This is more a public apology than a soapbox statement on proper Internet use. I will keep it in the first person, not knowing if it makes any sense to anyone else.
I am sorry I reported a post written by a buddy. I am most sorry to loose his trust as I value his friendship. Secondly, I am sorry to report a thread that has so much valuable information or discussion when I differ with one sentence or one statement made in an entire conversation.
I felt my opinion was the right one and I acted without consulting a friend. I now see how self-important that action looks. It is one thing to report a thread and say to a mod, Did you see this discussion? It is another thing to report a thread and say, Hey I had a private conversation with this guy and I think this thread will go downhill. If I have a private conversation, it should stay private and continue to work with that person alone, in this case offline.
I hate confrontation. Maybe that is why the Report Post button is so seductive. I must learn to confront people about topics or conversations I do not agree with and not slink around in the background. This applies to the Internet and the real world.
I guess it is the principal of conversing with friends and online hobbyist and relating experiences and ideas without saying Hey, you are wrong and I am right.
OK, this is starting to sound like a soapbox speech so I will end now.
Respectfully,
Michael J. OMalley