What can brown refuse to say to you today?

> because i object profoundly to internet snark, to replying to careful
> (and creative) thought with bilge. i don't think it's cute, amusing,
> or a sensate substitute for thought. and i don't argue with those who
> do it. it's a debasement of discourse.

Really? I mean, seriously, really?

(I don't know why, but I really like saying really lately.)

I will fully grant that you raised some provocative ideas. And just to prove
that I'm not yanking your chain, I'll even list the ones that stood out for
me:

* your evocation of the initial relationship: 20 year old nerd fan gets an
audience with accomplished adult who sees something in his fan letter that
arches her eyebrow.

* Branden was trapped not just to avoid disappointing Rand, but to avoid
disappointing her followers.

* The bad things Branden did were because she wouldn't take a hint. Hell,
she wouldn't take a 2 x 4.

* Rand as an internal King Kong/Fay Wray combo. Her nasty public persona
roared and warned to protect the traumatized little girl. Not buying it, but
it's an interesting thought. And I just watched the Jackson King Kong in HD
this weekend so I'm kind of in awe of roaring special effects. Except for
the platinum tresses, it's hard to think of NB as NW, but it's not hard to
think of AR as KK.

With my boney fideys established, may I suggest that walking away in a huff
when you perceive your pearls being trampled by the putative swine is not
the most effective strategy for displaying pearls or herding swine?

You raised very interesting points. It would be even more interesting to see
you defend them against the slings and arrows, than for you to Cartman off
into the sunset.

Mike Lee
Screw you guys, I'm going home!