[Mark McDonnell]

What evidence is there that N. is even reading our responses to N. (or that N. has any interest in reading anything, including the plays or poems of Shakespeare)?

Very little, Max, it's true. And yes, halfway through writing my post I did wonder why I was bothering. However, something about N's relentless, one-note negativity seems to have been a catalyst to a very interesting, articulate thread, almost as if in defiant contrast.

But I agree, the "is there any point writing" argument is a silly dead end.