Tom,
I'm not speaking for anyone but myself, but there are several good reasons why you should should try to avoid the name calling. I suspect that you have a good point or two to make on this topic and I'd like to hear your arguement. But as soon as you start name calling and making ad hominem arguments, you detract from your arguement. In fact, you destroy the arguement and the elements of credibility and civility that are necessary to be taken seriously. I don't know who you are or why you are so pissed off and it ain't for me to judge. But it also ain't for me to see, especially if it harms the forum, which it does.
Why does it harm the forum? Besides lowering the level of discourse and civility, it turns people and advertisers off. Whether or not you acknowledge it, Les is highly regarded by much of the knife community and his input and participation are valued very highly by many of us. If you object to my speaking for others, OK. I value it. I may not agree with him, but I think it's important to hear what he has to say. Why should he participate in this forum if by doing so he is subjected to nasty verbal abuse? Who are you to decide that Les is in fact a monster from hell who shouldn't be allowed on the forum [I'm reasonably sure he isn't because I am a monster from hell and I didn't see Les at the last hell monster meeting]?. Who are you to chase him off the forum by flaming at him every chance you get? Who are you to decide for me in this way, and for everybody else, who does and doesn't belong on the forum? Today it's you and Les. Who's next? I don't want to wait and see.
You've got it backwards,Tom. Ken isn't presuming too much: you are. Telling Ken that if he doesn't like it he doesn't have to read your post is beside the point entirely. It's like telling someone that if he doesn't like the fact that you like to relieve yourself in the lobby instead of the washroom he shouldn't look. But the smell remains, and he shouldn't have to hold his nose. This forum is supposed to be a lobby for intelligent people, not a washroom for invective, anger and insults.
If the moderator has decided that your breach of the rules doesn't justify an edit or deletion, that's his call. Maybe it's a good call. Maybe you'll make the good points I think you're hinting at without the gratuitous insults and anger. If so, glad to talk with you, If not, I can tell you that without people like Les, whatever grudge you might have against him, the only people who'll be interested in this place will the people who are taking a break from Jerry Springer or other freak shows.
Tom, what exactly was the point you were trying to make about discounting knives, and why was the advice given by several members against haggling so clearly wrong in your opinion?
[This message has been edited by HJK (edited 28 October 1999).]
