I always got a kick out of Martin Gibson, even though our social/political viewpoints were usually polar opposites. Even his most extreme right-wing-nut posts could make for interesting reading, since his peculiar personal slant was generally quite different from the standard unthinking "dittohead" party line. Martin may have been offensive and shortsighted, but at least he was a one-of-a-kind original ~ a Jewish citydweller (Chicago) with a taste for bluegrass music and Bible-Belt politics.

Now, maybe I would feel differently if he had ever singled ME out for one of his crude personal attacks, but I don't recall that he ever did.

Or did he? If he had, I'd like to think it wouldn't have bothered me, especially with both he and I being essentially anonymous. I'd also like to think that I would not have "risen to the bait" and inspired him to continue trading insults.

Anyway, when we was discussing music and intruments rather than politics and sociology, he was usually interesting and articulate, and seemed quite knowledgeable.

Plus which, he came up with a truly excellent Mudcat name, perhaps the best pseudonym imaginable for a folk-guitar enthusiast. Too bad no one else can adopt that name now, because like a true skunk, he has indelibly marked it as his own territory...