Hooley dooley - look what I've been missing out on... Thanks MaxQ for speaking up on my behalf. Couldn't have reiterated better myself.

Dr Bill:F-word the dictionaries.

hev:

Dr Bill:They are cramped for space, and do not pretend to be arbiters of fine shades of meaning.

Agreed. I was merely stating what the dictionary/ies say, not implicitly agreeing with them.

Dr Bill:The difference seems to be that humans can inflict, but only malign abstractions can afflict.

You raise an interesting point Dr Bill, my esteemed 84yo ranting curmudgeon ... I knew I would differentiate my use of inflict/afflict but wasn't sure why. Must go away to have another think... Thanks!!

Hev