My apologies to all.

[friesianrider]

I'm thankful for all your kind responses when I needed to take a DU break a few days ago.

I really would like to sincerely apologize to you all for being a less than shining example of "our side" in recent debates. Things at the shelter have been unbelievable lately - the cruelty of human beings truly defies comprehension, and coming home to read DU and obnoxious comments has put me over the edge more than once. I get angry and just want to scream, and my posts in response to some of the certifiable anti-animal jerks may be justified, but they are not the best way for me to present my case. Fortunately, we have logic and truth on "our" side, and I was wrong to set such a bad example for someone who is vegetarian and supports animal rights. The last thing I want to do is BE the crazy, fanatical animal rights person and confirm some people's preconceived notions about us. I'm sorry that some of my posts recently have reinforced that unfortunate and incorrect stereotype, and I pledge to take a breath and argue with logic and facts from now on - and not knee-jerk emotions.

Things here have been very tough at the shelter with kitten season and the recent hot weather, and it seems like people come up with stupider and stupider reasons to surrender and abuse/neglect animals. I am truly very sorry for embarassing you all with my childish and inappropriate (and clearly very overly emotional) responses to the animal threads lately. I think we all (especially me) need to set an example of maturity and composure when arguing, and try our very best to not just respond with our first emotional thought (which in my case seemed to have materialized more than once with some naughty words!). I can't help it sometimes: protecting and caring for animals is my life. Nonetheless, for the sake of the greater fight, I promise to follow these guidelines the best I can from now on.

Thanks again to all of you for your PMs and emails, and once again I apologize if I (and I did) set a bad example for what we stand for. That is the last thing I wish to accomplish whenever these threads crop up, and I promise to try my best to never again let my emotions explode like they have recently. You're all exceptional and incredibly compassionate people, and it is an honor to know all of you - both as progressives and as animal lovers. :hug: to each of you :)

[Robeson]

1. friesianrider, no apologies are necessary for me....

...and I think people have been far more off base on some threads you may be referring to, than you ever were. I know its hard to keep from firing back sometimes with both barrels, because I get caught up into that myself. But your sentiments have been right, correct, and I, for one, have appreciated them.

Glad you are back. And lets always fight the good fight!...:thumbsup:

[Piperay]

2. I feel the same ...

friesianrider :hug:

[flvegan]

3. I certainly have no issues with your posts.

You respond with a great deal of passion for animal advocacy. I think that's an attitude that would do well to rub off on members of our political network.

I firmly believe in bleeding, sweating, crying and cursing for what I believe in. I'm trying to not go quite so Chernobyl with some of these posters, but it ain't easy.

Besides, I'm sure that for any single "bad example" you think that you might have set, you've definitely set 100 good ones. So there.

[livinginphotographs]

4. Bad example?

Not at all. It's kind of a rite of passage, I think, to have at least a few posts deleted due to losing it on someone. :)

[smbolisnch]

5. There is nothing to apologize for.

Not at all. We all get emotional sometimes, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
I am just glad to see you back here where you belong!! :hug::hug::hug::hug:

[CrispyQ]

6. No apologies required.

I think we all struggle with extreme emotional responses to animal cruelty. Part of that response comes from the bewilderment that others do not.

Glad you're back & hope you're feeling better.

[Catchawave]

7. You're a warm and compassionate human...

..you don't have to apologize for that :) :hug: