I think the irony here on these threads is that we forget that men and women communicate differently.
What you, Puppy, experience as bullying may be different than how others might.
I hate to generalize (especially because I think plenty of guys feel bullied here too), but really we (men and women) often experience the same words very differently especially when the topic specifically deals with gender related distinctions and assertions.
To be more succinct, it is a subjective experience and there's nothing wrong with just apologizing when someone feels bullied by you...I know what the answer is going to be so fine, forget it.
BTW- 25 is too wise and too brilliant to be that invested in getting an apology from a virtual poster anyway.