Duggy wrote:   
   > On Sep 23, 10:03 am, Elko T  wrote:   
   >    
   >>   And the fact that Duggy tried to defend the non-German-ness of the   
   >> GDR, shows that not only I thought that you meant it.   
   >    
   > I never thought he meant it, I was just explaining the past   
   > justification.   
      
      You shouldn't have, because there was no justification, then or now.   
      
      
   >>    Again, to re-state the issue - the joke about the Holy Roman Empire   
   >> works, because it was indeed neither of these.   
   >    
   > Neither?  It wasn't any of the three of them.   
      
      Oh, come on. You want to argue English usage now? :)   
      
      
   >> The GDR one doesn't,   
   >> because it was, in fact, German, and I'm not really sure about it not   
   >> being a republic.   
   >    
   > It had elections so maybe it was a democracy... but the elected   
   > government was mostly administrative, so maybe not.  Since it was run   
   > by the Soviets "Republic" hard to justify.   
      
      Not really, no. The Soviets were a republic, so it was too, by    
   extension, even if they ran it (which is debatable). But you were    
   answered comprehensively downstream, I won't get into it now.   
      
      
   >>    I have no reason to doubt your story, but the setting only confirms   
   >> my conclusion that it was not so much a joke, but rather a bitter,   
   >> spiteful remark. You forget that I /grew up/ in that environment, and   
   >> can tell the difference.   
   >    
   > Whatever it was then, these days it is a joke and appropiate to the   
   > discussion.   
      
      I don't think so. Whatever it was, so it remains. It was spiteful    
   then, it is tasteless now. That's how I feel it; let's just leave it at    
   that.   
      
      
   >>    Personal attacks? Insulting? No such thing was intended. I believe   
   >> Duggy took it in good humor, but if you decide to play it offended,   
   >> there's nothing I can do.   
   >    
   > "Only when cornered" annoyed me.  Not offended, but I didn't like it.   
   > Almost reacted badly to it, but stopped myself.   
      
      I appreciate it.   
      
   --    
   No, no, you can't e-mail me with the nono.   
   --- SBBSecho 2.12-Win32   
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