Survey: Was I Out of Line?

[c9]

Situation: A non-close friend emails me, several of my friends, and several of his friends, with the current "boycott the gas companies" chain letter that's going around, encouraging a boycott to push gas to a cheaper price. I Reply All, with a short but polite rant about it not helping, and introducing the concept of Peak Oil. Acquaintance "really resents" my use of his email list. I apologize for his discomfort, and ignore all responses to my email (despite really wanting to get into it).

Full response text:

Sorry everyone, but I'm really happy to see high gas prices, and you should be too. Here's why:

- the world is running out of oil
- the air is being destroyed by smog from your cars and SUVs!
- and yet we still pay less for gas than we do for bottled water.

Many scientists agree that the world has reached what's called "Peak Oil," which means we've used up half the oil on the planet. Consumption is still growing 2% per year, which means we all have to think up *replacements* for oil, not protests. When it's gone, it's gone.

More info: http://www.thesharpener.net/?p=41

Cam

Emotions: I'm really pissed off by his response, but because of that mood I know better than to write back and fight him.

Questions: Did I do wrong? Did I react correctly in the end? What would you have done?

Why didn't I just ignore it? Because I've found that in the past few years I've gotten less and less activist and caring, and I ignore things too much. I miss being strongly in favour of or against things, and actually pushing viewpoints and debating things. Those debates drive leapfish round the bend, I'm certain. :-)

Comments

BUT I STILL THINK YOU'RE A GOOD PERSON

[nihilicious.livejournal.com]

Honestly? Really honestly? I was part of that exchange, and I thought your response was rude. Not because you were wrong on the issue--I rolled my eyes when I got B.'s email and I agreed with yours.

But, yours came across as making him look foolish, (presumably) in front of people you don't even know. I've done that before (in response to a virus hoax email,) got called on it, and decided that I was rude and apologized.

Now, that said, I'm starting to find it rude just to blindly pass things along (like B. did). And it's recently been brought to my attention that it's poor etiquette not to use BCC, which never occurred to me. So he's not in the clear either. But that doesn't justify a rude response.

If I were you I'd apologize.

Re: BUT I STILL THINK YOU'RE A GOOD PERSON

[c9.livejournal.com]

Really honestly? Of course not! I just wanted support for what I did! :-P

As you've now seen, I did apologize. Primarily based on your thoughts, to be honest. While I personally didn't feel I crossed the line, you know as well as I do how concerned I get about everyone getting along and liking me, so best to err on the side of caution. I guess I need a new approach for next time.

Re: BUT I STILL THINK YOU'RE A GOOD PERSON

[nihilicious.livejournal.com]

I do know that as well as I do. I'm sure I end up apologizing for things that other people would not. Sometimes I think my need for everyone to like me is my defining personality trait.

Which is unfortunate, considering how much of an asshole I am.