Stu... I do 'get' the humor. I merely suggest that that FORM of 'friendly banter' goes a ways beyond much of the humor that I am comfortable with. If I had days to do a serious project on the topic, I could ...I think.. demonstrate a cultural element in it which mirrors as humor the deeper sense of how some people express disagreement on serious issues.

(My ex-wife could not argue any point for long without taking the stance that she was being disparaged as a person. Discussions deteriorated to meta-debates about the argument itself and whether she was being unfairly treated.)

"..., but there's only one or two I wouldn't sit down for a pint with"

In my time here, there were only 2-3 that *I* would not care to sit down with... but one IS from the UK.. and he 'might' be reconsidered. However, in the case of several others, it might become a bit... ummm... heated. I would still try to debate only the issue and not make assumptions about their character. If they were not able to do the same, I 'might' develop an opinion about character & motivation.


We still have a long way to go to find easy ways to be understood in this medium, hmm?