I (apparently carelessly) wrote:

> >It didn't sicken me. Except, of course, for the "my use of the english
> >language is better than yours" parts. Dialog of this sort, especially
> >between intelligent and passionate persons, is useful, entertaining and
> >important.

Doug Chamberlin noted:

> Let me get this straight.. The thread do not sicken you, except for the
> parts that were useful, entertaining, and important????
>
> (I only point this out because the subject relates to use of the English
> language. Otherwise, I would not have bothered. <VBG>)

To which I respond:

Yeah, I wrote this before finishing my coffee. Perhaps I should have
written:
"Dialog of this sort, especially between intelligent and passionate persons,
is useful, entertaining and important.
It didn't sicken me. Except, of course, for the "my use of the english
language is better than yours" parts."

That way the "It" could have more reasonably referred to "Dialog" (the
entire dialog), rather than the potentially confusing "... parts". <sigh>
Yet another convincing argument for my efforts to reduce the use of
pronouns. Especially in the discussion of contentious issues, and even more
especially in the company of "devil's advocates", systems analysts, and
lawyers, for whom clarity and semantics is of overarching importance. ;-)

I submit a final proposed draft:
<final draft>
The dialog in it's entirety did not sicken me. Dialog of this sort,
especially between intelligent and passionate persons, is useful,
entertaining and important.

I did, however experience some discomfort regarding the "my use of the
english language is better than yours" parts (heretofore referred to as
"snipes"), which I did not feel added value to the main issues under
contention. These "snipes" served only, in my opinion, to undermine the
perceived objectivity of the participants, and in doing so detracted from
the overall quality of the arguments presented.
</final draft>

Party on, dude.

Kevin