Recently I had occasion to be involved in a discussion thread that went downhill fast. No matter what I said on the thread it was assumed that I had malicious intent in saying it. Even as I calmly explained my opinion on the matter the other person chose to cherry-pick quotes from what I'd said and assume the worst motives for my having said those things. Eventually I just gave up and left the thread. This other person apparently had a world-view that could not accept anything but the worst motivations and there was no way to shift that view into not seeing malicious intent. I'm a very reasonable person and I never seek to intentionally harm anyone who hasn't harmed me first and I would never say something with the intent of putting someone else down unless that person had acted to harm me first. Why do some people let their agenda color their perception of reality?