I think the whole discussion on procedure should stop, now. Like, really,
stop. No last comments, no 'but...', nothing. A cooling off period.
Not because it isn't important: it is.
But because the level of mutual incomprehension is such that no increased
clarity and no increased agreement will result. I think these are the only
two worthwhile objectives in a list of this nature.
I take it as axiomatic that everyone is acting honestly within their own
definitions, and civilly within their own definitions. The problem is very
straightforward: our definitions do not coincide. Therefore no-one is to
blame, no-one is evil: we just don't agree.
Does this mean we should abandon it/withdraw? No.
The technical term, I think, is 'ceasefire'. It doesn't mean 'surrender'.
What I think we should all do is the following:
(a) *Read* what other other guys wrote. Like, really carefully, three
times.
(b) take a deep breath
(c) *Read* what other other guys wrote. Like, really carefully, three
times.
(d) if need be correspond off-list
(e) *Read* what other other guys wrote. Like, really carefully, three
times.
(f) if need be correspond off-list
(g) come back to it in about two months time
What I don't thing we should do is:
(a) pretend there isn't a problem
(b) attempt to withdraw (it doesn't work: you always want to have the last
word)
(c) raise the heat any further.
Alan