Post by james on Mar 27, 2017 5:24:24 GMT
Hello. I am creating this topic to apologize. Many times, on my own blog, on the LDS Church Growth Blog, and even on this forum, people have mentioned that my frequent comments, and the fact that I have been so vocal on certain subjects has served at times to discourage other people from commenting and to portray me as one who regards my own opinion, thoughts, and insights above those of anyone else, and that I should not be commenting anywhere as extensively as I do.
I want to apologize profusely if I have in any way misrepresented myself, my thoughts and opinions, or my motivation and reasoning behind things I say and how much I do comment.
I have been admonished in my patriarchal blessing to share my testimony and experiences, and to lift and encourage wherever the opportunity arises. And I have always tried to use that charge as the driving force behind what I say, how I say it, and the extent of my comments.
I also wanted to explain that, because I am physically disabled, and due to one particular experience, I am presently a mere shadow of the person I was up until that experience happened 13 years ago. At that time, I had 4 surgical procedures within a 3-week period. As a result of some careless work by a resident, following one of those surgeries, I became semi-comatose by the following morning and had to be rushed into emergency surgery to remedy the problem.
And because of that additional trauma, not only did it lead to the experience about which I wrote in the article I was able to have published in the Young Adult section of the July 2015 Ensign, but I also had a near-death experience, the specifics of which I cannot detail in view of how sacred I hold them.
But another result of that traumatic time in my life is that I have not been as sharp, coherent, or intelligent in the last 13 years since. When I attempt to express myself verbally, I often get lost in mid-sentence, or else falter and stumble over my words.
In writing, however, I find that my ability to say what I want is not so limited. The problem with that is that I often ramble, repeat myself to excess, do not clearly convey my point, or belabor it to an extreme.
And sad to say, that has discouraged so many from commenting, and it has colored the way others see me and judge my motivations, intentions, and what I say. Personally, I would hope and do intend for my comments to uplift, inspire, and encourage people to comment. I am absolutely heartbroken to realize that these personal issues with which I struggle may have discouraged people from commenting, have made them see me as having greater regard for my own opinion than a desire to encourage discussion of important topics and a proper respect for the thoughts and opinions of others.
I know that at times, in reflecting on my previous comments on this forum in particular, my worries about having personally offended specific individuals have led me, where I can, to privately message them and issue such apologies previously.
But today, I wanted to explain myself and what I am dealing with in the hopes that my comments on other subjects can be seen as being nothing more or less than I am intending and hoping for them to be. And so, I again apologize if my inability to adequately, succinctly, and sufficiently express myself has prevented or discouraged anyone else from doing likewise.
I would also like to invite and encourage anyone who does have any future issue with things I've said or the way I've said them to call me on that, whether publicly through future comments on the relevant topics, or privately through the messaging capabilities of this blog.
Thanks to you all for being willing to bear with, tolerate, overlook, and excuse my loquacity and verbosity. I hope that this explanation will smooth over and ameliorate any hard feelings anyone here might be harboring against me.
If anyone would like to comment on my situation, I would welcome that, but it is not necessary. I merely wanted to explain my situation and circumstances in this regard so that hopefully I can thereby avoid unintentionally causing problems with anyone else on this forum.
Thank you all so much for allowing me to ramble on as I do. Please do let me know if this ever becomes too much of a problem for any of you. I would regret not being able to continue to share what insights I have on this forum, but if it would be in the best interests of other contributors, I would be willing, to give up my membership here and not make any future contributions.
If, however, this explanation made today can clarify things sufficiently to make that unnecessary, I would consider it a high honor indeed to be able to continue my membership and comments. Because my situation is so unpredictable, I cannot promise that I will be able to change how frequently and how extensively I comment here. I have taken upon myself the task of trying to steer the conversation about topics I have started and to keep it to the point. But I know that too has at times alienated some of you, and I apologize for that as well.
I again apologize for how my situation has affected my comments here. It is an ongoing daily struggle for me, and I appreciate the chance to explain myself and hopefully avoid future problems. Thanks again, and best wishes to you all.
I want to apologize profusely if I have in any way misrepresented myself, my thoughts and opinions, or my motivation and reasoning behind things I say and how much I do comment.
I have been admonished in my patriarchal blessing to share my testimony and experiences, and to lift and encourage wherever the opportunity arises. And I have always tried to use that charge as the driving force behind what I say, how I say it, and the extent of my comments.
I also wanted to explain that, because I am physically disabled, and due to one particular experience, I am presently a mere shadow of the person I was up until that experience happened 13 years ago. At that time, I had 4 surgical procedures within a 3-week period. As a result of some careless work by a resident, following one of those surgeries, I became semi-comatose by the following morning and had to be rushed into emergency surgery to remedy the problem.
And because of that additional trauma, not only did it lead to the experience about which I wrote in the article I was able to have published in the Young Adult section of the July 2015 Ensign, but I also had a near-death experience, the specifics of which I cannot detail in view of how sacred I hold them.
But another result of that traumatic time in my life is that I have not been as sharp, coherent, or intelligent in the last 13 years since. When I attempt to express myself verbally, I often get lost in mid-sentence, or else falter and stumble over my words.
In writing, however, I find that my ability to say what I want is not so limited. The problem with that is that I often ramble, repeat myself to excess, do not clearly convey my point, or belabor it to an extreme.
And sad to say, that has discouraged so many from commenting, and it has colored the way others see me and judge my motivations, intentions, and what I say. Personally, I would hope and do intend for my comments to uplift, inspire, and encourage people to comment. I am absolutely heartbroken to realize that these personal issues with which I struggle may have discouraged people from commenting, have made them see me as having greater regard for my own opinion than a desire to encourage discussion of important topics and a proper respect for the thoughts and opinions of others.
I know that at times, in reflecting on my previous comments on this forum in particular, my worries about having personally offended specific individuals have led me, where I can, to privately message them and issue such apologies previously.
But today, I wanted to explain myself and what I am dealing with in the hopes that my comments on other subjects can be seen as being nothing more or less than I am intending and hoping for them to be. And so, I again apologize if my inability to adequately, succinctly, and sufficiently express myself has prevented or discouraged anyone else from doing likewise.
I would also like to invite and encourage anyone who does have any future issue with things I've said or the way I've said them to call me on that, whether publicly through future comments on the relevant topics, or privately through the messaging capabilities of this blog.
Thanks to you all for being willing to bear with, tolerate, overlook, and excuse my loquacity and verbosity. I hope that this explanation will smooth over and ameliorate any hard feelings anyone here might be harboring against me.
If anyone would like to comment on my situation, I would welcome that, but it is not necessary. I merely wanted to explain my situation and circumstances in this regard so that hopefully I can thereby avoid unintentionally causing problems with anyone else on this forum.
Thank you all so much for allowing me to ramble on as I do. Please do let me know if this ever becomes too much of a problem for any of you. I would regret not being able to continue to share what insights I have on this forum, but if it would be in the best interests of other contributors, I would be willing, to give up my membership here and not make any future contributions.
If, however, this explanation made today can clarify things sufficiently to make that unnecessary, I would consider it a high honor indeed to be able to continue my membership and comments. Because my situation is so unpredictable, I cannot promise that I will be able to change how frequently and how extensively I comment here. I have taken upon myself the task of trying to steer the conversation about topics I have started and to keep it to the point. But I know that too has at times alienated some of you, and I apologize for that as well.
I again apologize for how my situation has affected my comments here. It is an ongoing daily struggle for me, and I appreciate the chance to explain myself and hopefully avoid future problems. Thanks again, and best wishes to you all.