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Actual apology

05:28 / 07.08.07

I used to post on Barbelith. Some of you may remember me or not and find that this apology is irrelevant or insignificant. It's just an internet message board and I'm just another "fictionsuit" and don't have to held responsible in the real world for my significant blunder. (see here). I hesistate to call it "mindless" because it seems to imply some kind of let-off I'm allowing myself and I certainly don't want that. Though my "mind" and my politics have significantly changed since then. Which is all fine for me and I doubt it's relevant to anyone at this point. But I was arguing about Martin Heidegger's failure to acknowledge his own "inauthenticity" and repulsive moral acts and attitudes after the second world war and thought it was important that he hold himself accountable. I'm not comparing myself with Heidegger or think that our actions even similar or have the same effect but I think it's important to acknowledge one's errors.

I came to realise relatively quickly after the incident without reading all the messages and objections (which I should've back then and thought it over) that vaccum stuff is bollocks. I browse Barbelith occasionally and don't have the time to follow much of it much less participate in the community. Do forgive me for expressing the dominant discourse which I had internalised and refused to be critical of. I take responsibility for that.

Regrettable Juvenilia

07:48 / 07.08.07

It's actually pretty rare on Barbelith that we get people coming back and making such a complete and unreserved apology. I don't think it's actually that common either on the rest of the internet or in life - entrenching one's position and coming up with a rationale as to why you were justified and everyone else was over-reacting (and so on) is a very, very tempting and easy thing to do. So even when people here do come back with the intention of moving on and hoping past fallings out will be forgotten, they usually do it by stealth - changing their name and hoping nobody notices (and some people/moderators actually advocate this as a good way to move forward, which I've never agreed with). When people do apologise, so often it comes with some kind of caveat or get-out clause or reservation.

I think nothing short of a complete and unreserved apology was warranted, but I think the fact it has been given when it so rarely is, deserves some credit, or at least the annulment of, er, debt. Now it's been given, I hope you'll be able to take part in future discussions on the board.

Less searchable M0rd4nt

07:57 / 07.08.07

...did... did that just actually happen? Did we get a real, genuine, non-fake apology?

Wow. I've never seen one before. It's so shiny!

08:06 / 07.08.07

Y'know, that's alright. Very nice. It wasn't just the name bothering folks, but here's hoping your reentry to the Barbesphere is more pleasant all 'round. If you get the inclination to join discussons here, that is.

08:23 / 07.08.07

Quite remarkable.

I plan on on pointing future false-apology twunts in the direction of this thread

09:49 / 07.08.07

I was certainly tempted to return to Barbelith by stealth and simply disassociate myself with this identity. Certainly, I feel very little political and intellectual kinship to this identity, the posts that are associated with this account. But I walk around with my real life name and haven't changed that in spite of rejecting earlier philosophies and positions. Though that is "real life." Not that I like being reminded of the past any more than anyone does but one can only feel at some ease after making amends. Perhaps I should consider coming back as someone else at some point if this is just in poor taste and doesn't sit well with posters who, quite rightly, took issue in that thread. I am tempted to spend time here even when I don't have any but I do think it is important whether or not the apology is accepted. my own moral responsibility is to do what i can and it's efficacy is something, while open to revision, that's out of my hands. And I was expecting to be for apologising which made it difficult but I don't think it's enough for one to simply fall into a trap of self-congratulation and complacency where one can pat oneself on the back about the progress that has been made.

I mean I used to have many opinions I now find utterly repulsive and are maddening when I hear them and I defend other arguments now but I think it's a little dishonest to tell others (and yourself) that somehow it never happened.

i don't think i made it clear but there's nothing right about that nickname and it's problematic on more than one level. just so we're clear. it's not just i'm sorry i upset people. i find such ignorance and insensitivity quite appalling, offensive and questionable. i'm told that in real life i ought to be a little generous in certain situations where people ignorantly fail to see the problematics of their ugly language but in this context, on barbelith, i think there was very little that merited generosity at that point.

thanks.

18:15 / 07.08.07

Good apology, thank you.

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

21:07 / 07.08.07

Wow. Just... wow.

Thanks. As has been said already, an apology like that's as rare as rocking-horse shit round here. It's much appreciated.

02:46 / 08.08.07

I like people who stuff up and give a great apology (and live by it) more than I like people who never stuff up.

02:30 / 09.08.07

thanks all.