I have someone's comment correctly cited in my signature. I haven't butchered his name to try and anger him have I? He hasn't requested I remove it, which I would if he asked. Now the fact that it does make him look the fool is ridicule. But I'm sure he and many others simply find humour in the irony.
A good sense of humour goes a long way. Simply berating posters over and over again because of their different political or religious views? Thats a tad different would you not say?
Allow me to respectfully disagree... it's presence is ridicule.
Your comments regarding the ridicule directed at crackett.. valid they may be, over that sig line; hypocritical they remain.
IMHO, of course.
As with anything, your perspective may vary. For my part, I try and read this stuff tounge-in-cheek, and try to avoid making statements I wouldn't be comfortable making in the physical presence of those they are directed it. I guess the key is to neither take myself, or the person my remarks are directed against too seriously, and try to keep a sense of humor. Twisted, yes.. but I'm here for entertainment. Not bloodsport.
Politics & religious debates being focal points of great and dangerous angst, sharp diatribes are routinely part iof the discourse. It's nothing new... considering the subject matter and the capabilities of some of those involved, the back-and-forth in here is amazingly tame, humorous and fairly good natured.
For the most part.