drathe, Sjeng--you may want to sticky this.
1. I am not insane. I am extremely logical, but I hold that logic is not always the best reasoning. I accept the ways that I am illogical.
2. I write the same way that I speak--straight-faced, way too fast, and laden with profanity.
3. Everything I say usually means exactly how it reads. Ask me for clarity if you need to.
4. When I learn a new word, I use it as often as I need to until it sticks.
5. I do not hold grudges. My ire is topical. I do not let my opinion over a single topic emotionally carry-over to others.
6. Its not that I do not care about your feelings, its that I just don't think they're a factor in the majority of all instances of discussion.
7. I crave approval. I am the product of a lifetime of being treated with hostility by almost everyone around me. I went to 27 schools from K-12, and I come from Southern Baptist roots. To them, everyone and everything is evil, but what separates them is that they have a personal belief in Jesus. Therefore, they can do anything they want, especially to non-believers.
8. I argue a lot. Do not take that as meaning I disapprove of something, in and of itself. Look for these three things: the argument, my result, and the reason why that the result matters to the topic. Please refer to this topic for an example:
viewtopic.php?f=143&t=1839 It was not always titled thus.
9. If I insult you, I will do so directly. Remember that "stupidity" is wholly relative, and can only actually be assessed incorrectly by a misunderstanding. If something I say is insulting to you, and you think that you should then insult me, go right on ahead. I may not like it, but its your right.
10. Do not try to be a forum-vigilante to "give me a taste of my own medicine," by way of an argument. Unless you are very prepared, your plan will not work. No one is interested in backing you up, because everyone has already figured out that its easier to ignore me as necessary. Bide your time, and wait till I make an argument that I don't really care about, and get me then. It happens.