I've noticed that whenever I come all over jackass, it's because there's something wrong with my position -- when I'm secure about something I seldom resort to snark. Outright venom, sure; snide formality and similar oily tricks, no.

Case in point: I took an uncalled-for swipe at Maxine (again because I hadn't thought my own position through properly), and though I've apologized, I ought not be surprised or feel put-upon if people point to that incident as an example of bad online manners. But I feel bad about it, so mention of it gets me all defensive.

This is doubly daft, since not only is such a response self-evidently counterproductive, I have no particular fear of being wrong. I'm a scientist: it's in my nature and my training to attach no value judgement to being right or wrong: what matters is to see as clearly as possible and make the best models we can. So being wrong in public holds no terrors for me; it's being a jackass that is embarrassing, and -- catch 22, or something! -- I do that when I suspect I'm wrong.

Don't most people figure this stuff out when they're about 12? Oy.

On the silver lining side, catching myself tending to snottery would be a good early warning that I'm wrong or uncertain about something, if I did it before being a jackass. I remember reading somewhere that all satori have to be repeated before they take hold, so maybe writing them down will also help...