Aaahhh... I maintain that you just proved my point!
A mere red X would have been duly noted and depending upon the individual and their reaction, either shrugged off, made someone think 'I wonder why the red X?' or the recipient would have given the 'giver' a middle finger and proceeded on down the road. My 'explanation' has set up a conversation... not necessarily adversarial in this instance because neither myself nor Mr Hey-O are that upset about it all, but has caused conversation that most likely would have never occurred otherwise. Now, one might maintain - and I would not argue necessarily -that 'conversation' is good, clears the air and clarifies a position. Fine. But there is oft no need, and I think that on a forum such as a 'forum' - pardon the verbiage, but thats the only word I can come up with right now, its early - its not necessary. jmo.
I understand the point about throwing the red X around too freely - the example of 'blue' is apt. There are, unbelievably , people that dont particularly like blue cars. No, really, I know its hard to wrap your head around, but its true! Ive seen them.... OK, so a 'disagree' on a picture of a blue car is senseless, unless the poster specifically asks something like 'don't y'all think this car looks so much better in blue than red' or similar; at that point a disagreement is requested of sorts. The red X must be used judiciously. As stated, I found out early that the big red X is / was considered much stronger here than I assumed... one must learn the 'culture' to function as a 'citizen'. Much like you have 'mellowed' being in America!
[as an aside... I have been blessed to become friends with / acquainted with several Europeans {as well as a Kiwi and a few Aussies} and the Europeans I have or do know - and I include the British Isles and Scandinavia in "Europe"- to a person have said that they have been surprised at the friendliness, openness and 'mellowness' of Americans. So welcome Mr Hey-O
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I must admit that my 'forum' participation is pretty limited personally - I'm not too computer-ish - save for a long stint on an English forum dedicated to American cars, hot rods and drag racing. There were no 'thumbs up, ' 'Agrees' or Red Xs there, and a couple of nasty conversations resulted that led to people leaving and one instance that bled over into the outside world causing some unpleasantness at a show... a simple Red X may have averted that. I don't know.
Red Xs appear to be a two edged sword...
We'll just agree to disagree on this one I reckon. And next time youre 'downtown' munching a Grandma's Cookie or two, hoist one to me , smile and think 'what an idiot that Guy Gadbois fellow is...'
[see... Im such a noncomputer person that somehow I omitted the comment of Mr Hey-O's that this is in reply to... post 35 btw...
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is worse than an x. So now we can just tell everybody to f*** off vs a 
!
