I took a lot of acid one night and had a long discussion with a rock demon.

[Act_of_Reparation]

56. You posted of a piece of work that is not yours without the proper attribution.

What you or I know beforehand is irrelevant, because at face value the words appear to be yours. And no, you cannot assume that everyone walking the corners of the internet is familiar enough with early 20th century poetry to know 1) the work, and 2) the author. Whether deliberate or not, posting these words as you did without attributing the original author is dishonest.

Do you actually think I was trying to take credit for an allusion to lines that I thought might help you understand where I'm coming from?

Oh, I know perfectly well where you're coming from. The words of a long-dead poet no one really reads outside of a high school English class do little to demonstrate your knowledge of human neurology, but rather serve as a kind of cudgel you can wave around in a useless and vulgar display of intellectual masturbation. "Look at me! I can quote Eliot! I'm smart!"

Yeah, well, I can read poetry, too. So I'll see your Eliot and raise you a fucking Shakespeare:

"To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day-to-day
Until the last syllable of recorded time.
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life is but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."

- William Shakespeare, "Macbeth" Act 5, Scene 5

Or are you just a dick?

A dick? No. If I recall correctly, you are the one who threw the first stone. By rights, I think that makes you the dick.

As for me, I've always liked the word "nemesis". It is derived from the Greek nemein, meaning "given what is due".

Do you always look for irrelevant details to avoid the point?

Nope. But when there's no point being made, one must make due with what one is given. If you are interested in discussing this subject with even the slightest degree of seriousness, then say something worth addressing.

Or is your reading comprehension not up to the task of discerning the point?

How sadly predictable.

I've long contended that once one rolls out the old "learn to read" trope, one has not only descended into the depths of bare, naked egotism, but effectively lost the argument as well.

Consider, for a moment, the following:

1) I can read.
2) I still think you're fucking wrong.

I know, I know: it is difficult to believe. But, against all odds, one may be perfectly literate, and *gasp* still disagree with you.