Jim Dixon - ""How did people accused of rudeness and bad taste defend themselves before…?"

Well, if I can go by historical novels, cowboy films, etc...they usually responded with further rudeness and bad taste, verbal abuse, fisticuffs, gunplay, and other forms of mindless violence, including frequent duels, carefully organized ahead of time, with seconds and surgeon standing by.

Alexander Hamilton was an unfortunately fatal casualty of one such duel, due to the acrimonious relations between him and Aaron Burr. I always liked Hamilton better. What a bummer.

- LH