I would 'Like' this x Infinity if I could. :) And I shall now forever associate masturbating with a sock puppet as in masturbating *with* a sock puppet. Which, come to think of it, is actually a damn fine idea as it would be much less messy, if a tad kinkier than I'm willing to go.
Ah...I may never forget the image of sock-puppetry as the worst form of public masturbation! (I actually could care less about review exchanges so long as the review disclaims that that's what's going on. Then the reader and the review site can decide how to treat. Writers are almost always readers.)
You are wise beyond your years, however old you may be. Especially with #3. Nothing good ever happens when an author descends from his holy author mountain to confront someone.
This would be to assume that we authors live on said holy mountain to begin with. Which we do not. I'm just some dude who gets paid to talk to himself. The happier I make the person who reads my ramblings, the more toys my kids get. Simple as that. I'm also, first and foremost, a reader. I wouldn't want to be crapped all over because I stated my opinion. It's MY fucking opinion. Trot off.