“Mac” makes a comment in the previous post about how much of a jerk I am:

…to a great extent, the people who are on the receiving end of Rand’s barbs are those that cast the first stone. Whether or not Rand’s being rude to those people who are rude first is immaterial since this is Rand’s blog. If those that wish to insult Rand cannot bear being insulted back, they shouldn’t post in the first place.

While I’m sure there are exceptions, what with me being human and all, that is in fact my philosophy. I attempt to operate on the Internet (as I attempt to in life) on a tit-for-tat basis. I’ve never been a Christian, and so never feel any moral need to turn the other cheek (though I often do anyway). I just think that it’s the best philosophy of operation. As Axelrod describes it, it has the features of being nice, forgiving, provocable, and clear, which should be the basis for any interaction that provides maximum benefit to all parties.

So, if someone posts nonsense (something that I consider an insult to my blog, and to the intelligence of my other readers), and I call it that, am I being a “jerk”? I report, you decide.

[Update in the afternoon]

Sorry ’bout that. I clumsily worded the opening sentence above. “…about how much of a jerk I am” refers to the post (and is sarcastic), not to Mac’s comment.