Yesterday’s blog entry reported on an e-mail that I sent to academic researcher Wade Pfau on February 16, 2011. He responded on February 21, 2011.
He noted that there was a thread on safe withdrawal rates in progress at the Bogleheads Forum. He said that a poster named “sscritic” mentioned me. He also said that: “If you look carefully at DRiP Guy’s response and can get over the fact that he compared you to the potato famine and the black plague, I think you can find a compliment buried in his remarks. Is it your first complement from him? Perhaps progress is being made.”
Wade sent a follow-up e-mail in which he said that he now realized that he had misunderstood Drip Guy’s comment. He explained: “I thought he was complementing your idea of SWRs and valuations, but maybe he was just acknowledging the development of the Bogleheads board.”
My response is set forth below:
Wade:
That’s okay. I’m grateful for your kindness in letting me know of what you thought for a time MIGHT have been a compliment from Drip Guy.
The fact that I was responsible for the founding of the Bogleheads Forum amazes me. it is not possible! Buy yet it is so!
There have been a few times at the Goon Central board where Drip Guy has put forward words that could be interpreted as backhanded compliments of me (mixed in with heavy helpings of abuse). There was one not too long ago where he said that, even if I am right that all of what I say follows from Shiller’s findings, Buy-and-Hold still is not a Get Rich Quick approach because those following it did not intend to be following a Get Rich Quick approach. Implicit in his post was a hint that he does not entirely dispute my claim that what I say follows from what Shiller says (he would not acknowledge that publicly, of course).
The Bogleheads SWR Wiki contains unacknowledged backhanded compliments of me too.
It’s always nice to hear from you. You keep fighting the good fight!
Rob
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