Hi, BDLJ (is this an acronym, pseudonym, "handle" or ...? and what does it say about me to use it slavishly when I know your real name? Or am I respecting your implied desire to maintain a separate identity on the net vs "real life?" )
"It allows a writer to make a strident statement e.g."Xxxxxx Xxxxxx is the biggest cheat in F1" and then retreat behind the initialism "IMHO" as though that softens the blow. It certainly does nothing for the tone of a sentence. "
Everything can be bastardized. I started the Collectors Marketplace as a free resource that used the power of the net to reduce inherent market inefficiencies, to reduce transactions costs for principals and non-specialists, so the spread can be reduced, so that a closer approximation to (my) optimal pure market clearing price can be reached.
defn: a "fair" price is one where a willing buyer and willing seller can come to agreement on.
a "good" price is one that is higher than the lowest the seller was willing to accept, and lower than the highest price the buyer was willing to pay.
There is no "best" as "good" is one among a range.
So, the guideline definition was simple, to me, to use the original Collectors Marketplace: for free use by sellers who purchased the piece being offered ORIGINALLY and PRIMARILY for personal ownership and use, and not primarily for resale?
Then the bullshit started:
What if the seller was making a profit?
What if the seller wasn't making a profit?
What if the seller bought it equally with the intention for resell?
What buyer is so rich, or so sure of their purchase, that they did not intend to EVER offer the piece for sale?
Is it possible for a personal use buyer to offer 5 pieces in one month? 10? 50? 100? 1000?
Hey, TM, you're an idiot. You can't read people's minds! So just set up rules that apply evenly to everyone, that don't require mindreading, and don't try to be so high falutin and principled.
===================
(sigh) People, the original paradigm was simple and easy, and only required a modicum of personal integrity and self-respect. (sigh)
So, my dear BDLJ, IMHO can either be pure, or a cheat to disingenuously "soften" what is already known to be a strident, unnecessarily hurtful statement. By the way, not all uncomplimentary comments need be hurtful.
Just like, "with all due respect..."
Ben, I have to say, you are a true rare gem. Cynicism, curmudgeoniness, erudition, wide ranging real world experience balanced by obvious well read and well understood theory balanced by rubber meets the road street cred. Me'thinks your frequent online crustiness hides a pretty cool human being underneath. Your obvious real life experience softens the pedantry, certainly more so than many others who love to pedant away (tee hee )without any real life experience. A favorite pejorative comes to mind..."mind wanker."
But that's just my humble opinion.
Cheers, dude.
TM
post script: I'm not sure IMHO or ROTFLMAO or Hi or PS or eg or ie necessarily need be lazy or clumsy.