Thomas Dalton wrote:
You have to admit that you do manage to irritate a significant number of people What you may honestly see as false allegations may be seen in quite a different and equally honest light by others. Sometimes it's not worth it to remark on every perceived offence.
Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by stupidity? It's a good general principle. Stupidity or malice, I'd still rather not let someone bad mouth me and not do anything about it.
You're reminding me of the kid in the schoolyard that everybody picks on. The more he reacts to the slightest offence, the more he gets picked on. Restraint in reacting to comments that may only be obliquely viewed as offensive can have a profound effect in the way others on the list see you.
Ec