as an aside, those particular words dashed out from the first letter onward look much, much dirtier than the actual words. Just sayin'.

cnorman18 · Post by **cnorman18** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 3:47 pm

Abraxas wrote:I don't think there is anyone here who doesn't still have full confidence in you. That you took the initiative to apologize for the lapse in courtesy and did so publicly, as well as committing to avoid the error in the future demonstrates that the trust is well placed. You are human, you make mistakes, as we all do, but you choose to learn from those mistakes and do better next time which is why you have held our respect and will continue to.

Thank you. The whole experience was humbling, as are your words in a different way.

Also, as an aside, those particular words dashed out from the first letter onward look much, much dirtier than the actual words. Just sayin'.

That does happen. One of the guys in the Monty Python troupe used to tell of a scene that showed two men in a bathtub, where the line was "They washed their arms, they washed their legs, and then they washed their naughty bits."

After the censors did their thing, the line went, "They washed their arms, they washed their legs, and then they washed their (beep)."

Pretty easy call, I'd say.

In other words, you're right. Which is why we don't allow that, either...

Slopeshoulder · Post by **Slopeshoulder** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 10:41 pm

dang, you lowered the bar and I followed. Now I'll have to clean it up too!

i'm one p***ed off mofo.

Well done Charles! You're a gent.

But I do wonder, when people are truly beyond the pale, is reporting enough? Civility is hard to maintain, but it's very worthwhile to try hard; the alternatives on the web are so so very terrible.

JoeyKnothead · Post by **JoeyKnothead** » Wed Sep 22, 2010 12:34 pm

I can't cast a stone, let alone the first'n.

I consider admitting one is in error to be an integral part in the process of becoming better.

Lux · Post by **Lux** » Wed Sep 22, 2010 1:00 pm

It takes a big person to do what you did here, Charles. Everyone makes mistakes, it's all in the way we deal with them.

cnorman18 · Post by **cnorman18** » Wed Sep 22, 2010 5:15 pm

Lucia wrote:It takes a big person to do what you did here, Charles. Everyone makes mistakes, it's all in the way we deal with them.

Hey! I USED to be big. Now I'm smaller...

And everyone here knows that I NEVER make misteaks.

Lux · Post by **Lux** » Wed Sep 22, 2010 5:18 pm

cnorman18 wrote:
Lucia wrote:It takes a big person to do what you did here, Charles. Everyone makes mistakes, it's all in the way we deal with them.
Hey! I USED to be big. Now I'm smaller...

And everyone here knows that I NEVER make misteaks.

Well, that would be against the diet wouldn't it...