You're quite right in what you say about good writing, Jeri, and yes, the Black Madison posts are wonderfully done.

However, I think that a great deal of the overtly pedantic posts are done entirely tongue in cheek, don't you? It's just some joshing around between friends. I doubt that any of us would seriously assert that it is perfect grammar and perfect spelling which make for good writing.

I would also say that there are times when one wishes to write seriously and really communicate something significant with others...and there are other times when one wishes simply to amuse oneself, pass the time, and engage in other completely unimportant and non-weighty activities of that sort...activities which have no lasting merit in the world of fine art.

I do not intend to kneel before some digital God of "good writing" and tearfully apologize for having sometimes done the latter, and I don't see why anyone else here ought to either. As you say, many of us are capable of good writing. That does not mean we are under some stern obligation to do absolutely nothing BUT good writing in our time spent in these sacred halls, I hope.