I wish to apologise to Peter Daniels and to the rest of this list for
sniping. (Thanks, Michael, for pointing it out.)
I met Peter D a few years ago at U of I and enjoyed a few days of
interaction with him. Since then, I have considered him a friend. I
believe it was I who invited and talked him into joining this list, and
except for our recent exchange I have always appreciated his informed
contributions. I expect that that will continue to be the norm, and I hope
I can continue to count him as a friend.
I do not mind having my ideas shown to be wrong. Like any of us, I can be
defensive, but I think (or would certainly like to believe) I'm more
interested in truth and in careful and clear analysis than I am in
something I concocted. I do not like having my ideas ignored, however. I
become frustrated because I was trying to engage in an intellectual
exchange but felt I wasn't being taken seriously. Bill Bright suggested
that a request presented to me may have been rhetorical. That is precisely
what has made me frustrated.
My reaction was, nonetheless, inappropriate, and I ask that you all
forgive me.