Cubitt wrote:And if you think your opinion is beyond doubt I'll just have to live with your distain.
I have no idea how you arrive at the notion that I would consider my opinions beyond doubt or, if I did, why that would logically mean disdain on my part.
What I do know is that in English, the formation "If [something] is so [superlative], then why [thus-and-such]?" is a time-honored, conventional, and consistent idiomatic form for registering grave doubts specifically about that [something]. It's as good in print as it is when spoken, so this is one case where vocal nuance is unneeded. To date I have never heard or read it used with anything less than a "convince me" implication, so since you say that such is not your intended usage I can only conclude that either 1) English is not your first language, 2) English is your first language but you somehow have a disconnection with the conventions of general usage and therefore being clear can be rather difficult at times for you, or 3) you know exactly what you said and are backpedaling.
Whatever. The horse is sounding more liquid with each blow, and that raises unsavory prospects about leakages and other emissions, so Heaven grant I'm done.
"If you take music out of this world, you will have nothing but a ball of fire." - Balochi musician
