Over time and with meeting folks who participate, it does seem to become clear who cares about feelings, and who will blow them off.

Me, I think that on Usenet there are fewer minuderstandings between long-term posters than is made out, but I'm cynical (and in the past have been sick on the grass over stuff that has been written, not necessarily discted at me).

I don't know that you taking yourself ordinarily-seriously is any kind of a flaw at all(but I know too many utterly false indivuals IRL). *Too* seriously is your call, I guess.