Again - /please/ stop feeding the trolls - both of them. (And you are
quickly joining that category.)
Both Brian and Mr. Flibble are capable of making sensible, on-topic
posts and contributing to the group. When they do that, by all means
join in.
But when they get together, they both write things that are clearly and
intentionally provocative, offensive, and non-productive. When they do
that, they are trolling. Do not encourage it.
I am, more than some regulars, quite happy with the occasional off-topic
thread in a technical group. But it must be /occasional/, interesting,
informative, enjoyed by many, and in its own thread that does not spoil
a technical thread. This thread does not fit on any count.
If Brian and Mr. Flibble want to fight, let them do it in private - both
their email addresses are accessible.
And if you want to respond to this (other than by simply not posting
more encouragement to such threads), you have my email address.