Unknowingly, you're probably hurting others more than you realize. It's not what you intend. I totally believe you probably do have all the good traits you say you have. Something's missing, though. Either you get more sensitive to the feelings of others, or you pay the price in being ostracized, which you are not liking.

I have lived your story . . . and I still live it. I tell the occasional inappropriate joke. It's unwitting, on my part. Only after, do I realize how flat it fell. Then I just about want to cut my tongue out. Yeah, I'm more honest and brave and all that stuff. I'm also more lonely, and the world isn't going to carve out a special niche for me.

Hankster is not picking on you. I believe she feels your pain. So do I. You probably are a really worthwhile person. You probably do care about others. I, too, am caring. However, I'm here to tell you my painful experience. One insensitive remark can outweigh a ton of good that you do. Trust me. I've lived this. The price we pay for having a different slant on things can seem awfully high. It is. It's tragic. Also, we don't want to be phony.

It took me going into a partial hospitalization program for me to learn how I was coming off to others. Decent person though I am - and I AM - I still had this pocket of flippancy in my personality that came off a lot more aggressive to others than I had any idea. People will not put up with it. And they won't bother telling you, either. They won't explain, so you'll understand. The world will leave you to figure it out . . . or not.

To some extent, I'm guessing. I just sense that, in some way, you seem over-confident. That can come off as unattractively cocky to others. That was my own story, so I am baring my soul to share this with you. Lonely is the worst way to live.