Icons, People & Conversations
The icon situation is settled. I've left the posts up as a record for myself. But have disallowed or privatised comments and removed links to the individual per their request. I don't want to lock them because they're a good look at not thinking about the other side, assumptions and confusion. Even if I won't put up the resolution conversations as they are private, I think someone else experiencing the same situation can get the gist of how I was thinking and what I did and what happened.

Which is also the point of this post. I'd never before considered that linking back could be seen as a Red Letter of Shame / Accusation. I'd always thought of it as citing the source. Which is perhaps impersonal when individuals, private journal space and feelings are involved. Or rather when private topics are involved; identity + icons are private.

I've also never before thought about how my open journal policy might appear to others; strangers who don't know me or don't have the chance to read my userinfo to see what this journal is to me.

I am glad, however, that I was able to stop and think about the other side of things. And I'm glad I went with my gut and wrote an apology. I'm glad I could walk the walk and that I remembered that despite one's intentions or ignorance when someone's feelings are hurt - that's the important thing. And lucky for me, the individual involved thought that about my feelings too. :)