I've never really had a Zag, but I've had a lot of run ins, and felt Pain. Amongst all of the magnanimous posts here, I think the crux of the biscuit is not the Tao of on-line communities, but rather the moment and mind-set when a dispute occurs, and there is no way reconciling this in a traditional fashion.

There is a desire to get the last word.

A need to appear more adult, sometimes faked to garner support.

There is a wrangling of ego's, and it's easy to think your opponent is the Mekon from Dan Dare, a huge brain on a kids body.

There is the withdrawing from the melee and consoling yourself, with the thought that you are wiser, more mature, socially acceptable if your phantom foe has beat you down.

A fear that beneath the platitudes of reconsiliation, there is a yearning by either party for a rematch.

We'd all love to think we're logical, sensible people, with the best intentions, but it's unhealthy double-talk, quite often.
I admire azatoth for being honest. Whilst I agree with the sentiment of all the ensuing posts... they seem just a smidge hypocritical. Let he who is without sin cast the first --.

--

Brother Frankus.

¤