A Dose of my Own Medicine...

Do you believe in "The Secret"? The forces of positive vs. negative energy? Of karma? That "what goes around comes around"? Or "What you think about, you bring about."

I am undecided. Sometimes I believe it is absolutely true. But then some really horrible things have happened to some really wonderful people. And some really wonderful things have happened to some really horrible people. I wont presume to understand how the universe works but I do know this... but I have received my first ever negative comment and I believe that I actually asked for it. Not technically...but "karmicaly"... (if that is word?)

I wrote an opinion piece called "A Mouthful about the AQHA" that contained a few derogatory and thoughtless statements and a negative overall tone which unfortunately only served to undermine the integrity of my position. Which is why I am not surprised that the post was what provoked the first comment I've ever received where the reader felt personally offended and the need to defend herself....which is why I can only be mildly offended that a reader would call my integrity in to question.

Also unfortunate is that the reader, Mrs. Orms, probably did not feel compelled to read my follow up post entitled "Where in the Hell is my Soapbox?" in which I backpedaled a little and apologized for the grandstanding position of my post. For that post I was rewarded with this comment by Jen098 (Thank you):

"The great thing about your blog is it challenges people to think about WHY they think something is great/not great. So even if opinions differ, I enjoy seeing where others are coming from and their experiences.It helps me understand my own positions on horses, riding..."

That makes me SO happy. I love that any of you choose to join me while I try to look just a little deeper at why we do what we do or tag along as I seek to become a horseman or just a better person, as I share my challenges and occasional triumph. I always try to do so in a positive way and as such you all have always responded with such thoughtful insight and opinions, even if they do differ from my own.

I never, ever...ever want anyone to read this blog and come away feeling worse for it. Unfortunately that is what happened with my AQHA post and is what provoked a Mrs. Orm's in to giving me a taste of my own medicine. That was a natural response...as was mine to hers- that was that just a minute after reading her comment, I jumped over to my blog and set out to refute and rebut a few of the statements Mrs. Orms made that I felt were untrue.

But then I realized just how very sad that was. Because I did not feel compelled to quickly reply with a thank you to Jen098 when she left that nice comment for me. Or anyone else that has done the same. She complimented my blog and I didnt even say thank you! How rude! (I used to be one of those annoying kids that would say "How rude" just like Michelle Tanner (Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen) nearly trademarked in the 80s/90s family sitcom Full House. And yes, that was my attempt at comic relief.)

So often our natural defensive response to negative provocation is so much stronger than our positive. Blogs like Fugly Horse of the Day being evidence of such. So screw that. I'm not going to perpetuate the cycle. Because I am responsible. I started it. I am wrong. (damn, that soap box was much easier)

So to Mrs. Olms I have this to say: I am sorry that I offended you. I am sorry if I made you angry and/or if your day was in any way blighted by this blog. I acknowledge that some of my statements were unfounded. I hope that if you read this you will hear the sincerity of my apology. I also hope that you will maybe consider that my thoughts on the flow of negativity are true and that in the future you will maybe, or better yet all of us will maybe, when challenged by an offensive and or inaccurate post find a way to challenge the writer to qualify themselves in such a fashion that it may result in something constructive, rather than further barrage of negativity.

I would also like to further say that:

I made some very pointed statements about the AQHA without properly backing them with facts, if they so existed.

The point I was trying to make was that I don't think that most people realize that, (as I never really stopped to consider it myself) AQHA is a business. I believe, from experience with friends and family that a lot of people believe that breed organizations work on a NON-PROFIT basis and would be surprised to learn that AQHA is profitable and not only that but that they have such a rich asset base.

I wanted to speculated how the business objectives of the AQHA or any profitable breed organization could compromise the directive (that most people would assume would be their primary one) of preserving the integrity of the breed. I also wonder how it would effect their promotion (or lack thereof) of ethical or responsible of breeding (with respect to population and quality.)

As to her statement about Halter horses competing in roping and other events, I would stand corrected. I should not have made such an statement. My experience with Halter horses, while limited, lead me to believe that while a certain percentage of Halter horses may go on to have a future in another sport, that is not the case for the majority.

Blogging provides "the writer" with a forum for personal expression and can be at times mindless or uncorroborated but never intends to maliciously provide misinformation. My intent is to think. And write. And use my noggin a little, at times unsuccessfully so that it doesnt shrivel up till I am only capable of regurgitating a select few questions like, "Honey, what do want for breakfast/lunch/dinner?" ..."Hawk out of the garbage/bed/garden!" "Kitty off the counter/bed/garbage!" "No, I do not want that credit card/viagra/or to participate in that survay!"