Well, yeah, for sure! I'd rather scare someone away with a gun than shoot them any old day or night. Some people don't scare easily, of course, but most do. The fact is, no one specific reaction suits all cases, so no matter what your favourite story of choice is, someone will pull out another story which seems to invalidate your point. And here we go round the mulberry bush once again....yadda, yadda, yadda....

Which story they pull out will depend on their pre-existing prejudices regarding the subject under discussion.

To put it another way, what is the most prudent action under one set of circumstances may be complete and utter folly under another set of circumstances.

That's why I said...use your common sense, according to the circumstances you are in. It should be possible to see both sides or all sides of a given issue, providing one is inclined to use a little imagination, and not just fall back on an established kneejerk reaction.

You can't lay down one inflexible rule to fit every circumstance, without risking getting into serious trouble sooner or later.

- LH