To: lorne who wrote (24246 ) 2/15/2004 10:38:06 AM From: Richnorth Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 27666 Thank you. Sorry, I didn't realize you are the wisest of us all and therefore the final arbiter of all discussions here.<VBG> The truth is you are indeed grumpy, and grumpiness in elderly folks is more often than not, symptomatic of incipient problems in the upper storey. I am telling you this because I see that your joustings here are causing you a lot of unnecessary stress and grief. It is just not worth the hassle, is it? Life is short! So, enjoy yourself to the fullest. Do not encumber yourself with writing trivial posts and getting riled when the responses you desire are not forthcoming. Remember that the folks here are not as sheep-like as you would like them to be and you cannot expect them to sing praises of Uncle Sam every time they get on board here. If they did that, it would, no doubt, be music to your ears. But it would be pretty discordant and boring to so many others, won't it? Others did not tell you the stuff I told you because they were probably not as discerning or as frank as myself. One last thought: do not labour under the delusion you are destined to marshall opinion against the ongoing scourge of the Moslem extremists. The news media is already saturated daily with reminders and propaganda against the enemy! There is no need "to keep the hearth fires a-burning" as some witch (I am sure you know who) had implored you to do. You see, the tsunami of hysteria that engulfed America soon after "9/11" has subsided ever since the defeat of the Taliban and the capture of Saddam (the US overrated enemies ---- I mean deliberately overrated). In case you still haven't got it, recall that you accused me of posting to disrupt this and one other thread when you failed to see the reasons for my posts. Your grouse was that I might influence weak-minded folks. What a preposterous idea when members are free to post on SI as long as they don't overstep certain guidelines. You are not SI management and you don't make the rules. To make your own rules, perhaps you ought to start a new thread and make your rules known at the outset and insist that they be followed. Even then, you can be sure you will not be getting the cooperation you expect. SI is a place where members present their opinions. If others don't agree with you, let them be rather than insist they that start thinking like a sheep. Be tolerant. Stop being a smart ass, and stop sticking your neck out gratuitously. Else it would be "chopped" off, figuratively speaking.