Maybe I'm the JerkFace?!?

So, some of you may have seen the back and forth I had with another Blogger who frequents Racine-centric blogs who goes by the pseudonym "OrbsCorbs" on an article on the Racine Post web site.

Now, in this back and forth, I have been accused of mis-quoting, immaturity, game-playing, singling out (his) opinion as lesser than anyone else's, and then basically challenged to a "rumble" as if we were in grade school with a playground octagonal ring.

From my perspective, I actually thought I was quite civil and clearly stated in what I had written. Basically, all this started when I asked him to clarify a comment he had made earlier in the "comments" section of the article.

Despite my perspective, it has dawned on me that perhaps *I* was the a-hole he had made me out to be, and I'm too ignorant to realize this.

For reference - here's a link to the article with all the back-and-forth beginning about half-way down the comments section.

http://news.racinepost.com/2010/01/liberal-media.html

At one point later in the exchange, Orbs invites me to contact him via his email address on his Blogger profile as opposed to continuing the discussion on the Racine Post site. I accepted his offer, and in fact, the full body - verbatim - of the email I sent him is this:

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Orbs,

Consider yourself emailed!

Sure, I made an assumption when you said "you and the wealthy dowagers..." that you were lumping me into that group. It still deosn't seem like an unreasonable assumption - despite that I was wrong about it.

I have no problem whatsoever meeting someone and debating in person. Perhaps in this way the ambiguity of the conversation which often occurs in written form can be avoided. How something is intended is not always how it is received, of course, and clearly you perceived my comments as personally antogonistic to you, the man. I would like to take this opportunity to talk to you and make up for that on my part.

I have to admit, based on other comments you have made on the Racine Post and JT Irregulars, etc, I thought that ideologically, we may have a bit in common, so I welcome the chance to meet up with you and chat. Honestly, I think it could be fun.

Again, no harm was intended by my initial comment on this thread, it was simply a serious request for clarification.


Brad
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His response to this email was not via email as he had requested - but rather the last couple postings on the thread of the blog.

Now - maybe I am the jerk! In a moment of self-examination (no lumps found), I tried to consider this possibility, and put it to you, the loyal followers of my Musings, to come back and let me know where I stand. Because I trust you to be honest with me, I would expect that if indeed I am the jerk here, you would not only come out and tell me, but do so with no reservations.

Granted, I expect all of you to tell me I'm a jerk "in general" - but I'm looking for some feedback for this specific instance/exchange with Mr. OrbsCorbs.

I've got a bit more to say on the topic, but will hang back for a bit and consider your initial responses first....

So I put to you, followers of the Musings... Was *I* the jerk here?