"...It's clear to me that the <B>semantics-phalanx</B> will not come clean and only wish to talk shades of gray, so I'm done with this topic on these boards. If I get tempted to comment again, I'll just go talk to my wall. It'll have the same effect...

...Just for fun, I'll open another can of worms as my parting words. The <B>semantics-phalanx</B> seems to me to at least partly made up of the clique of old-time FTers, and their focus on semantics seems to me like an unspoken insistance on a double standard..."

Sadly, this appears awfully tough to dispute, IMHO! I'm literally compelled to agree. This seemingly just goes on, and on, and on, ad naseum...

As the likely most frequently flamed individual on FT ever, I certainly agree with motnot- except perhaps for the humor issue, since it is manifestly in the eye of the beholder. Some may actually well find secondary and tertiary "handles" useful for "humor," yet it is a fact that many a true word is spoken in jest and that the "humor" at the expense of others should ideally have no true place in any real caring "community!"

Are these handles and their posts examples of "humor?"

cod
quack
Dr Pfp
Doctor PfP
Rev PfP
Miss PfP
Karl Stevens
And on, and on, and on...

I think not!

But then I've never attacked anyone or ridiculed anyone to the best of my knowledge at anytime, anyplace or anywhere of FT - kind of like in my "real" life!

Yet, it is surely an eclectic group and we should ALL be accepted and tolerated, in my view, even if we can not genuinely celebrate enjoying our repective individual differences!

Is it really that hard to think for oneself?

Is it really so hard to respectfully express an independent thought or opinion? Or to profoundly disagree while showing some actual concern for other individuals feelings?

Is it really so impossible to be logical?

Is it really so difficult to be practical?

Is it truly so impossible to be somwhat forgiving? Or at least to forget or yo just put aside and move ahead?

For the sake of all of us, I sure hope not!

-Mark

A never to be member of any clique on FT or anywhere else