Seasons Greeting From The Wileys
Submitted by debv on Sun, 12/23/2007 - 9:18pm.
The following was left on my Wikipedia talk page earlier.
Happy Holidays
Here is what my grandfather from Russia taught me - those who love us, love us. Those who don't, may the good lord turn their hearts. But if he can't turn their hearts, he should turn their ankles so we can recognize them by their limp.
I hope you have a happy and healthy new year. And don't forget to soak your ankle. Neil Raden (talk) 04:00, 24 December 2007 (UTC)
UPDATE:
I saw that you added the above to Wiley Watch, presumably because you interpretted it as an insult, or at least something you could mock. Pity. I thought that for one day of the year we could lay down our weapons and just be civil. I guess I was wrong. Neil Raden (talk) 20:24, 25 December 2007 (UTC)
A thuggish threat from the
A thuggish threat from the Wileys? This is a new low.
The ankle comment sounds like the Russian eqivalent of the Mafia threatening to break the legs of their critics?
And now he calls his threat being "civil." What jury would believe that?
It's an old Irish curse,
It's an old Irish curse, generally not spoken directly to the target. The Irish do not characteristically sacrifice their class to their renowned wit.
Appparently for some, nothing conveys holiday cheer quite like wishing one maimed to his or her face. And then cloaking themselves in civility as a defense.
A thuggish threat? The
A thuggish threat? The Mafia? Jury? Who turned a solemn holiday greeting into something ugly? Not me.
A holiday greeting? No.
A holiday greeting? No. That was an expression of malice as any reasonable person can see. One need only read what you originally wrote.
You can defy the obvious if you choose, but that doesn't make it any less so.
Then I will retract it
Then I will retract it because I did not mean it the way it was construed by you and your readers. I saw it as a light-hearted way to acknowledge our differences, not to threaten or "curse." I only meant to add a little levity to an ugly situation and wish a fellow human being, even an opponent, holiday greetings. I've posted this before and you didn't let it through because the reply contained other statements that were not suitable, in your opinion. Of course, statements accusing me of being a thug and wishing to main you are acceptable, so I guess your calculus is over my head.
I'm not sure what the proper
I'm not sure what the proper etiquette is here. Should I have reciprocated your holiday greetings by wishing that God maim you in return?
And for the record, it is an old Irish curse (Google search).
I suppose you never saw the
I suppose you never saw the many websites that refer to this as an Irish "blessing" not a curse, such as this one: (link)
This refers to it as a prayer: (link)
Another as blessing: (link)
In fact, everywhere I look, I can find only one instance where it is referred to as a curse. Now Deb, you love to scrutinize people and point out their flaws and inconsistencies, and I know you're a pretty good researcher, so I can only conclude that you chose only the "curse" reference to slant this discussion and distort and conceal in exactly the same way you accuse me and my wife of doing. I suppose your readers appreciate this, it's like reading a tabloid, but can't we rise above this and just stick to the facts?
It does appear to be Irish though. I was always told it was Russian, but I guess all cultures borrow. Irish or Russian, what difference does it make? Some interpret it as a curse, some as a blessing. What matters is that I did not intend it as a curse, whether you want to believe it or not. I'll have to think twice before I try again to add a little civility to this discourse.
And just for logic's sake, if your readers were reading critically instead with extreme prejuduce, they would have picked up that I suggested you soak your ankle. That would imply it was already turned, not a threat from me.
Obviously it's a prayer.
Obviously it's a prayer. It's a wish for God to take action. And it's a blessing -- to "us" and "those who love us" anyway. And it is obviously a curse -- to "those who don't". May they be turned to our side, or else maimed.
If you want to do some useful research, find an example where it's a sincere and civil holiday blessing when expressed directly at one's adversary.
The difficulty for you is, I think, that the Irish have more class than that, and your say-so just doesn't count for much.
I'm fascinated by this. They
I'm fascinated by this. They spew venom in public, on the eve of a solemn holiday. And then they turn around and point their fingers at their victim as if no one saw what just happened?
Its like they think their gods. Whatever they say becomes true and anything they deny is poof! False.
Maybe they think so or maybe they don't. But they must think they are pulling some kind of magic on other people or else they wouldn't do it.
Caught again. The Wileys
Caught again.
The Wileys repeatedly get caught red-handed. Then deny the incident ever happened.
First, they claimed there was research for the protocol. Caught! No research.
Then they went so far as to put a picture of Wiley in a graduation gown on their website attempting to claim she had a degree. Caught again! No degree. The picture disappeared.
Now they claim the threat to break someone's ankle qualifies as holiday cheer? Yo, Neil. We can read. Don't tell us a threat is actually a greeting. You were caught again. Deal with it.