I wasn’t implying you were still tormented by demons, if I did it certainly wasn’t my intention. It seems you and I had similar experiences, and somehow we both got through it more or less unscathed.

“I do find myself being more sensitive to other people. I find myself making every effort possible to include everyone when possible.”

I do too, but “when possible” is the key point here.

“My posts were meant to point out that it is quite often those people who were excluded and discriminated against who go on to exclude and discriminate later.”

That is true…some people let their demons control them into adulthood. However, like I said, I wasn’t implying you were one of those people.

“I don’t mean to single you, or even Dan out. If I were meaning to do that, or if I were sincerely pissed off by it, I would have linked your site and directly addressed the posts to you.”

Good, that’s much appreciated. I always like knowing exactly where I stand with people.

“I’ve got no problems doing that as anyone who regularly reads this blog can attest to (check out my Flaming Fuck You’s for proof of that!).”

Oh yes…I have a few of those as well (albeit buried deep in my archives).

“I really want to address the rest of your comment, but I want to do a cohesive and thought out response that comment-reply doesn’t really allow.”

Let’s just discuss this in email…comment sections aren’t exactly conducive to dialogue (at least in my opinion).

“For the record, what I told you at the party, that I enjoy your writing and that I always thought we had a lot in common and could be great friends still stands.”

And the feeling is mutual. No animosity from my end…just discussing things with a fellow gentleman.

I do find myself being more sensitive to other people. I find myself making every effort possible to include everyone when possible.

My posts were meant to point out that it is quite often those people who were excluded and discriminated against who go on to exclude and discriminate later.

I don’t mean to single you, or even Dan out. If I were meaning to do that, or if I were sincerely pissed off by it, I would have linked your site and directly addressed the posts to you. I’ve got no problems doing that as anyone who regularly reads this blog can attest to (check out my Flaming Fuck You’s for proof of that!).

I really want to address the rest of your comment, but I want to do a cohesive and thought out response that comment-reply doesn’t really allow.

For the record, what I told you at the party, that I enjoy your writing and that I always thought we had a lot in common and could be great friends still stands.

As far as your Valentines Day history…if you think you’re the only one who had to endure such indignation, you’re wrong. I never got many Valentines either (I dreaded Valentine’s Day), and to be honest, I usually sat at the lunch table by myself. I too was considered “gifted” but I was such a fucking weirdo I didn’t have many friends. I was also called faggot and beat up every other day and often climbed up and hid on garage roofs on my way home to avoid the gangs from the public school who preyed on Catholic school kids like me. I wore thick glasses and listened to strange music and was horrible at sports. I wore braces, had a stutter, and read Kurt Vonnegut instead of Sports Illustrated. Gym glass was an ordeal. However, I have moved on and exorcised my demons from the past, as they were seriously affecting my adult life and hampering my efforts to move beyond the humiliation of my childhood and adolescence.

Peace, Jester.