Its not an altogther uncommon saying, in fact, I would bet that your mother had a similiar one. Now, I've always been rather carful to neglect it, but I do believe it went something like "If you have nothing nice to say then refrain from saying anything at all"

of course, as you quite rightly noted I'm not one to hang my hat on civility nor to refrain from expressing my opinon. My memory isnt perfect so perhaps I'm mistaken but I rather thought your crowd, the crowd so happy to attack me here, were fond of that ethos.

Perhaps its a case of living and dying by the sword or perhaps I tend to bring out the hypocrite in people or I suppose its altogether possible I've simply lumped quite a few of you in a category with ideals that hold no sway for you; however, I've generally made a rule for myself to behave in a well mannered fashion with those who who are themselves capable of proper discourse and possessing of some not all together manufactured integrity.

I had thought to hold you in such regard; however, if you would prefer to engage in the yellow manner to borrow a term from your own proffesion I shall get my shovel and we can commence throwing shit at each other.