But I don't think he needs you to fight his battles in a completely OTT manner.
Gelman's certainly not fighting my battles as such, but do you really expect I feel better with no-one backing me up on these sorts of issues? He's not the only one, either - Halsey has done the same in this thread if only once (and, and it's something I mostly certainly am greatful for, him standing-up for me when this sort of thing happens - and it always will, and always has - is not unusual). Do you think I don't wonder "am I being a completely unreasonable ****? Was it totally stupid of me to post that?"
On the poor punctuation issue... TBH it really is something that baffles me. Most people either bother or they don't - Anil, for instance, never writes a capital letter and I've not seen him do for years. Why, I'm not sure. But... well, as I say, I have thought in the past that your posting style is a bit strange. I don't really want to make an issue of it, but I don't understand why you use partially proper punctuation\CAPS-use. Either do it to the best of your ability (we all, obviously, make the occasional slip-up) or don't make any effort at all IMO. As I say - don't get the idea that it's a big issue, because it's not. Just saying I can see what Gelman means. Although, with a few exceptions (Anil, for instance, and sledger is another one) those who use good punctuation are among the best posters and those that don't are pretty well identified as rabble.
On the other thing... the smilies... again, I also feel that you often seem to use certain smilies (be it the
or, mostly, the
- though, interestingly, I never got that feeling with the old favourite, the
, maybe you should go back to it, it's a simple shortcut even if the mouse-icon isn't there at the moment) in a rather contemptuous-laugh\smile sort of way. It doesn't really bother me for more than a second or two because I'm generally pretty thick-skinned. But perhaps I should mention that it is something that has got on my wick a few times.
And finally, I might add - you might think Gelman's "flipping out like a paranoid Hells Angel at Altamont"? I can assure you from not-inconsiderable experience, he's not. This sort of thing happens (I've been there myself, before your most recent return, check that West Indies-England thread that I mentioned I was
about being dug-up, that is why) and you can bet your life it's not due to isolated incidents, nor him alone that feels such a way. The fact that he has always remained one of the most-respected posters on here should tell you a bit, too.
Another "finally, I might add", and not in your direction, more towards the boss, Pete, Jack, maybe even Kyle - from me, please don't close this thread. Stuff like this is much better said than unsaid.
