> You know, I have no idea why I post stuff when I know someone is going to start yelling really loudly at me, and then I'll feel embarrassed.

I have no idea either. When you first came here, you posted something like three or four anti-American diatribes in a row, and when you slacked off that due to mass objection, even then your posts generally had to do with some aspect of American culture you wanted to pick at. You say you're embarrassed, but is that the only reason you're regretful?

I understand that cynicism and condescending rivalry are core elements of certain strains of British humor, but what makes the difference between humor and insult is whether all that cynicism and condescension is real or not. I've engaged in some fun mock rivalry with other Rinkies here, but the only impression I've ever had with you is that your anti-American sentiments are basically real.

> Sam: Yep, I am mired in cynicism, sarcasm and irony. Can't help it. Sorry about that.

Heh. You called BG on this but not me. My response to you was about as sarcastic as it gets. I took bets about whether you'd call me on that or not. For the record, I was irked by your post but mostly amused by how utterly inexplicable it was. My quite deliberately over-sarcastic response was the product of an overtired mind having some insane fun with it. But that's not to say I wasn't basically serious underneath that. I truly don't understand how it is amusing for a web site run by the U.S. Government on the subject of defending freedom to have, in its banner, the U.S. symbol of freedom, the colors of the U.S. flag, and/or the name "America" on it.

Now, I think I *could* see your point if the site had all sorts of ad lines on it ("INSIDE: IS *YOUR* NEIGHBOR A TERRORIST?") or an audio narration ("Tonight, on DEFENDING AMERICA..."), but, er, it didn't. The site, as it is, is a regular old professionally done government web site, and I really don't see how you got humor out of it except by finding America's symbols inherently laughable.

*shrug* I'm not going to let it bother me either way, but if you're genuinely concerned about how you come across, there's my take, and I don't think I'm alone.

> Brunnen-G: Sorry, you are one of the Big Three.

There isn't any Big Three. She and I share a lot of the same attitudes about things (though definitely not all), but this does not mean she has any elevated sway or standing on RinkWorks for it.