We shall sell no cheese before it's time?

Thanks for keeping up with this thread John H and commenting on the same IPs occassionally thing.

But our IP addresses on the web would be the same during work hours because we're behind the same corporate firewall.

Of course Plasmo and I aren't claiming to be nothing to do with another.

Well, no, but consider that a compliment. I claim this all the time about other friends. ;)

I've been wandering, reading everywhere, before I signed up, but actually did sign up so I could respond to a post. I read the FAQ, and am sorry that I haven't fulfilled the spirit of the boards, though I certainly intended to do so. I want to apologize for having caused offense or even a moment of grief. I just discovered this particular board and realized you were talking about me and the Mieskie/idiot thing after skimming a few posts. I had been suffering some insomnia lately and read a huuuge number of posts (intending to read them all but couldn't make it through), but couldn't remember enough of most of them to comment on when I signed up - I was so excited about finding this board that I wanted to post to everything - blame it, please, on my unfortunate tendency to enthusiasm when I find something intelligent online. I hadn't read anything else by Mieskie until I read the idiots thing, and, being very new here, said things I shouldn't - namely, that I thought he was misunderstood. I didn't take him as being deliberately offensive, and that could be because I hadn't read anything else of his or because I was very tired when I read the posts - or, who knows, because I tend to try to think the best of everyone. I think I responded to his posts in particular because the discussion went on so long that it caught my attention. I did notice that no one else was posting when we got into the rather long OT stuff, and thought "uh oh" and, because I had work to do, left when he did. I had intended to leave sooner, but didn't want to be rude if he was still responding to something I said. I did read other posts the rest of the day, but didn't post much because I'd realized, once again, my fingers (mouth) got away from me. If it will make this community more comfortable, I will immediately pack my tent and go away. I'm extremely embarrassed at the moment, and, if I didn't think you all deserve a heartfelt apology, would have simply gone away with no explanation. I would delete my posts, but then that would leave that glaring "post deleted by" thing in there. If you can delete them without leaving that, I'd be quite happy to have that done. If you want me to delete them, please let me know. My e-mail address in my profile is real if you would prefer to respond to me by e-mail.

Deena, I hope you don't go away!

Deena, this very considerate post of yours is the best possible proof that you shouldn't go away because of a misunderstanding.

I'd say you've fulfilled the spirit of the boards pretty darn well, Deena, so please don't go!

You'll note that we've been a little paranoid since the whole JOSS POSTS thing, and then have these discussions in public, where the people we may be talking about can read them, which is a little weird I know, but anyway.

Deena, please stay. You walked into a weird situation without realizing it. Not your fault. Mieskie was actually being tolerable while you were talking to him, and that's a good thing. Unfortunately, anything he does is going to be viewed with suspicion for awhile.

If it will make this community more comfortable, I will immediately pack my tent and go away. I'm extremely embarrassed at the moment, and, if I didn't think you all deserve a heartfelt apology, would have simply gone away with no explanation.

Dear heavens, no - from all I rememeber reading you've been the soul of courtesy and I really don't think you have anything to worry about other than us being inhospitable.

I'd second what was said before - speaking personally, I'm feeling acutely conscious of the fact that Joss & co may read the threads here, which is why I've had a bit of a hair trigger about some of the stuff on Firefly thread, but there's a lot of YMMV, and I think any humour/personality clashes there are largely my problem which is why I've shut the hell up.

Yes, we try to reign in the natter, but totally don't beat yourself up about it because we all do go off at tangents and get nattery in non-nattery threads. And then someone comes along and says 'Oi, enough with the natter!' and we go 'Oops', and move that conversation over to Natter, or else get back on topic, or whatever.

Seriously, love, you mustn't run away - I mean, I get that you may be feeling upset and like you've done the foot-in-mouth-thing, 'cause I felt like that the other night myself. But please stay. You're very welcome here, and I swear we aren't the unwelcoming baggages you may be thinking right now. Just a little hyper-sensitive because of the publicity we've been getting lately.

I didn't take him as being deliberately offensive, and that could be because I hadn't read anything else of his or because I was very tired when I read the posts - or, who knows, because I tend to try to think the best of everyone.

Props to you. (I don't know that I think he's being deliberately offensive either, fwiw. I have found him offensive, but that's not the same thing & I'm still prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.)

Yes, Deena, please don't leave.

What Nilly said. Being concerned about the community and its members is the surest proof that you belong here.