Hi Troy, thanks for the response, and for keeping me honest. Mostly this was just a rant based on the unending barrage of (largely uneducated) political commentary I keep getting from all angles everywhere. In my mind what I was saying is “show empathy and understanding of a subject or don’t bother talking about it with me.” You’re absolutely right, it’s impossible to have only conversations that meet this criteria.

To kind of take it sideways, today’s conversational climate based around television, politics, 140-character insults, etc, make me really long for the days of smoking a couple joints and sitting in a circle and talking for hours and eating an entire packet of Oreos.

I appreciate your feedback, point taken.