Hello sweeties.
I realise that reason and sense on a forum are the pipedreams of the lunatic, but I like to take a little stab at it now and then.
The problem arises when someone's rudeness is more direct, or honest. Stuart's responses have upset or enraged people because he is quite clear about why and with whom he is cross. A direct, "I think you're a fucking shit-gargler" leaves no one confused, and at least one person insulted. And thus people recognise Stuart as a rude man.
However, I would like to contend that his rudeness is a sugar cube of delight in the festering, mouldy mug of tea that introduced this thread. The original poster wrote something that went beyond rudeness. It was libellous, offensive, and wholly inaccurate. As the editor of the magazine has since stated, and as those who are aware of Campbell's reputation will know, his writing is meticulous, the result of immense amounts of work. To call him lazy, incapable, immature, poor at research, sub-par, or any of the other slurs offered by the opening buffoon are not only without evidence, wholly unfair, and downright stupid, but also potentially damaging to someone's reputation. Fortunately Bobak's stream of bubbling nonsense is hardly likely to do any such harm, but clearly it was his intention.
Clearly if Campbell were the sort who could come in and calmly and politely point out the grotesque array of errors that poured down the screen like idiotic sludge in Bobak's flap, he would more effectively be heard, and those too slow to grasp the intricacies of communication (for instance, those unable to read what people wrote) would not so immediately leap to shriek at him. His approach could certainly be more productive.
But it is honest. Which is far more than can be said for the participation of others. And my contention is that this honesty should be treated with more respect than the insidious, deceptive, spite-fest that made up Bobak's post.
I realise this will never happen, since this is a forum, and as such the domain of the shrieking masses. But I still put the effort in to say my thoughts despite that.
Yours in persistent optimism,
Sam Madeupname