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I am familiar with both of the popular associations of the phrase "Gas House Gang," and therefore thought nothing of the reference other than that it was a bit peculiar.
What I do have a problem with in Mr. Childress's and Mr. Willson's most recent responses, is their insistence on muddying the waters of reasoned and respectful discourse with unnecessary and unpleasant ad hominem barbs.
Examples, first from a recent Warren Willson post:
> Moose support hits rock bottom...
> See, Dave, here is the problem with posters who arrive at a
> conclusion, because it suits some ulterior motive
> Dave, perhaps you are emotionally too close to this issue. Perhaps you
> have allowed your feelings for, or against, the personalities involved
> to cloud your judgement.
And, from Mr. Childress:
> We all know the hidden agenda those umpires are following.
> The arguments are nothing more than attempts to justify bad umpiring
> because those defending [name not used on request] don't like the
> umpires who pointed out what ought to be have been done. We read,
> then, for example, nonsense from an ordinarily good theoretician who
> will engage in the rankest contortions simply because he's angry with
> those on the other side.
A saying common in the lawyer business is "When the facts are on your side, argue the facts. When the law is on your side, argue the law. When neither is on your side, attack your opponent."
Ulterior motives, hidden agendas, oneupmanship, thinly veiled putdowns, etc. It just doesn't seem possible to have an honest disagreement around here. It's an attitude of give no quarter, take no prisoners, it ain't fun until blood's spilt, my way or the highway, and absolute refusal - no way, no how, not gonna happen - to simply agree to disagree.
If I dismissed Mr. Childress's arguments with:
Everybody knows he's only on my case because he's mad at me for embarrassing him on McGriff's over the proper ruling on a runner hit by batted ball play.
that would be wrong and unfair, another example of the ad hominem fallacy. I don't use that style of argument, and I have to say I'm getting a bit tired of it being used against me.
Frankly, fellas, if you're not going to address the substance of my arguments, then I think I like it better in your killfiles.
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