Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your word (Proverbs 23:9).

I've been villified, cursed, criticized, and called out -- my honor insulted like a slap across the face with a gentleman's pair of riding gloves.  I feel like reaching for my sword and challenging the dastardly devil to a duel, right on the spot.  Except there's just one problem:  I'm living in 21st Century Amsterdam, and the insult to my honor has been electronic.

My inbox has been stuffed full with scorching e-mails, but I've already decided that I'm not going to get into a stupid e-mail war.  I sent a simple message to this effect, saying "It sounds like we've got plenty of stuff to talk about, but I don't feel like e-mail is the most appropriate venue for this type of conversation," and then I started exploring possibilities for a face-to-face interaction as soon as possible.  But my attempt at redirection has accomplished almost nothing.  If anything, the e-mails coming from the other side have intensified.  I'm being called a cold-hearted curmudgeon, a snob, a coward.  I'm being blasted with layer upon layer of insult, and then I'm being blasted some more for the fact that I'm not fighting back.

In effect, I'm being baited.  And while just about everything within me begs to send off a no-nonsense, sharply-worded, set-the-record-straight missive -- there's still a part of me that says that I must ignore the bait.

I like to think it's the wiser part of me that's holding me back.  But as the e-mails keep rolling in, dozens per day, I feel the injustice of it all building.  I feel that an answer to all the accusations must be made, so that it's clear just how wrong the other guy is being.  I worry that others are being unfairly swayed by the one-way propaganda campaign.  And I even write up a couple of drafts, to be sent as my redemption, my release... I say to myself, "He wanted an answer?!?  I'll give him an answer!  He thought he might cast out some bait and see what kind of fish he could land... well, I'll chomp on that bait and pull him into the water where I'll give him a thrashing that he'll never forget!"  I'm just at the brink of giving in to the temptation, and then I realize how silly it is to let myself get sucked into this game.

"Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your word."

Do I really think that a perfectly-worded e-mail is going to resolve any of the issues that have come up?  Do I really believe that I'll prove myself a better man through the medium of electronic communication?  Is anyone else who happens to be "overhearing" the conversation really all that concerned about the accusations that are being thrown about?  Or even if they did care about it -- wouldn't it probably be obvious how out-of-control my electronic adversary is being?  Is there any wisdom to be gained from engaging in an electronic argument?  Is there any truth to be discovered from the mouths of fools?  It's not even worth it...