David, I know that other folks on this list have responded to you privately in the past, taking issue with the tone of many of your posts. I perhaps should do the same, but I choose, after much thought, to do so on the list. I realize that your upcoming book, Mark Twain Day By Day, is a major work of scholarship. I happened to put in an order for it the other day, and I know it is going to be invaluable to me personally in a project I am now working on. So I am happy to know that you are making a major contribution to Mark Twain studies. You may be surprised to know, however, that you are not the only "expert" in the world on Mark Twain. Many of your contributions to this list make you seem like an insufferable person (I eupemize mightilty). Your most recent attack on Judith Lee goes over the line, and I for one will not let it pass without comment. Let's put irony aside, since as Twain says in Puddn'head Wilson, "Irony was not for those people"--and I assume it might not be a graspable concept for you. (Hell, I can't put irony aside, not when it stares us so in the face: questioning the validity of the study and analysis of humor on a list devoted to Mark Twain? And quoting a letter from Mark Twain that was entirely analytical about humor--as he often was?) The Mark Twain list is a valuable resource and a friendly community of people,academics and non-academics, who are interested in Mark Twain. I have bemoaned the lack of conversation from time to time on here, and I read with interest any genuine discussion and even argument--but snide, hurtful, and I have to say ingorant personal attacks do not have a place on any internet discussion list, and I think it is the duty of fellow participants to call out those who break those rules of decorum. Unless that person just WANTS to make everybody else think he's a (euphemizing mightily--please fill in the blanks). Your pal, John Bird -----Original Message----- >From: David H Fears <[log in to unmask]> >Sent: Jan 14, 2008 12:30 PM >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: American Studies Association 2008--Panel on Humor > >Gee, Judith, you prove my point. I didn't laugh, chuckle or even smile while reading your response; but I did yawn twice.