Please know, there's really no need for apologizing. I don't harbor the slightest bit of hard feelings. I'll admit I'm feeling pretty uneasy about divulging my past, and I'm really thinking hard about deleting my comment (I had considered emailing you to carry on a conversation offline, but you didn't have an email on your profile). I know it's so easy to assume that everyone we disagree with must be from a completely different universe.

However, allow me to assure you there's no chance I'm in any way better than you. We are different, that's all.

I spent a long while replying, and then editing that reply down because I learned there's a comment length limit on HN. After finishing that, I saw your other reply. I appreciate your kindness. I wanted to reply further (and still do), but it was getting late on the East Coast, and I needed to step away and somewhat just deal with speaking so frankly about my past.

For what it's worth, I'd be happy to keep talking offline if you'd want to. My email is in my profile. I'll return to reply to some other comments and issues raised here.