I've been commenting on economics on other blogs recently, the most important subject I know the least about. In addition, I'm working another project which will force consideration of further new subjects.

Thinking out loud in public about a new(ish) subject makes particular demands on me. There are predictable side effects:

• I get more focused, as the energy directed into the new subject comes from energy previously directed to "fringe issues"
• I write more formally
• because I need to be less forgiving of myself to avoid embarrassment, I get less forgiving of others. This usually takes the form of simply pointing out and dismissing rhetoric as undeserving of response
• I become more direct, and less concerned with framing an argument pleasantly
• in subjects I am familiar with, I tend to get more terse. More meaning in less words if at all possible.

All this means P6 may take a slightly different flavor. Don't worry, no one's going to get more offended than they already have. It basically means the thought piece-to-news flash ratio will increase.