You're a very fortunate person (or a glaring example of the extreme end of the scale of a statistical anomaly) if you don't have loss or tragedy in your life. I would not envy anyone who fit that description, because the odds of completing their time here on earth and maintaining that streak are infinitesimally low; so much so that the longer those odds are defied the more tragically magnificent the crash when it does inevitably come.
Point being, we all have such trials, maladies and misfortunes in our lives, whether personally or in being touched by someone we know and love.
Sometimes in my preoccupation to make (what I may feel is) a salient point, I may fail to express myself in the most considerate way. If I become aware of it I endeavor to change it; if I only realize it later I rue the bad (and hopefully mistaken) impression I may have made to others here. Written/printed conversation leaves a lot to be desired - tone, facial expressions, demeanor - all that is lacking as opposed to sitting around a table and talking face to face. I try to do better and cut most offenders slack and the benefit of the doubt.
But if you're here long enough, and read these threads/discussions that delve into life and personality (even if you lurk and don't actively participate), as opposed to the technical and shared sides of the hobby that brings us here initially, you start to get to "know" the people who frequent the forum. As much as we may mask it, the more that we as humans have association to those around us the more we betray who we really are. In that light, though I've never met the majority face to face I suspect I would enjoy a trip to the range or sitting around over a beverage in good conversation with many here. Unfortunately, there are some I expect I would just as soon avoid.
As some of you may have read in a previous post or two, my wife's mother was British and the wife was born here after her war bride mother made it to the U.S. . To us it's just an interesting talking point - we've never made much of it or had any significant feeling or interest in that detached part of her heritage nor any affection or animosity for the royal family and their public laundry. It's just what it is.
My view is that interesting people have strong opinions. I care not for milquetoasts and equivocators. But I also highly value courtesy, compassion and kindness. There's a lot to find in some of these discussions to make me sad.
Hoping the best for the king and our British friends.
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