implying that nastiness is socially acceptable, if directed at me?
Not at all. We're trying to document the allegation that there is a general tone of nastiness on this board. If it is directed only at you we must seriously consider the proposition that it is deserved. I would ask you to refrain from posting the contents of any private messages to you, since it would not be in any way proof of a general tone of nastiness. I would further ask you not to post any private messages directed to anyone other than you of which you have knowledge since you could know of them only from a party who is not disinterested. It would also not be indicative of public nastiness.
What we're trying to do is establish that there is a general public tone of nastiness. There is also the matter of what has been referred to as Good Natured Banter. One might hope that the intelligent viewer can detect this, but if necessary perhaps the parties involved would be allowed to indicate that that is what it was.
This was composed and posted before the promised edit.
