I Am Confused

@MarkPaul not really...I used to think I had a clue but the rules all got changed LOL

@istillhaveanameitsrick 🧔 Yeah, so that's kind of the nut of the problem. You want people to respond to you based on a set of very fine rules that are no longer being enforced. And, it seems jarring to you... these new rules... that just don't make sense and don't seem to fit, shall we say.

*Lights pipe and stares at it for an awkward long while before staring directly at you.*

So, what do you want to do about it?

@MarkPaul I want to put that pipe out it stinks LOL

@istillhaveanameitsrick 🧔 You know, I have heard that before.

*Places pipe down on glass table.*

So... how do you feel?

@MarkPaul confused, I was brought up to be nice to people, be polite to people, be charitable and I have found that generally doesn't work. So I thought to myself...I said "self! maybe you need to be a little less polite and nice and a little naughty" so I tried that and I was instantly labeled as a pervert. So in short, I don't get it LOL

@istillhaveanameitsrick 🧔 Yes... we've already established that.

*Taps side of chair with index finger and raises right eyebrow.*

But... what do you want to do with these feelings you have been bottling up inside of you?

*Picks up pipe, puts it back down, and leans forward.*

@MarkPaul Well to be clear doc...I haven't really bottled up those feelings, if I had I would not be discussing this here LOL You see I used to be a member of another website, a sort of predecessor to this one and on that site I was actually quite popular, many friends most of whom actually liked me and talked to me on occasion. Here....nothing LOL It is a bit of a blow to my ego...savvy?

@istillhaveanameitsrick 🧔*Looks at pipe sitting on glass-top table.*

Well, Rick... you have to understand that most people who come through here are feeling vulnerable. And, many times, they are just trying to protect those vulnerabilities. It's like this... *picks up unlit pipe and twirls in his right hand before continuing.* You see, it's not that people are necessarily going out of their way to treat you like shit, if you know what I mean; *laughs* it's that they are trying to prevent their feelings from getting hurt even if that means your feelings get hurt as collateral damage.

Now, the real question is, are you prepared to take this information and use the necessary tools *pauses and raises right eyebrow* to make your time here as productive as you want it to be.

*Sits back and grabs both arms of chair, one in each hand.*

@MarkPaul *raises left eyebrow and flares right nostril* I am prepared to try and make my time here as fun as possible, however I will not do that at the expense of others. LOL