[smc]

Originally Posted by Ashley_PH

The numbers are made up and represent what I think they would have in this fantasy world that I mentioned. It's not meant to be taken too seriously.

I understand the difference between calling someone's idea idiotic and calling someone an idiot. The part that I think was offensive was the "I'm sure it speaks volumes" part. Can you explain what you meant by that if it wasn't implying a negative quality about me?

My post was not aimed to offend anyone and was not written in a rude manner. However, because you thought the idea was idiotic you decided that it spoke volumes about me. That, to me, is not open minded. If you disagree that's fine.

If we are being picky, your post wasn't exactly a masterpiece. I think you should reconsider your usage of "Putting aside". I don't think it means what you think it means. You can't say "putting aside that this seems idiotic to me" and then mention all the things you find illogical about the idea, before finally drawing judgements about the person making the idea. That is not putting aside your opinion whatsoever.

If you want to have a debate about the use of words, word meanings, and intention, I suggest strongly that you read things much more carefully.

My use of "putting aside ..." means exactly what the phrase typically denotes and connotes, and is used correctly. It is not even remotely as you characterize it. I "put aside" the idiocy aspect to ask you, in the same sentence, about where the numbers came from. The remainder of the paragraph was about the numbers. Thus, my usage was correct. Rather than simply saying I thought the contest idea was idiotic and ending there, I continued with the post, putting that aside, to ask about a specific aspect.

As for the "speaks volumes" comment, again you fail to read carefully. I refer specifically to your "first-ever post" being "a bold choice" as what speaks volumes. Never do I state, as you falsely attribute to me that, the my view that the idea is "idiotic" is what speaks volumes.

I write very precisely, and I neither appreciate being misquoted nor do I ever allow anyone to get away with it. Common courtesy in discourse, at a minimum, demands that you do not attribute to people that which they never said or wrote.

What I meant by speaking volumes is that typically the first posts here are either along the lines of "thanks for the pictures" or some very crude sexual remark or some pictures without attribution and the like. Typically, when the first post of a new member is also a new thread, it is on a topic that has been discussed ad infinitum elsewhere on the site or it is devoted to a model who already has a thread devoted to her. When someone goes to the trouble of writing a first post like yours, setting out with a detailed discussion of an idea (even if I happen to find the idea of the contest "idiotic"; remember, my opinion is not the only one that matters, by a long shot) and encouraging others to contribute. That is bold. And so I meant that it says a lot about you that you would take that leap. I realize that not adding anything after the word "volumes" and in the context of the earlier part of the post, it could be taken as a negative. But it was not meant as such.