I need to make one thing abundantly clear. No one, and I stress NO ONE can ruin your happiness, your enjoyment or the like unless YOU allow them to. With that said, those whom have reached out to me, thank you, I appreciate it. Understand this, it was more about me, than anyone or anything else.

I do not see you as user names on the internet. I see you as someone whom I look up to as the big brother I never had and selfishly depend on to set me straight when I get out of line. I see you as someone who lost their father and suffered through a difficult marriage with an alcoholic. I see you as a parent who had to endure the pain and everyday fear that you may lose a precious child. I see you as someone who recently lost a parent and on the surface handled it better than I am. I see you as a person who has suffered many family losses, open heart surgery and financial difficulties who still smiles every day. I see your pride in your military son. I see you as a proud military person who lost a close member to your family. I see you as someone who offered me several hundred dollars for no good reason whatsoever. I see another proud military person who I mistakenly said a “your wife” joke to failing to realize your wife passed away. To this day I feel bad about that. I could go on and on… the point is … you are not some String of characters to me. There is a person behind that user name and I never forget that. And yes, there are moments I am weak and let it get to me that you do not realize that behind Zero2Cool is a proud father worried shitless of failing his girls, a son striving ever so hard not to disappoint his parents, an over protective big brother, … a person.

We all have trials and tribulations and how we handle them is of our own choosing and I choose not to disclose much of my personal life or hardships to anyone. They are mine and mine alone and I will resolve my conflicts on my own. I have a plethora of reasons behind this and I do not foresee anyone ever changing that. As the saying goes, fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. I do not make the same mistake twice.

I can't speak for all members here.. but many of us don't forget that you are Kevin.

Sometimes it is lost in the medium.. sometimes it isn't said often.. and sometimes it is lost in the moment is discussions.

Just because we may disagree at times.. doesn't mean that I don't respect the other member. Just because sometimes it is a discussion upon facts or understanding.. doesn't mean it is trying to show up the other. Sometime it is a conversation upon the understanding of facts.. or the misreading or poor presentation of thoughts or comments.

And sometimes.. we can't tell what the others are feeling that day and fail to yield the jokes or jest. Some days, the jest is fine.. the next it is the cause for discontent because of other factors. That is the only problem with this media.. it doesn't frame to context of the posts or read the body language of the other that a personal conversation may. I know I crack on buddies all the time in face to face discussions.. and sometimes I forget that this media lacks some of those more personal elements. I try to remember to use the icons to support that when the intent is to joke or jest.

Example.. I completely missed Zombie's sarcasm in a post.. I responded with a brutal assault on his pass happy ass.. never hit the post button, but wanted to drop it on him. In place I went with a much milder approach and it was deemed it was a failure on my part to interpret his sarcasm. I knew he wasn't serious because of his thousands of posts but just the same I disagreed with his concept.. and it irritates me to no end that I cannot get him to see the light.

Edited by member Monday, January 7, 2013 3:37:18 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

I know that feeling too well.

Actually, it's fool me twice, can't get fooled again.

Didn't The Who write a song about that?

Anyway, good post, Kevin. I haven't been around that much the last few months, but from the time I joined as a barely English speaking, not having a clue about football boy a few years ago, it's always felt like more than just some forum.

Well, his English is really good now.

Glad to have you back Zero.We all need breaks in our lives from time to time.

beautiful
schön
leuk