The reason I respond promptly and strongly to Alex's posts is that he is a "real" scientist. I therefore respond with statements based on scientific fact, and *try* to keep the heat down on the flames. That's why I'm dissapointed when he throws in the jokes, which I don't find very funny. But perhaps that's his attempt at lightening things and avoiding the heat?

it may seem to you that I am being harsh, but I am trying to be factual. With Alex, I acknoledge that ultimately, I may well be wrong, at least partially - all science is like this. It's a good working answer, for now, but likely to be wrong in detail when seen with the benefit of hindsight. However, I do see a lot of value in cold models of Mars and I'm working to get them more accepted in the wider planetary community.

For others on this board, I've given up responding to each new inane post. If they didn't understand it the first 3 times, I can't be bothered to respond every time, but I do slap them down now and again in a much less friendly manner than I reply to Alex. The scale of error of these "others" is such that they are definitely wrong and there is little of benefit in their mad schemes.

In my book, ignoring someone is the worst insult, so when I don't reply to a post, it could be a stern signal.

(or, OTOH, I might just be on my travels, like I was last week!)