www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall That nasty Eli Toft

Dear folks,

I am making this statement public because it has come to my attention that I have offended many people on the Forum with my style. The complaints about me have been private, in the main, though there's been one public call to discipline me, and I have been chastened.

This makes it difficult for me to apologize personally to those who have been offended to the point where they would have to register private complaints against me. But I do want to apologize to all.

There's not a soul on this Forum that I think badly of, nor have I made any kind of personal attack, so we must be dealing with style. I can be cryptic. I can be brusk. I can do my best to soften those edges.

What I cannot do is compromise on ideas that I hold to be right and true. I cannot stop the formality in my temperament that has been with me since I was a child and nurtured by my mother as politeness and a good thing. I do not work well in blue jeans any more than some of you don't do well in tie and tails. That formality is part of my nature and makes me seem distant when I am not.

So forgive me. Know that I will try to be a better companion here on the Forum, and please please please, if you have a difficulty with me come to me and I will do all in my power to set it right.

Eli

Eli,

We've disagreed but I've not sent the admin any notes about you or your posts. Most of the time I consider such notes to be childish. I've stated some of my disagreements with you others I've just let pass.

I don't really think you have anything to apologize to me about but if it helps I accept your apology. If I have offended you please accept mine.

This should in no way be construed that I agree with you on some points nor that I won't bring them up in the future. Fair enough?

CDL

Dear Eli,

We all get our knuckles wrapped here - and even I was once not allowed to post here for three full weeks! (No, I'm not kidding - it was my fault though).

And people will write e-mails to the Administrator and Moderators. It's not a nice thing, but sometimes it is best for the administrators here to get involved lest a disagreement between posters descend to bad depths.

Other than that, I just don't want to appear to be, well, dissembling . . .

Alex

Thanks to the two of you for writing.

I'll respond more fully to the long note you send to me, Alex, concerning Fr. Maciel.

I am feeling very constrained in what I dare say now, so my posts will be even more cryptic till I can relax a bit again.

Eli

Dear Eli,

I went over some of your posts, and to be honest, I sensed you were being put on the defensive and getting a little frustrated and upset. You stated your position, but it was not a politicly correct one so SHAME ON THOSE that notified the moderators. :p I don't know, but maybe it gives them a sense of power.

The truth is though that the posts were getting a little touchy, what with Alex and etc. etc. :rolleyes: So interference was needed of course. But I think it should have been more even handed.

At least I for one, did not and will not notify anyone. I think it's detrimental to a discussion.

Zenovia

Dear Zenovia,

Just so you know - I reported you to the Moderator!

kidding . . .

Alex