[Closed] If anybody is interested Danbury Mint has a 1957 Olds

Agreed that txt and emails can come across as flat, so can words on paper.

This is especially true where brevity is necessary and a word count imposed. However, its not difficult to see in peoples writing a glimpse into their personalities and attitudes. Most people who comment here do so in a light and nonthreatening manner and mostly with respect even though they may be on fire with disagreement. Good manners prevent this from happening. So also does a more nuanced approach.

I write like a stuffed shirt and in a way that seems formal because that is how I was taught - to be precise - preachie even and not always reader friendly.

In any event I still maintain that my use of the word harsh is entirely appropriate in this context. The George response was from a demeanor of "daddy knows best" that attitude is the most troubling here. We are not a high school class of troublesome teenage boys who need the supervision of a curmudgeonly, authoritarian teacher. Georges response seemed more of a rebuke than the passing on of helpful information. So no, its not about the literal "....do some research" at all that is harsh but instead the writers attitude that was blunt. But if I may Shanghai the term, Law of Unintended Consequences, it is probably unlikely that after the harsh rebuke Jay received to what was probably to him a hopeful observation and to be included in the discussion will now likely feel shot down in flames enough to be relucrant to try it again and that is the real point right there.

To Jay and everyone...my apologies. I in no way intended my response to be demeaning or harsh. But as Phil pointed out, sometimes the way something is typed on a message board is read differently than intended.

I've went back and softened my original comment to you Jay, and sincerely hope that you accept my apology if indeed you were taken back by the original.

Phil. We share the same confused reactions especially the modern use of Merc as it is now included in the modern lexicon. Merc is, and always been, the familiar name for Mercury. Mercedes has always been Mercedes or just plain Benz. In the Mercedes context, Merc with a hard c makes no sence at all. I find myself being mildly irritaded by this ignorance and wish that in a flash of lightening it would all suddenly stop.
Although I wouldn't use Jap any longer in public now, as you didnt do so intentially either, Jap is in common usage in my part of the world especially among those of us from around the Baby Boomer generation.
It really is just a slang term with no racial intent at all.

Ive enjoyed talking with you Phil.