First of all, you started posting regularly just as I was leaving.
I find you the one fresh breeze on this board that can twist their shorts into a wad and have them cry Uncle. You have a fine sense of humor ana make your point honorably.
You make yourself a target for the right and do it with applomb and finesse.
I will always read what you write, just to see how you're taking them on.

To answer your questions:

>Well, Lindy, I wish you'd come back. There's nothing personal in any of this. Nothing.

I'm glad you see it this way. However I don't. This board is waay too personal.
I've been writing to some of these board members for three or four years......let's call it a "community". Part of getting to "know" someone (literally or figuratively), is to open yourself to them. And we do that here.

>Or, I'd read something from eb or FrankC and throw myself off a bridge.

I've read PLENTY from those guys. In all those years, eb has dogged me to death and FrankC's been peeing on my pant leg since the Dawn of Civilization.

>Look at what you'd miss. So help me, one guy asked me if I was aware I irritated people, and if most folks disagreed with me!! Wondered - if - I - was - aware - that - most - people - disagreed - with - me! You wouldn't have seen that.

I saw it and I knew THEY HAD IT COMING. And thank you for GIVING IT TO THEM.
Part of my charm was giving it to them as well.
They think "in the box"........most of them. Rigid sandboxes of their own making.
Most of the time I was here to just to mess up their sandboxes.
It was fun.....for awhile.

>You're only as big as the people who can get you down. And you're bigger than that.

Yes and no. We determine our boundaries and how much shit we want to take.
If I need shit, I'll go looking for it.
When something stops giving you joy or pleasure, it's time to move on.

>Is Publius a person?

Of course!

>I sort of assumed Publius was the pseudonym of a group of students who would log on occasionally from a philosophy seminar. Has read too widely and retained too much for one person.

No, he's just unusually bright, retentive and unrelenting.
(I might add that he's attentive too....part of his charm).
One of those walking encyclopedia types.

>I've had great hopes for "Publius" as soon as I got him/her/them squared up on the Israel-Palestine problem.

I won't debate it with him because I disagree with him. Yet, if I wanted to, I could point out where he's agreed in the past. But why waste a perfectly good evening over coffee arguing about........what? Politics?
I'd reserve THAT for the dogs on this board.
(Pardon me calling all you guys here..... DOGS....but believe me, you've had it coming).

My life is too short getting my panties all in a wad....over the HAMBONES over here.
Life is good! Seize the day!

>Now, your coming back would be a mixed blessing.

No, no-one's gonna miss me. The good ole boys club are all patting themselves on the back.
It's beginning to smell like ENRON around here.
Although I'm back to visit briefly, my days as a "regular" are over.

Y'all have a nice time.
Go get 'em Bowser!

Woof.