I think there’s an old Sholom Aleichem story about two men who met on the street. Mr. A says “Hello” and Mr. B says “You belong teef in erd (deep in the ground)”. Mr. A is shocked and asks “I just gave you a friendly hello, what did I say to deserve such a vicious reply?”
So Mr. A explains, “Look, if I’d replied in a friendly manner, then you’d ask me how I’m doing. I’d say things are fine and we’d make small talk for a minute. Then you’d ask where I’m going and I’d say I’m going to the mikve on avenue moishe. You’d say ‘THAT mikve? – only schnorrers go to that one, the mikve on avenue shmeel is the one to go to’. Then I’d say that your mikve is only frequented by stuck up snobs, and you’d say people like me belong back in the ghetto, and I’d say you belong teef in erd. So instead of wasting all that time, I just cut to the chase and got the conversation over with. Now I will be able to get home from the mikve in time for Shabbos.”
I think we know where this type of thread goes… So should I make a book suggestion or should I just cut to the chase?