I think the thing is that forums don't show us as we really are. They encourage us to be combative and your personality is in many ways just like mine. Neither of us can disentangle ourselves once we get into a spat; both of us are too proud to walk away. Casual observers think we are as bad as each other.
People have told me in the past that they don't recognise the Troll when they meet you for real, and probably if I had met you off here, it would be the same for me. We have had moments like that in the past.
The fact is that you don't know me, and I think if you were truthful with yourself you would probably concede that your assessment of me is "designed" to cause me maximum hurt by referring to my profession, which you know matters to me. But you have over worked that one.
You are right, as you imply, that John Campbell's assessment of me would tend to matter more to me than yours. I'd be sorry if he thought I was only speaking from egotism, and I genuinely doubt that is so. In point of fact, someone who knows him told me only recently that he takes me seriously and regards me as a more sensible critic than some others.
Having been a thorn in his side for many years, I can hardly expect him to be my best fan, obviously, but no, on balance, I do think you got that wrong.
