> Sometimes it's hard to know whether to post a reply to something on the forum. When you take things personally, it can lead to irrational and poorly thought out responses which don't do your viewpoint justice. Because I'm sure you're all fascinated to know how I make this decision, the following process is helpful.
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> 1) I ask myself, am I replying to this post to address the issues raised, or merely to blow off steam at how much this idiot makes me feel like he's drilled a hole in my head and poured in a bucket of rats?
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> 2) If the answer is the latter, I consciously relax. I re-read the person's post, thinking more of the points he is making than the way he is making them. Then, I say "What the heck" and post a reply anyway, because I hate that person and he should go away and die.
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> 3) But I *also* try to address the issues raised, because then I can feel morally justified about hating the person and wanting him to die, because, hey! I wrote a serious post addressing issues which were raised!
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> 4) I go about my business, secure in the knowledge that I have made yet another serious, well-considered and objective forum post.
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> Brunnen-"like this one, in fact"G

Wow. I react totally different from you when it comes to nutters on the Rinkforum. See, I sit and fume over their posts and spit nails for a bit. And then I relax and say to myself:

"Hey, I don't need to worry about this guy. In a few minutes somebody clever like Sam or B-G will come along and say *exactly* what I'm trying to say, only with coherence and wit."

Your post just reminded me why I do that. :-)

M"Of course, when I say 'nutters on the Rinkforum' I mean all of them except the one who's typing right now. There's nothing I can do about her."el