At least thirty years ago I was making a set of confirmation calls checking to be sure that my list had a proper perspective about how an issue was to be handled when we all came to the meeting, I was telling them what was to be “our” approach on a question.

One guy I called was no vaguer than most.

He called me back and in the course of this second talk he told me I had the wrong person.

I asked why he had not told me that before and he replied, “It was very interesting, so I got interested.”

This confirmed a couple of things for me. The first was that you have a Sophisticated Conspiracy going, include me OUT.

The second was that I routinely bring complicated things down to a level of understanding that makes complicated stuff clear enough for an intelligent generalist to get the whole question, a point which really disgusts those whose ambition is to be one of the snobs.

Given all this, I find it sadly humorous when someone decides I am withholding information in some complicated way.

Accusing an old man on disability of being a Machiavellian is much like accusing a wheelchair person of climbing up into your high rise in the dead of night.

It hurts. It has long since ceased to be funny and it hurts.

I have to keep checking the page to try to remember who this is going to.

I am beyond embarrassment on that point.

I have more than once expressed my distrust of X in a note that turned out to be going to X.

My sole concern is that it might hurt X’s feelings, which I did not want.

On the other hand, it does clear the air.

But “Honesty” and “Frankness” is not an excuse to offend or hurt someone. “Frank” and Honest” is no excuse for cruelty. Those who say God forbids untruthfulness need to go back and read that Commandment.

Honest sadism is still sadism.

Yes, I will be dishonest in that I may try to avoid saying something that may hurt someone who values my opinion. To me, that is simple humanity.

But no, there is no way I am withholding things from you in some subtle way.

I can’t and I won’t.

It hurts me to hurt people. It is especially agonizing for me to hurt someone who especially values my opinion of them.

It is a cripple who stumbled. Only White Trash would consider that funny.