the worse thing - well one of the worse things about the insult is that it impedes the exchange of ideas.

its bad enough because it makes us people of ill will. and the illest will always takes mean spirited delight in the shittiest insult he can think of.

i know, i've done it myself.

but take this Irish problem.. Two cultures living on a small island. it doesn't have to be India/Pakistan.

an exchange of sensible ideas without insults as to how the two cultures could be honoured. that's got to be the start - not the thin lipped negotiations we see so often - with everyone just an unguarded word away from kicking the table over.