Set forth below is the text of a comment that I recently put to a discussion of a blog entry at this site:

Your comments about “the court of law” and the comment on ” civil and criminal law” could be considered defamatory and threatening. You should think before making accusations like that to anyone.

I’ve taken on The Buy-and-Hold Mafia, Sparky. I’ve been hearing threats every day for 11 years running now.

My good friend Jack Bogle has all the money and influence and power in the world, Sparky.

If he doesn’t like it that I call him and the other Buy-and-Holders out on their nonsense, he should sue me.

Maybe he’ll even win, you know?

I’m not going to post dishonestly on the numbers that my friends use to plan their retirements. Not in 11 years. Not in 11 billion years.

That’s financial fraud. If I engage in financial fraud, I could be put in prison for good reason. At least if I go because my good friend Jack pulls some strings, I am being sent to prison without just cause.

I’m at risk either way. If I post honestly, the Buy-and-Hold Mafia feels that it needs to destroy me. If I post dishonestly, I have committed a real crime. Of the two options, I prefer posting honestly and taking my chances with Old Jack.

I love the guy. I rank him as the second most important investing analyst in history. I’ll sing his praises even if he sues me or gets me sent to jail. That’s because I like singing the guy’s praises when it is possible to do so honestly. So he can count on me for that.

When Jack posts in “defense” of Mel Linduaer or John Greaney, he shames himself. I cannot support him when he goes down that dark road.

Are we clear where we stand?

If Old Jack does NOT sue me, I’ll be pointing people to this post and noting that he didn’t pull the trigger. That will encourage others to speak up. So having his Goons threaten to sue me and then not pulling the trigger is the worst of all worlds for him.

I wish you (and my good friend Jack!) all of the best things that this life has to offer in any event, Sparky.

Don’t let the bad guys get you down, man.

Rob