JJ's response and Mac's

Kenny's words are in italics, are respectful and deserve a response. Maugham promised that if he was such that he would disappear for reasons cited below. I appear in his stead. And yes, Maugham is my creation. Kenny and I just legitimately disagree on the device.
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Mac, I have to assume you're as sick of this as I am.

I do tire of this, but Maugham doesn't, and won't. He comes from good warrior stock and is indefatiguable. That's the beauty of having your own tireless thug around.

But me? Yeah, sure.

Now, I have not been very patient. This is true. Do I regret what I have said? Yes.

Thank you for saying so. I respect that.

Let me ask you. If someone said something negative about one of your friends, wouldn't you step up? If someone said something vile, would you not return the favor?

It's an interesting question in this dynamic. I myself, rarely would. I did take initial umbrage to Doug's remarks as being cruel. Usually I leave it to Maugham to address such stuff. I think by now you understand the dynamic. You seem a bright man, even if we do not agree.

What Doug said about you and your family, I do not agree with. But I did not appreciate your choice to make your feelings about him public. What Doug said in his blog was strictly related to politics and contained no personal attacks. You could have let bygones be bygones (since you do seem obsessed with "forgiveness") and there would have been no problem.

It's possible that in the flurry of attacks on my character, sexuality, politics, family and everything else but a whole host of people at his site that I lost some sight of which ones were from him. He did, I know, go overboard and made numerous personal attacks (outside his attacks in emails) then the piling on was quit intense (I hope you can see that we have tried not to do that here so very much...your own real answers have been respected).

We have no problem with people coming to the forum to disagree.

I disagree. Martha has proved this is not so.

What we did have a problem with was your choice to post under multiple identities and then to lie about the fact that they belonged, in fact, to you.

Yes, I understood this. And I am, admittedly still a bit ambiguous about it. I did talk openly about it though and also did ask for forgiveness and I did apologize...heartfelt.

It's not as black and white for me as it is for you. I respect that it is for you. I do. I think that is why I felt I HAD to apologize. To NOT do so, would be to negate your, and others, deep sense of offense, even though I do not totally agree.

I agreed "enough" and cared enough to apologize. Note that Martha called me on the carpet every bit as much. yet she was banned for no such offense.

When we revealed this, you attempted to spin the exposure of your alter-ego as some sort of great moral lesson. That is what we didn't appreciate. Whether your opinions differed from Doug's or not, Jon invited you to the forum in good faith.

If it was "bad faith" (as Peter Berger would define it) for me to show up as Maugham, it was not less so than for Jon to come to my site in the way he did. I was clearly baited. Even so, it does not negate your point. I have learned from this.

While some of us were already licking our chops after reading the messages on this blog, Jon did not. He did not jump into the fray until after the IP reveal and subsequent flame war. But then again, if I remember correctly, I also attempted a civil discussion with you until the truth was revealed.

I have a hard time keeping you all straight. I know that Sideache and Achoo were both quite contained and gracious (by comparison with what ranks up with the rite of Tareboleum). For the most point it was a shitstorm.

Yes, I have been rather rude to you and for that I am truly sorry. I am prepared to admit that I am in the wrong if you are prepared to do the same.

Sure. Deal. We do not need to agree on details. I can tell your offer is sincere. So was mine a few weeks back. Even so, I am twice your age and should be able to suck it up a little better. You're a good man to be able to do so now. I do respect that.

I said earlier that I was leaving and I ended up not doing so. I have to do so now because, quite literally, my health can no longer take it.

Two responses. yes, I meant to push you, becaue shaming and blaming is a bad habit to get into. But I am concerned about your health and I want you to thrive and be healthy. I will pray for your strength and I imagine Martha will too. It's just our way. You will be in our prayers dauly...especially given what I just read below.

The only excuse (which really is no excuse) that I can give for the things that I have said to you is, as tangential as it may seem, I have been under a lot of worrying stress. Specifically, I have friends and family in both Florida and Louisiana. If you have any knowledge of current events, I think that should say enough.

It does. It is not uncommon to transfer anxiety (I have done it myself) outwardly. It doesn't matter. What matters simply, is that your family and friends are in danger. That is what matters. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.

If it's any consolation, and I doubt it is, you're not the only one who has felt my wrath in the past 2 weeks or so.

If it makes you feel any better, when I was 26 I was a fricken attack dog. I headed up an apologetics ministry and routinely evicerated my opponents.

I was sincere. But it was not done in love, or was done in misguided love at best.

I meant well. I really did.

Hey Bro...how do you think I know all yer guy's tricks?

We made kneejerk assessments of your character in regards to your political beliefs, but if you read over your first letter to Doug, you do the same thing.

I did. I do, however, feel mine were based more on reason...like not gassing people with DDT or hosing them down. His assumptions of me were unfounded. I would NEVER advocate the same for a conservative. No...respect, not violence. I sometimes votes for conservatives. I did not appreciate being smeared.

Take a look at it from his perspective. If a right-winger had sent you the same letter, with the political spectrums reversed, how would you have reacted?

Regardless, if you are genuinely sorry for your conduct on our board, then I am ready to apologize for mine on your blog.

Done.

GO take care of your family and your health. Keep us posted (I am DEAD serious). I think I know Martha enough (we have never met) to know she will pray for you and your family Kenny. Keep in touch. Peace.