15 September 2011

Some clarifications, I hope

It seems that I need to try and clear up a few things about the old corner and in particular, the way I reply to comments.
First off, I really appreciate all the comments I get here as I never figured that anybody would even read anything I post, let alone take the time to comment on what I post. As I state in my profile, I am just an old, permanently disabled machinist, former US Marine/Vietnam war vet. In short, a ordinary working class guy who just wanted to make a decent life for his family. For the most part, I think I have done that. I know I have made more than a few mistakes along the way in this life. How many people never have made any? Dad used to tell me that the only people who never made any mistakes are the ones who never did anything. The thing is, I try to learn from the mistakes and not keep repeating them over and over.
On that note, it seems that I have made a mistake and then repeated it. 
I refer to y replies to comments here at the old corner. When I reply to comments here I tend to ramble at times and I include in a reply to one comment, my thoughts that apply to another comment made here or in a private email. I often start to reply to a certain comment and go on to include comments from me that would have been better stated to some other comment. For this I apologize as it seems to have got some folks confused and they think I found their comment to be argumentative or such.  I am sorry for any confusion that I have caused with my rambling comments.
I have referred to some negative comments that I have received in the past in private emails and my reply contained references to those negative comments. They were not meant to be directed at the person whose comment I replied to here. Again, that is totally my fault and I apologize for the confusion. I'll try to keep my comments to replies more centered on the particular comment and not just ramble on and include other thoughts.
I would say that I will try to change my "style" in how I reply to comments, but I don't want to elevate my rants or replies to having a "style" as I don't think there is any style to my rants. I basically have something that has got my attention, either it has upset me or it is something I just want to talk about. When I start my rants, I have a basic "idea" if I can elevate my thoughts to such a high level. I try to stay more or less on topic, but usually end up some place else. Sorry, that is just how I am, yes, in person also. As I said, I tend to ramble on and on.
I will try to keep my replies to any comments from going off topic and I will try to keep any thoughts on private emails off here when I reply to any comments. That alone should help to lessen any confusion.
I want to close this post by again saying that I really DO appreciate any and all comments I get. That holds for private emails and comments posted here at the corner. Also, I even appreciate any negative comments as I try to learn from them. Please, this is NOT directed at anybody, just general comments by me.
Thank you all for your time reading this blog and an extra thanks to all who post comments here and/or your emails. 
semper fi.

4 comments:

Tao Dao Man said...

Please do not change anything.
I like it just the way it is.
You have nothing to apologize for.
Political correctness is the same as surrender.
And we have seen enough of that from the D side of the aisle.
There are two things in the middle of the road.
Yellow lines, and road kill.
And you are neither. :-)

gesneri said...

Charlie, it's your blog. I'd say reply as you see fit. I always enjoy reading comments and your replies--it's an expansion of the original "rant".

charlie ehlen said...

RZ,
Thank you for your vote of confidence my friend. I won't change how I post my rants. I do think I may need to change how I write my replies to comments though. I seem to have upset some folks as I often in my replies make generalizations and include comments that do not apply to the person who made a given comment.
I really do apologize for any confusion on the part of any commenter here.

charlie ehlen said...

gesneri,
Thank you for your vote of confidence. I cannot express how good it is that you folks not only read this blog, but that you take the time to comment as well. I am not some credentialed intellectual who makes profound observations, just an ordinary working class guy.
I really do appreciate your comments here. Yes, I feel that at times your comments, that is a collective "you", and my replies is a sort of dialogue. I intend to keep that going as it is how I do things in "real life" and see no reason to stop. I just don't want to confuse folks over my replies to comments. I have done this and will try to not make generalizations and keep my replies to any comment only to that particular comment.
I think the trouble is that I tend to ramble on even in my replies to comments and I include comments that do not apply to that particular comment. I will try to stop that and hope it will end the confusion I have caused some people.
This blog and my replies to comments will not change except I will try to stay on topic when I reply to any comments posted hereI probably should have included a warning here that states something like;"Attention, this blogger (ranter) {me} tends to ramble and stray off topic".
Again, thank you for your time reading and posting at this old corner. ALL comments are greatly appreciated.