First, why are you always so irritable? I don't dislike you, but you can be a little absurd at times.
READING COMP.
"waystation" =/= "stepping stone."
This is true but I'm making an inference based on your posting history and your comments. I know there's a difference. However, based on your attitude, it seems (or seemed) that you meant that.
And before you rant and rave some more that, "That's not fair that you're making that assumption," you seem to be making an assumption that jalex
solely sees his job as a waystation. Otherwise, why make the comment that someone being at a PI job irritates you? Maybe jalex, like others, is considering if it's right for him. There's nothing wrong with that.
And you're going to retort that you're not saying that jalex is doing that, but that it reminded you of these people? So what? Why make such a cryptic comment at first, when people are going to make rational assumptions about what you meant?
You are very harsh on people on this discussion forum, Dash. You're not the only person who has good motives in the world. Sometimes I honestly think
that you feel this way.
Also, there's no need to act as if I'm stupid. It really is sad when someone has to resort to those tactics.
You know very well that I'm not trying to make you look stupid. You got what, a 176 on your LSAT and go to Harvard, right? So obviously that's not my goal. And we've discussed things in other threads, and I've been nothing but civil to you. But you'll harp on this, because it'll make you look as if you're not going emotionally overboard about this, when it's entirely not the case.
But please do school me on important distinctions some more, since you're so clearly the maestro.
"this thread makes me feel irritable" =/= "jalex makes me feel irritable" =/= "I hate jalex." =/= "Jalex's question was illegitimate."
What were you saying again about important distinctions?
This thread (read: not jalex necessarily, since apparently "plain meaning" as a mode of interpretation hasn't made its way to you yet) made me irritable because it raised the specter of all the things I just detailed I found irritating.
I figured that I can make assumptions as you and everyone else does. Isn't that fair?

And, again, you're really going to tell all of us that your first cryptic comment wouldn't lead people to think that jalex's post, and jalex himself, irritated you? Please Dash. Don't play stupid. That's fairly "plain" to many of us. But I'm sorry, our lowly 160s make us stupid. Should we grovel?
But hell, I'll add one more:
People who purport to understand important distinctions whilst themselves, in the very same line of text, conflating two different concepts, and then using that erroneous conflation as the basis of an "argument" to rebut an "argument" I never even made.
I really hope you're not like this in real life. You're going to lead a very sad, lonely life. (And yes, this is obviously an assumption.)