"Tom,
"Originally, I was rather harsh with him on reply #34. I'm sorry I fell into the darkness. But his repetitions, faulty claims and assumptions presented as fact are trying. I apologize for saying he ought to have a statue made of himself slightly higher than and placed next to the one of CBM at NGLA. That was mean and uncalled for. I like it, but it is still uncalled for. I removed it before he replied, but Moriarty was kind enough to reprint it anyway."
Wayne:
You see, that's the fundamental difference between our styles on here. You think the statue thing is mean and uncalled for and worthy of removal but I think it's nothing more than humorous, perhaps vaguely biting humor but humor nonetheless.
The fact is the humor level on here is not very good and it never has been and some on here have almost zero humor or appreciation of humor and that never helps. Combine that with a paper-thin skin and it helps less.
But telling Moriarty he's arrogant and condescending is right and proper simply because it is undeniably true and telling him he should have a statue higher than Macdonald's is just funny.
If you called Charley Macdonald arrogant and condescending and in need of a statue higher than Moriarty's or anyone else's there is no doubt in my mind---none---that Charley would just eat that up with a great big spoon. I'm sure he would find such a statement the epitome of the type of compliment he really looked for.
Furthermore, perhaps we have even found the key to why Moriarty seems so fixated on Macdonald that he is now incessantly trying to propose that Macdonald should receive more credit for everything that happened in American architecture. It may be that Moriarty is every bit as arrogant and condescending as Charley was.
However, the massive difference I see between Macdonald and Moriarty is if someone challenges or insults Moriarty he starts wailing that everyone is confused and misunderstands him and that everyone is wrong for that reason, while Charley would probably just violently insult them and then proceed to deck them and think about it some other time.
Just keep pounding away at Moriarty's far-fetched statements and claims, in a tough but civil way, of course. That's what GOLFCLUBATLAS.com is all about. That's what makes it unique and valuable.
We all have a responsibility to the ultimate understanding of golf architecture to counterpoint some of the crap Moriarty comes up with on here. The fact that someone might actually believe him either now or in the future is a fairly sobering thought!