Charles Matthews wrote:
Ray Saintonge wrote
It's perfectly acceptable to say that an idea is insane, but not that the person putting forth the idea is insane.
It is utter madness to say that it is perfectly acceptable to say that an idea is insane.
I wrote that, of course, without prejudice to the question of Ray's sanity. But how does it read in practice? A little of the 'transferred epithet'? Ideas of course do not enjoy mental health, good or otherwise.
In practice it reads as convoluted double-talk.
I suppose your thesis is right to the ultra-literalist. Perhaps those who transfer epthets should learn to read.
Ec