Okay, this is one of my "so I'm an a$$ hole" posts.

Earlier this evening Mac posted a "Cop" joke in good fun. It hit me at the wrong time and found me in the wrong frame of mind. Consequently I reacted badly. The end result was the trashing of the thread, something that we hate to do around here. (I didn't trash it myself but given the situation it was warranted.) As a moderator and Team member I should set an example, and this isn't the one I should be setting.

So my heartfelt apologies to everyone involved in that thread and especially to Mac, who's friendship I value more highly than any of the other people I've never actually met. :D

Patrick;

Assuming that you may have read MY apology "before " it got deleted with the whole thread.

This was the kind of joke best said face to face over a beer where any bad reaction to it could have been nipped in the bud.

Again I apologize for trying to be too clever with my reply to the joke and NO disrespect was intended by me and I am sure by anyone else.

I don't think you needed to apologize yourself but the explanation is appreciated and useful.

Oh, even when a joke is in itself not too offensive, the temptation for every person replying to top the previous comments can lead to truly hurt feelings even if that is not what any one poster intended: So killing it was a good idea.

Anyway, maybe I should stop now as you probably just want to forget the whole thing.

Hi Patrick,

I am sure that i can speak for many others, but as for myself i have plenty of respect for you. Your apology just proves what a stand up guy you are. :)

John Gage

Boy I sure hope it was nothing I said. If it was though, I sure am sorry. Jean was right about this, its easier to tell real jokes apart from disguised insults in person. Its a pity because I thought the original post was an interesting one.

Thanks guys.

You're right Joe, the post was funny. Unfortunately it hit me at one of those moments where absolutely nothing is funny. Well, maybe the pain and discomfort of certain people within my upper chain of command. Now that would be funny. ;)

Patrick,

Hmmm, pain and discomfort up the chain of command...I know what you mean...

No harm, no foul. Even in the rare instance when we have differences in opinion, I still respect your stance on the issues. I certainly didn't intend to offend you...especially someone with sidearms AND viking swords! ;)

Later!