>IMHO people like ER will display sufficient humility and professionalism to be >able to cope with criticism or even the frank "flaming" without trying to >punish by withdrawing support, which is a crude form of bullying (don't dare >confront me or I will punish everybody and make you a pariah). I don't believe >he will do it.

>If people think I "flamed" Ed or anybody else, my advice is: read the words, >not a convenient "straw man" interpretation that allows you to avoid the issue.

Since we are talking of avoiding the "issues" considier this.....

1) The issue is not Ed's ability to cope with this latest flame. Surely he can. The issue is the consistant and irrational demands for pristine, perfectly formatted code that has spent signifigant time in the testing bin.

2) Further... the "issue" is having to deal with individuals that call into question a persons abilities and integrety when they make little or no contribution themselves.

3) Further... the "issue" is having people that care enough to try and help slapped around like so much gutter trash and their contribution called into question by people who consistantly suck up all they can and leave little or nothing of lasting value in return for all that they have recieved.

4) Further... the "issue" is the absurdity of someone that does not come around all that much telling someone that is here all the time what they should do and how they should act. Perhaps this was for many, the straw that broke the kangaroos back.

So my "advice" to you is to step back and get a bigger picture. Come here daily and make a contribution for a year of so. Have numbers of people ridicule you when you make a single typo. Have numbers of people even call into question YOUR integrety. Have lots of email and private messages and posts that you have to wade through on a daily basis. Have lots of people who are too lazy to even open the help files DEMAND that you give them the answers they seek and in the time frame that THEY demand and of course include perfect code to boot.

THEN lets hear someone tell you how to act as a "professional".

John.... we could even do a Truman Show type setting where we all could see YOUR reactions.

A much wiser person that Mr. O (how wise a person is it that unleashed the horror of holocoust on civilazation?) said..... "By the measure that you judge others... YOU will be judged." Oh by the way his name was Jesus Christ.