Sourdough, I think you make a lot of sense. I also think you're right that Bennet's response was fairly moderate, but some of the subsequent discussion (my own included) makes it sound like he reacted more strongly and impulsively than he probably did. For the part I played in causing this issue to "mushroom," I apologize. Actually, as I mentioned after Bennet's initial post, I thought he added some real insight to our discussion, even if I did not agree with all that he wrote.

As a point of clarification, the convention concerning the appellation "Esquire" is for other people to add it to an attorney's name when addressing him or her (in writing) -- not for the lawyer to add it to his or her own name. Most lawyers know this, and refrain from adding "Esq." to their own names when signing something. However, this is such a minor infraction that we really needn't continue to worry about it.

As for why it feels good to consider yourself a victim, that's a damn good question. I think it's human nature to derive some satisfaction from identification as a victim -- it makes you a sympathetic character, and invests your opinions with more weight somehow. We all might be tempted to do this from time to time, but I think we should resist the temptation. Noting that you have some expertise in a given field (law, medicine, etc.) is one thing, but trying to give your opinions some sort of preferred status in the discussion by virtue of your "victimhood" is another. Again, I don't necessarily feel that Bennet did this, but it's something we've all probably seen from time to time, and it looked to me like this might have been part of the dynamic.

If I have spoken more harshly about Bennet than he deserved, I apologize (but only once). -- WS