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Re: Mardi Gras (A conclusion?)



>I'm grateful to Mark for answering my question, but I'm very sorry now 
>that I asked it, having seen the two of you tear into each other so 
>venomously yesterday. It seems a shame to me, particularly as 
>personally I have no problem accomodating both your views, and enjoyed 
>following your first religious debate. The last thing I wanted to do 
>was spark off another one, with added personal vitriol.

Mark:

It seems that there are those who must personalize these things, but I had
no problem answering this question for you and will be happy to do the same
sort of thing in the future.
The vitriol came, of course, because after I set aside all differences (of
which I actually didn't feel, but...) and greeted our visitor from Germany
as a comrade (the civilized thing to do, after all) and was treated with
friendship (whatever it may have veiled, and there was no outside appearance
of anything but friendship), I was then insulted once Bernd was safely back
behind his keyboard thousands of miles away. Called cowardly, I was, when in
fact...to my mind the act speaks for itself.

>Below is what I *think* I've learned.

I think you've got it.

>Is this fair to both points of view? If so, what on EARTH are you 
>arguing about? Are you trying to emulate Pete and Roger? :-)

Believe me, I can debate with no ill will toward those I disagree with. Why
another might not, I can only put down to a lack of character or experience
with social interaction.

>I don't know either of you yet, but I do think it's a shame that 
>you've got down to trading personal insults. You both seem so much 
>better than that and I do feel partly responsible.

I did let my anger carry me last night, and am not proud of it. For that I
apologize to the Digest. However, as Daltrey said: "I'll smile to your
face/Then I'll stab you in the back..." It's not pleasant being the victim
of that sort of treatment. Holding out a hand of friendship is a gift, and
to have it accepted and then to find the acceptance was actually a
hypocritical gesture...well, how would you feel? I will admit to being
human...and I do tend to expect the best in people. Unfortunately, my
respect for human behavior has dropped a bit once again as a result of this
incident.
I feel nothing but good will toward those here on the Digest, and looked and
look forward to meeting all of them (you).
I do hope you and I do get the chance to meet, and having met lots of
British citizens (and Irish, too) I look forward to it. I've always gotten
on well with British people, and in fact treat all visitors as honored
guests. I've helped those who have come to MB map out their agenda for
visiting the rest of the country (or what they could squeeze in, anyway) and
minimized their risk of falling foul of local laws and customs. As, I feel,
is only my duty as a host.
Having met a German turns out to be somewhat less pleasant, but I'm assuming
that he's the exception. Other than that, I quite enjoyed the company at
Molly Wee's. WF, for instance, one might assume would be the one to be a
victim of anger by a Digestor...while the reverse was the case; like Howard
Stern, people might hate him in public and find him nice in when met in person.

>Please believe that I have only the best of intentions here.

Well, so did I. I found your question fair, and I was more than happy to
answer it to the best of my knowledge. Which I did.



                   Cheers                   ML


"For three generations, Pepsi has trying to make people to believe it's `The
Pepsi Generation.' This is the first one dumb enough to believe it."
                                                                    Unknown