[Mr 5 0]

O.K., this will be my last post on this particular thread, regardless of what anyone else posts from this point on. Enough already.

I'll give the courtesy of a response to those who posted to me, specifically, in reverse order.

Ultraflow:

I'm not bored. I have a full life, including a lovely wife and an active child. This website, specifically the forums, is a hobby for me and I enjoy it, when time permits.

I have opinions and I express them. I explain my position in a civil manner, defend it and attempt to pursuade others to my point of view, usually unsuccessfully, as most simply circle the wagons and fire off insults and defensive diatribes, as you've seen.

Having an articulated point of view that finds fault with another is usually always called 'ego' by the offended party. Why it's 'ego' to state a different position than another and defend it a civil manner is beyond me. I suspect it's sheer defensivness. Too bad but that's not a reason to abandon all rational thought when I see what I perceive to be a misguided or incorrect statement being posted here and respond to it.

polara7777:

This is a Mustang website but the Blue Oval Lounge is specifically intended for 'open' discussions, such as this one. I would like to think that we all have lives and opinions that transcend our cars. In order to be more than simply a 'car' site (and nothing more) we offer this forum, despite it's risks of generating controversy. Ironically, some of our biggest (aborted) flame wars have been over technical automotive issues,on the Windsor Power forum. Go figure.

I assume that everyone is equal here and I refuse to write 'down' to anyone. I write pretty much the way I talk and I apologize to no one for that, despite the vague complaints posted.

I do not think I know everything, by the way, and never indicated that attitude at any time. Some confuse an articulated POV with arrogance but that would be a misunderstanding of the difference between the two.

I do use some forms of irony and cynicism when I respond to a particularly foolish or insulting post addressed to me and I believe that's fair in a spirited dialogue, assuming cursing and swearing and name-calling in general is avoided in the process.

I have a fairly well-developed sense of humor and I've demonstrated it often on this forum, albeit sometimes in a muted, form of ironic satire or what I hoped was sly wit.

Unit:

Your post was perceptive and appreciated. Thanks for your contribution.

Induction:

Well, I've come to the end of the road with this rather silly misunderstanding. I'm sorry you were so upset by a simple reminder that we all have the option to vent here, that some folks do take things seriously and 'letting it go' is not the first option, although often the final one.

I attempted to engage you in a rational discussion which you chose to ignore in favor of emotional and incoherent messages. Very well, I'll certainly be glad to let this subject 'go' and I'll trust that you'll continue to post on the site, but perhaps with a bit more forethought. Perhaps not. That will be up to you, of course.

I'm tempted to simply close this thread at this point, as it seems to have run it's course, but in the interest of fairness and to avoid inevitible charges of being dictatorial, I'll leave it open for now although I won't post on this particular thread again.

Remember, I'm always available via PM and regular e-mail, should anyone have anything they wish to comment on (with me) that they would rather not post on the public board.

Thanks for the various inputs and the interest. Not sure what we actually learned here, but it was an interesting excerise in the First Amendment, if nothing else.