who wants hellfire?

[malach_cha_movis]

Hi Pete,
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to respond to you, directly.

So, you believe that I am a “bleeding heart”. Let’s see:
I am a “bleeding heart” because I would rather gain a convert rather than burn a heretic?
I am a “bleeding heart” because I would prefer to give someone food rather than tell him he should go hungry?
I am a “bleeding heart” because I would rather protect someone from the bully rather than be the bully?
I am a “bleeding heart” because I believe that discourse should be polite and civil rather than rude and coarse?
Yes, I believe you are correct. I am a “bleeding heart”.
Since you believe all the opposite, what shall we call you? :unsure:

As a side note – I applaud your diligence and intellect in your attempt to discover the origin of the expression, “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” However, any descriptive linguist will tell you, while the etymology of a word or expression may be interesting and/or helpful; it is the current usage that is important.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002.
"You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar"
You can win people to your side more easily by gentle persuasion and flattery than by hostile confrontation.

To take a more current example; thirty–five years ago “gay” meant frivolously happy. Can you imagine yourself, today, going up to a happy 6’4” man, with biker boots, black leather jacket, tattoos on his 24-inch biceps, and telling him that he is gay. :blink:

FYI the real origin of the proverb, “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar,” is very recent. It comes from the baseball centerfielder, Willy Mays. It seems he tried putting vinegar in his glove so that he would be better able to catch flies. When that failed to work, he tried honey. This caused him to exclaim, “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” :lol:

Pete, let me take this opportunity to complement you on this last post. You posted with style, humor, and intelligence. Even though you wished to be critical, you did not use a single epithet or vulgarity. You managed the entire post without being rude or nasty. It makes me proud to believe that I played some small part in your increased maturity. ;)
And that’s what I think!
Warren
Malach cha Movis
“Excellence is not a skill, it’s a habit! “Aristotle”