... stumbled over myself to meet them in depth, when all that was missing were a few twists of words.
How is it that I am to see this in a neutral light and remain cordial? I must be the one missing a few points.
... or am I?
How exactly did you see it?
It was an awkward attempt to imply that maybe my words aren't as empty as they sometimes feel to me. I thought I had already established my respect for yours, with the bit about it being a crime there was so little parallel. It was not meant to be an insult, though I can see now how it reads like one.
When you answered it, I thought you were bumping the stakes up in the friendly spirit of competition. I got halfway through a response and then decided I better not, because the thread had gone on for a couple pages on another track, and I didn't want to derail it.