I will Believe the Book of Mormon as history when...

[_Daniel Peterson]

Except for the the fact that I'm not operating according to inconsistent standards, there might perhaps be a tiny smidgin of relevance in your analogy.

[_Scottie]

Scottie,

I think it's clear that the words here by scratch are to call attention to previous issues, namely, the one Scratch mentions above. While I have no opinion one way or another on it, let me help you understand what might be the structure of Scratch's argument.

Let's say at school one day, a kid I don't care for because of certain clothes he wears or the way he looks calls me a name. I beat the hell out of him for it. And the next day, another kid, one who I don't always agree with but whom I have no prejudice against calls me a name. I hesitate. An onlooker says to me, "Hey, shouldn't you be punching him in the stomach and breaking his nose?"

One could accuse this onlooker of following me around and finding the worst in everything I do, even to the point of demanding I be violent as consistent with my nature. But, the onlooker in this case was merely pointing out the fact that I'm operating according to inconsistent standards.

Sorry, Gad, I'm not buying it. That was just a weird and uncalled for attack on Dr P. from out of nowhere.

[_The Nehor]

Come on, Scottie. That's not what I am "crucifying" him for. If he had never opened his big yap about Mike Quinn's excommunication, then I never would have had cause to "zing" him on this issue.

Every time I've seen him speak on the issue it's in response to you demanding answers and you call him a gossip for it. So, if this is gossip it's something you demand from him. What does that make you?

[_Daniel Peterson]

Sorry, Gad, I'm not buying it. That was just a weird and uncalled for attack on Dr P. from out of nowhere.

At the risk of compromising or tainting you, Scottie, I just want to say that I appreciate your fair-mindedness on this matter.

[_Gadianton]

Sorry, Gad, I'm not buying it. That was just a weird and uncalled for attack on Dr P. from out of nowhere.

Huh. Well, I have no opinion nor a vested interest in this argument, so no need to apologize, though I appreciate the gesture. Apology accepted.

Anyway, my only interest was bringing to your attention the structure of the argument so you could make an informed choice on whether to accept it, or reject it.

[_Daniel Peterson]

Come on, Scottie. That's not what I am "crucifying" him for. If he had never opened his big yap about Mike Quinn's excommunication, then I never would have had cause to "zing" him on this issue.

Every time I've seen him speak on the issue it's in response to you demanding answers and you call him a gossip for it. So, if this is gossip it's something you demand from him.

That's exactly right, Nehor. It's one of the many ironic aspects of Scartch's permanent campaign.

What does that make you?

I think the answer's pretty obvious.

[_harmony]

Isn't the basic structure of gossip that it must be untrue (and it helps if it's malicious and salicious)?

If what's being said is true, how can it be gossip?

[_Daniel Peterson]

I've never understood gossip to be, by definition, untrue.

I would be interested, though, to hear what others think about that. Seriously.

[_Yoda]

California is in northeastern Provo. Very good!

Hey! That's why we get along. I grew up in CA, too. ;)

I'm from Northern CA...about 2 hours from the bay area. Where did you grow up?

[_Daniel Peterson]

California is in northeastern Provo. Very good!

Hey! That's why we get along. I grew up in CA, too. ;)

I'm from Northern CA...about 2 hours from the bay area. Where did you grow up?

I grew up in the south, in the San Gabriel Valley, not too far from Caltech, the Rose Bowl, and the Huntington Library.

I went to the Huntington Library at least once a year when I was a little kid, with school field trips, and proposed to my wife in the Japanese Gardens there.

The San Gabriel Mission is across the street (and some railroad tracks) from my high school.

Greetings to a fellow Californian!

P.S. When my friends and I -- yes, I did and do have friends -- saw the bell tower of the San Gabriel Mission collapse in the old disaster flick Earthquake, we rejoiced. Not because we were anti-Catholics -- several of them were Catholics -- but because it gave us hope that maybe our high school had perished along with Lorne Greene and several of the movie's other stars.