Rick, I've learned the hard way that you and your audience (whether it be one person or a roomful) should get to know each other before anybody gets subtle.

I really cannot allow myself to go on autopilot when I'm interacting with someone I don't know and who doesn't know me. I try to keep things simple and literal.

As we interact, if I think it is appropriate and I am in the mood I can open up and show some of my other facets. The way I look at it, my bland generic side is free. If you want more you've gotta prove you can handle it.

Everything I have said so far is about face to face verbal communication. Typescript on a computer screen is an entirely different animal. The Mudcat forum seems to me to be full of confirming instances that attempts at subtlety are normally a waste of time. Like trying to teach a pig to sing.....