The masks of inscrutability, or are you really you?

[The Saucepan Man]

If anything, davem, it's the opposite for me. I suspect that the Man behind the Pans is sometimes less thoughtful and reasonable than his Forum counterpart. After all, he does not, in real life, have the luxury of reviewing and moderating everything that he says before he says it.

Edit: I cross-posted with you, H-I, but I would certainly agree with you when you say:

But in virtual friendship, it is easier to hurt. Hence the caution and politeness, which I would not have shown if we were indeed in a mentioned pub.

That's part of what I was trying to get across above. It also explains my excessive use of 'smileys'.