Accidentally offended people

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I'm not going to go into details but I said something online (not WP, different website) that I think asked overly personal questions, I hadn't even realized that it would be taken that way. It offended a lot of people who all got really mad and posted mean things and I got super scared. I deleted my account immediately but the post is still there (although now it says under deleted account), but I did include my full name in the post. I just want it to go away. I hate that I offended people, I hate the way I feel right now. I also hate the fact that the post has my name because it associates it with me. I don't think I can delete the post since I don't have the account anymore and even when I did I couldn't figure out how to delete posts, so it's just going to sit there offending people and getting hateful responses. I feel awful for hurting people. How do I stop feeling so icky or improve the situation?

Are you allowed to make a new account? If so, you could make a new account and post that you're sorry for offending people and that you'd like to delete the post.

With the limited detail, it's hard to say.

Assume there is a certain political class that wants to appeal to a lot of people, but their ideas simply won't fly: e.g. they want those people to depend on them for handouts but the means to pay for it will dry up (or has dried up, look at Venesuala). Perhaps they just like power to get rich and it goes to their heads. They would view anyone who gives reasons why their ideas or people are (morally, logically, or fiscally) bankrupt as a threat and want to shut them up. Political correctness, being offended, or otherwise scaring or shaming the protester would be their weapons if logically pointing out the error of your ways is impossible.

Free speech is still supposed to be protected although it can have consequences sometimes like a wedge between friends, driving away customers, or having to leave an organization. At any rate think about how what you say would be interpreted before you hit Enter or click on Submit.

Definitely, I do really need to think more about how my messages are going to be interpreted. I think that's the biggest lesson I've learned. It's probably a good idea to apologize under a new account, but I'm just scared to. They seemed so mad and became mean -not that I blame them, they had every right to- but I am a little scared that an apology will seem unsincere or be further inflammatory, also (while I know this is selfish) I'm scared to go back to it because I'd have to see their comments and my original post again. It wasn't political, well it kinda was but that wasn't the main issue. I asked an overly personal question that crossed a line (not a physical line, the line between wrong and right) without thinking about how it was probably a sensitive topic for the people I was specifically talking to. The reason I feel bad is because I know they are right and I am wrong. It makes me feel like a bad person.

I’m sorry you are experiencing this situation. I’ve accidentally offended the humans myself, both online & “in real life” more than once. I hope you feel better soon. I’m sure the humans will find something new to be offended by very soon & your faux pas will be but a distant memory.

Thank you so much, your kind words are very important to me.

So you asked personal questions? Big deal. It seems like a toxic environment, they could have just told you that the questions you are asking are not appropriate, period. Insulting and berating you os not appropriate and you should not tolerate it. Personally I would look for a another forum where people are more respectful. Different people respind differently to questions.

The kind responses I've gotten from this community have made me feel better. I still feel incredibly guilty and icky for offending people, but I know I didn't mean too and will try to be better moving forward. Thank you, WP for your support and I am so sorry to those I offended (I know it's no one reading this, but still felt like I had to say it).

Also, I just thought of this, should I be concerned about having included my name? I've checked, if you Google my name that thread won't come up (thank goodness) but I'm not sure how I feel about a bunch of random people on the internet who hate me knowing my first and last name. Could this come back to haunt me in the future?

Looks like I messed up how to quote other posts, but you know what I mean.

Sounds like it disappeared then. Maybe you could do some rocking to expend some of that nervous energy?