The Basement
After many things came to a head, from online interaction to offline personal stuff, I decided to shut down The Basement. On the wah wah hurt side, I feel like no one deserves an explanation after what I feel was some unnecessary commentary, especially after I clarified what I meant time-and-time again. On the calm and collected side, I do think I owe as best of an explanation as I feel like I can give to the people who enjoyed The Basement as much as I have. So, yes, the back-and-forth was a catalyst, but it wasn't the reason. I've already mentioned Kate's upcoming hysterectomy. It's taken a long goddam time to get to the point where we're at with that, which has taxed me financially and emotionally.
I took the medicine I have recommended to others and had pulled back. However, I also felt I had a responsibility to at least check in from time-to-time. Unfortunately those times validated a growing concern that I wasn't giving it the attention it needed - the gallery is an example of that feeling.
Like I have said many times before, I have nothing to hide. However, there are some things that I just won't volunteer unless I'm forced in a position to do so. One thing I've never hidden was the fact that I contemplated shutting down The Basement many times. Was it a knee jerk reaction? Probably. I know my wife thinks my decision was hasty, especially after the times she's been dragged in from wrongful implications to online sexual harassment. (Some jackasses might think I'm being extreme by the latter, but I do believe that character and personal interaction drive what people can and can't get away with from other people. I believe that if a person who has a "bone to pick with me" doesn't keep his focus on the prize then they are a coward for having to involve other people.) Which leads me back to the point that I've never hid from things that spin me up. Like I said on Fredtalk, people who know me, even just from reading the boards, will know what will set me off. To me, a friend won't cross that line. The Basement has helped me create a buffer, so there have been times I've been able to let comments pass without a peep from me, but if people are as smart and as observant as they claim they are, they should know that my threshold has been more than reached, it's been ripped to shreds.
So, contrary to what people's signatures, comments, or forums might imply, I think that The Basement being around as long as it was has more than shown that I mean what I say. I won't deny that I have a threshold like everyone else - which is evident by people's reactions to my comments. I think I've explained myself more than enough, and all I can offer is an apology. After all the hoopla, which continues today, and the lack of understanding, especially the lack of background chatter by people who I thought were friends, I don't feel like the sincerity is there.
To say I'm not saddened that The Basement is gone would be a lie. One of the things I got from my interaction on there was facing aspects of my personality that I was ashamed to admit I had, including the feeling that I wasn't being as involved as I should have been in running it.
Lastly, I want to apologize to my wife. I could have kept my mouth shut, as people have stated, but then The Basement wouldn't have been what it was if I had censored myself. Unfortunately, as an innocent in all of this and someone who was smart enough to stay out of it all, you had to get dragged in. I'm sorry, sweetie.
/drama queen out
I took the medicine I have recommended to others and had pulled back. However, I also felt I had a responsibility to at least check in from time-to-time. Unfortunately those times validated a growing concern that I wasn't giving it the attention it needed - the gallery is an example of that feeling.
Like I have said many times before, I have nothing to hide. However, there are some things that I just won't volunteer unless I'm forced in a position to do so. One thing I've never hidden was the fact that I contemplated shutting down The Basement many times. Was it a knee jerk reaction? Probably. I know my wife thinks my decision was hasty, especially after the times she's been dragged in from wrongful implications to online sexual harassment. (Some jackasses might think I'm being extreme by the latter, but I do believe that character and personal interaction drive what people can and can't get away with from other people. I believe that if a person who has a "bone to pick with me" doesn't keep his focus on the prize then they are a coward for having to involve other people.) Which leads me back to the point that I've never hid from things that spin me up. Like I said on Fredtalk, people who know me, even just from reading the boards, will know what will set me off. To me, a friend won't cross that line. The Basement has helped me create a buffer, so there have been times I've been able to let comments pass without a peep from me, but if people are as smart and as observant as they claim they are, they should know that my threshold has been more than reached, it's been ripped to shreds.
So, contrary to what people's signatures, comments, or forums might imply, I think that The Basement being around as long as it was has more than shown that I mean what I say. I won't deny that I have a threshold like everyone else - which is evident by people's reactions to my comments. I think I've explained myself more than enough, and all I can offer is an apology. After all the hoopla, which continues today, and the lack of understanding, especially the lack of background chatter by people who I thought were friends, I don't feel like the sincerity is there.
To say I'm not saddened that The Basement is gone would be a lie. One of the things I got from my interaction on there was facing aspects of my personality that I was ashamed to admit I had, including the feeling that I wasn't being as involved as I should have been in running it.
Lastly, I want to apologize to my wife. I could have kept my mouth shut, as people have stated, but then The Basement wouldn't have been what it was if I had censored myself. Unfortunately, as an innocent in all of this and someone who was smart enough to stay out of it all, you had to get dragged in. I'm sorry, sweetie.
/drama queen out
