Instead of apologizing, let's start a "pity party". This was just posted over on .org.
Title: Word say's all
Ridicule (in large black type)
RidŽi`cule
n. 1. An object of sport or laughter; a laughingstock; a laughing matter.
2. Remarks concerning a subject or a person designed to excite laughter with a degree of contempt; wit of that species which provokes contemptuous laughter; disparagement by making a person an object of laughter; banter; - a term lighter than derision.
We have in great measure restricted the meaning of ridicule, which would properly extend over whole region of the ridiculous, - the laughable, - and we have narrowed it so that in common usage it mostly corresponds to "derision", which does indeed involve personal and offensive feelings.
3. Quality of being ridiculous; ridiculousness.
v. t. 1. To laugh at mockingly or disparagingly; to awaken ridicule toward or respecting.
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1990 Southlake Texas SSP (Display As A Oklahoma Highway Patrol)
2000 GT Spring Feature car
Neil G
http://public.fotki.com/hwneil/
Member Mustang club of America