I have deeply offended xpat. This shocked me, given his extreme good nature. I guess my mistake was forgetting how much self-image people invest in their social associations. Honestly? This is insane to me. But seven billion of you disagree. I’m prepared to argue that you are all nuts and I’m the sole voice of reason, but…with whom? And to what end?
It’s the “labels” things. I avoid labels when thinking about things, but of course that’s impossible when talking about them. At least I got a teeny, tiny insight out of this. Names are good; labels are not. Not to say that labels are necessarily bad; just that they’re not good. Naming something makes it unique, a constant. Labelling something leaves it still a variable.
So when I label Catholics as Obama-dupes, I know a large plurality of them were never fooled. But when people freely join an institution, silence about that organization’s actions is assent. And even when members disagree with the group, attacks on it are taken personally. Always. By every single member. Sometimes almost no offense is taken, sometimes a nerve is hit and and the reaction is severe.
Between having to use labels to communicate, and having to dance around social natures at every turn…I give up. I’m tired. God, I’m sick and tired of trying to be a person. It’s not working. I mean, I just enraged xpat, obviously it’s not working.
I give up. I am losing, or have lost, the ability to profitably communicate with other people. Honest communication, that is. I still delight in honest lies, ie. tales and stories. And still have tales and stories of my own to tell.
But communicating with others? I’m not seeing the benefit to anyone. Are you?
I won’t suddenly retire the blog, and don’t want to. I’m just…burrowing a little deeper for a bit. Several of you can post already here whenever you’d like. I’ll keep the site going and check back in case someone new wants the ability to post. Maybe (probably) put up a post here and there. Maybe crawl back up when spring rolls around. Who knows. But no talk on anything you take seriously; I will inevitably give offense.
You’ve all been wonderful, I wish your host had been. I honestly have not seen another site…ever…with more consistently thoughtful commenters. I know it’s not likely that you’ll keep a community going here, but of course it’s great if you do.
Thank you for visiting this site, and me. When I saw how much I’ve offended xpat, I realized I’ve surely offended you all, probably many times. I am sorry. Meanwhile those I wish to offend are blissfully unaware as they steal and enslave and hate. So, let them. Nothing I can do about it.
Thank you for being a part of this site. It’s been over seven months since it signed off. Maybe that’s why I’m tired; doing a show for 5,000 straight hours will do that to you. So goodbye for now, Channel WORM Co-60 is signing off. God bless you all.
World's Only Rational Man 
Nolite te bastardes carborundorum (yeah, I know it isn’t truly a Latin phrase, but I think it captures things rather poeticall)
I recommend copious quantities of alcohol, preferably of high quality. (Thunderbird isn’t going to cut it) and reply to me in the morning.
Guinness and Jameson are my choices. Your mileage may vary.
This is the best beer I have ever tasted. As an added bonus, it makes a wonderful black and tan with Guinness.
I see I need to drag you to Stift Heiligenkreuz. Now that… is a beer.
I’ve not tried it, and I tend to find the Trappist beers to be a too strong (taste-wise), though I’m always willing to try a new brew. If I can hunt some down on this side of the pond, I’ll give it a try.
I admit to being partial to stouts.
Once in a while I find a place that serves a good oatmeal stout. When I do, I try to grab a pint.
It’s a small monastery not far from Vienna. Still full of monks and they make the beer themselves. The attached restaurant sells it, together with some of the best game I’ve ever had in a restaurant east of the Semmering.
http://www.stift-heiligenkreuz.org/
Famous Mayerling isn’t far from it either.
Why would you care if you offend someone?
It’s one thing to be a dick and try to be obnoxious, it’s entirely another thing to have well grounded, logical beliefs and opinions and to express them in a frank or even blunt manner. If anyone finds the latter offensive, it’s their problem, not yours.
….and you’ve never offended me.
When I see “offensive” and similar I always, always, always, always, always, ALWAYS…. must drag out what Stephen Fry said.
Say it ain’t so Joe. Kum-ba-ya maybe? Throw it out anyway and let the chips fall. Can’t find the link but a member a Catholic economist is majorly annoyed with the bishops.
Ditto SDH’s reply. Never been offended; doubt I ever would be. Hope you change your mind. BTW, I’m surprised you didn’t post about the recent new Nuke plant approval. Has the design been modernized? Now I”m going to have to read that long Catholic thread to see what offense was laid and how.
Hey! Me either!! Don’t go, Wormme..When people get offended, it’s because maybe there is some truth to the thoughts and it’s hard to digest. As Eleanor said- people can only be offended if they want to be. And I am sure you did not set out to cause offense but merely to engage debate. Come baaaaaack!!!
Don’t make me go all K.C and The Sunshine Band on you…”Babe, we love you sooo-oooo, please don’t go…
I’m falling in step with the rest. You’ve never offended me Wormme.
Though, I doubt anyone here can actually offend me. You can of course all try, but I doubt it’ll work.
Oh, for goodness’ sake Worme, you didn’t offend me, even a little. There were statements about sectarian things, a few of which could be construed as being offensive in a general way but not personally offensive to me. (I haven’t gone back to note the latest evolution of the thread.)
You’re the Worme! How could I be offended by Wormeness?
I got hot under the collar about a couple of sectarian issues, mostly miscommunicated. I’ll feel really bad if you stop or interrupt blogging on account of that.
See, this is why I don’t post but stay hidden and, as long as possible, harmless, in comments. This always happens sooner or later (for any number of causes) and then I mess stuff up for everyone else because of some stupid *ssed hissy fit.
It reflects well on you that you care about it, but I wish you wouldn’t!
Wait, to prove that I mean it, think of Edo. (Sorry, Edo. I just have to use you for reference purposes.)
Think of everything Edo says on the subject of religion. Could Worme ever approach that? Very doubtful. But, am I offended by Edo? No. Occasionally I think, “Whoa! That is over the top, Edo!” But I have a huge amount of fun talking to Edo.
Be glad I never studied medicine. I would be House.
I swear, Edo, I don’t get half of your references, even when you’re talking Japanalia. (But that’s OK! That’s OK!)
Houseisms… AWAY!
LLOL. Funny.
F***. I don’t want to be known as the one who made Worme stop posting. Worme’s voice is too important, and anyway, I love it here!
Edo, do something!!!!!
Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!
I strongly doubt that this was the only thing going on, be patient.
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Phew! Thanks for clearing things up, Xpat…Now I can celebrate, because I am dead sure Wormme likes us as much as we lurves him!! Hat gluhewein fur alles!! 🙂
Thanks for jumping in, Wormites.
Worme is totally my hero. It wouldn’t be the first joint I ruined, but it would definitely be the best.
I was also starting to get that “in light of this outcome I . . . might . . . not . . . be . . . too . . . welcome . . . round . . . here” vibe. Kind of like that scene in Three Amigos:
Xpat,
I finally got a chance to read some of your comments from the post in question, I didn’t get the impression you were offended, just disagreeing.
As MG says, I would suspect there’s more going on in W.O.R.M’s life. I do hope he reconsiders his exile.
I just went back and reviewed, too. I think that I eventually got it together at least in terms of coherence, but that my first responses were incoherent, immature, and largely suck-worthy.
Well then, thanks. I should stop hectoring then.
Or, No! I demand Worme not have a life and come back right now, or I’m going to have another tantrum. And this time it’s going to be a really, really BIG one!
Not really.
It would be fine with me to delete that whole thread, but Worme probably wouldn’t do it, on ethical grounds.