So, yes, for me, it would be self-denial to attempt to lead a monogamistic life. I'm sorry you see it as "confrontational", and I assure you that should it ever be my goal to write an essay to convert others to my point of view, I'll look for some other way to say it. However, for an essay for me, recording for myself some of the factors that I perceive as leading to my own choices, I feel the word is the correct one. Yes, I have posted my essay publicly, and others will have reactions to it, and that is ok, because they are all entitled to do so. In the process they learn something about my thought processes and feelings as I experience them this week, and, should they share their reactions, I learn something of their thought processes and reactions this week. Some other week I might think of it in different terms. Some other week the same terms might trigger different reactions in the same people.
and the final paragraph, since the word limit was exceeced
So, yes, for me, it would be self-denial to attempt to lead a monogamistic life. I'm sorry you see it as "confrontational", and I assure you that should it ever be my goal to write an essay to convert others to my point of view, I'll look for some other way to say it. However, for an essay for me, recording for myself some of the factors that I perceive as leading to my own choices, I feel the word is the correct one. Yes, I have posted my essay publicly, and others will have reactions to it, and that is ok, because they are all entitled to do so. In the process they learn something about my thought processes and feelings as I experience them this week, and, should they share their reactions, I learn something of their thought processes and reactions this week. Some other week I might think of it in different terms. Some other week the same terms might trigger different reactions in the same people.