Dale:

Everything was alright around here until Dan and Pat made things personal --- the inflammatory messages, and the venomous quotes. Under no circumstances would I have ever done such low blows --- but why is it okay for it to be done to me?

Would YOU have liked such treatment?

In fact, I even sent Pat and his family a card for the holidays, and he didn't even respond or acknowledge having received it.

What I cannot seem to understand is why on earth you believe that such behavior toward me is acceptable, and then you bitch up a major storm when I give them a small taste of what they have done to me. This is one of the reasons why the social fabric of this entire country is going down the tubes --- situational ethics.

Or, put another way . . .

If it is UNACCEPTABLE when I do it to them in response --- then why is it ACCEPTABLE when they start fights with me time and time again?

And why are their feelings more important than mine?

Or is it normal now to completely disregard and disrespect the feelings of those who you don't like?

It's only fair --- to do unto others as you would like them to do unto you. If they are reasonable to me, I am very reasonable in return. If they are rude and obnoxious to me, then THAT is what they will get in return. This is an area where they should know what to expect --- I am extremely consistent in this area.

One last question . . .

If you cannot stand me so much --- then why cannot you resist making all these comments about me?

As Courtney Love said once --- ALL publicity is GOOD publicity!

You might be thinking about how much you hate my guts --- but at least you're thinking! In the end, THAT is ALL that matters to me --- the THINKING.

KDB = Buffalo, NY USA