Hey Penguin,

First, thank you for the kudos -- and I feel the same way about you! Yes, that's what I love about arguing with you...I know upfront that you're doing it to enrich yourself intellectually, unlike so many Medium provocateurs out there (you KNOW which individuals I'm referring to!) who are clearly only on this platform because all they want to do is bask in their own "echo chambers." Regardless of how objectively excellent their writing SKILLS happen to be...they are obviously here with the intent of poisoning other people's minds.

And if you and I had our own show...I think you'd have your huge share of fans, as well! (who doesn't love the colorful and bitingly-sarcastic British guy/gal???) But I also think a broader audience would appreciate our mutual desire to try to get people to THINK (rather than dote on, or worship, us).

Regarding your stance on marriage, obviously I disagree (hehe) -- but that's mainly because I don't trust heteronormative forces in our society to apply such a hypothetical LACK of marital recognition equally across-the-board, in practice. *IF* we truly could live in a society where nobody's marriage was overvalued (eliminating the need for secular marital recognition in the first place), then I could theoretically get on-board with that. I just sadly doubt that we live in such a world.