[USMA:32690] UK Public Servant

[John Nichols]

Dear All:   I grew up in a sailing family and so the language in the Public Servant’s email is not that offensive. I would find it perfectly acceptable if one was sailing with one’s best friend in a 60 knot howling Sou-Wester and you needed to make some point that related to life safety, the word has that gravitas one occasionally needs at times of peak stress. In terms of a Public Servant corresponding with a Private Citizen I can only say that perhaps the poor PS in Europe had been driven to distraction.   I can remember when a friend of mine told a very rude Citizen to go and perform some bodily act that I think is impossible, although I have never tried it. My friend had just learnt his wife was dying, which considering the Citizen’s demands I entirely understood, although perhaps hanging up and then saying it might be more prudent as a career move.   So whilst I would suggest that the PS was a bit rude – we do not know all sides.    Finally it is a pity that the US did not define the inch as 25 mm, then this whole mess would not exist.     John M. Nichols Assistant Professor Room A414 Langford AC  MS 3137 Department of Construction Science College of Architecture Texas A&M University College Station, Texas 77843-3137   Phone: (979) 845 6541 Fax:     (979) 862 1572 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]