> would you say that he was more thoughtful and less bilious -- not to
> say uncritical -- then?
Yes, definitely. But more importantly, on those occasions when he really did let loose with a blast of unrestrained venom, it was always against the bullies, never the bullied. So it didn't seem that important whether it was "thoughtful" or not.
(Okay, never say never, but that was the general pattern.)
SA