"I weep for the U.S." or something like that was what he said, wasn't it?

I believe his statement was not meant to be an insult but coming from an outsider it is understandable that is how it could be recieved by some.

Was the heated reaction justified? I don't think so.

Was it predictable? You could see it coming a mile away.

Could it have been avoided?
Obviously, all he had to do was refrain from posting something that came across as a "holier than thou" insult to this country.
I can think of a dozen ways to phrase it that would have still gotten the point across without inciting the heated reaction from a couple posters.

Point being this: if you say something that could reasonably be percieved as an insult, then you better have thick enough skin to deal with the reaction.

Well said Dennis.

We'll miss ya dottore! :(

I find myself agreeing with Sammy but I think that his skin was plenty thick. He did not take his ball and go home.

they do.

Agreed, I do not personally know anything about the man or about his personal life or the reason he left PPOT.
I was going off of the suggestioins in this thread and that was presumptuous to say the least.

Dottore never struck me as a take a punch and go down sort of guy at all, maybe surprised a punch was thrown due to the circumstances but not a walk away sort. As patient and reasonable as he came across everyone has a limit to trying to have a gentleman's debate with people who have neither the interest, open mind, respect, or lust for knowledge and growth to do so.

If he has indeed moved on and is swapping stories with the flying spaghetti monster or some such instead of moving on to new uncharted territories of the internets then that is sad indeed. Hopefully he has just spilled a sip of coffee on his empty Italian leather passenger seat in remembrance to us all while on a spirited drive in a mechanical music device on some two lane blacktop lit with that perfect morning light on his way to having a good day.

Wherever he is, I hope he is in a good place.
Very well spoken, thoughtful, and poinient posts.

(edit):
Sometimes the quiet thoughts are the ones never heard.

In honor of Dottore I would like to post a thread of Dottore and Dipso having a little fun.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-politics-religion/681167-romney-sews-up-alzheimers-vote.html

Funny thread, dipso. I remember it well. :D

For what it's worth, I posted this on an earlier thread inquiring about Dottore:

"Mark and I, after a very contentious beginning here on PPOT, became good friends, communicated off line and a few phone calls and a number of years ago, met for drinks. We drank and talked for five hours while his wife visited with one of her friends who lived nearby, and we cemented what promised to be a lifelong friendship. We made plans to meet up and spend more time together the following year when he and his wife would again be in SOCAL.

Some time thereafter, he posted here that he'd been treated for bladder cancer in Germany. He was very upbeat, had all the confidence in the world in his German medical team, and was on the road to recovery.

Some period of time later he emailed me that the cancer had returned and that he was back in the hospital. I replied with regrets and words of encouragement. I have not heard from him since; this after trying to reach him through three of his email addresses and two of his phone numbers.

This all is extremely upsetting to me as well and, I too, have been, for quite some time now, fearing the worst.

I've hesitated posting about this until now because it is such a personal matter and I hate speculating on the possible misfortune of someone I'd grown to care a great deal about as a friend."

.

I do not come here often anymore, but every time I do it seems like there is great sadness.

I did not know Dottore except by his words here, I pray that the reports are not correct but I fear the worst.

If you are gone from this world Dottore, godspeed....my prayers and tears are for you and your loved ones.


D.

I see your straw man and raise you a sacred cow. --Dottore

A worthy poster.....

This is too bad...like Mark you provide a viewpoint that is always well stated.

My best to Mark wherever he is.

Now Dennis, when you say 99.99% sure that this man is dead...is that the actual man or the on-line persona? I mean to come out and suggest such is pretty strong business unless you really know that he has gone the way of all flesh...

If he is no longer taking nurishment nor breathing air then God rest his soul. His fate is that which we all shall endure and pass on to that place that none of us understand and all of us fear.

I think Dottore is either dead or incapacitated and his wife either doesn't know about his following here or is busy with more important things. If Dottore wanted to pick up his marbles and go home, he'd have answered someone's PM here and we'd all have regretted the news, but left him alone and assumed he had his reasons. He wouldn't leave us all hanging, as he knows a few of us here are good guys and have had some private communications with him. He was certainly enough of an adult to let someone know if he were able and wouldn't just disappear. I'm sure of it.

Regardless, prayers sent.

Cancer is an evil and merciless villain. I hope it did not take him from us. But if it did, rest well Mark. You are missed.

A few years ago I had posted something about what I do for a living and apparently dottore read (correctly) between the lines and understood how unhappy I was. I didn't know him but he PMd me stating that if he could ever help me in some way to reach out to him. I was tempted but never did. I really admire him and hope he is ok.

"What determines a man's legacy is often what isn't seen."

I have something of Dottore's, that he generously sent to me. I never met him but I will keep his gift.

Mark actually helped me thru a dark time. I never personally met the man, just interaction thru this forum. He was/is a very insightful man who at that time seemed to be coming to grips with his mortality. I am a survivor, Mark was a survivor as are many of you out there I am sure. He pointed me in a direction of study that has led me to be a much more content man. Where ever he is I wish him the best, I miss him here but I am not worried about him......he was always in control.