FAA licensed pilot, virtual pilot, is that so much a stretch? Unless you lack imagination, which the original poster seems to be lacking, it really isn't too much to make the jump from one to the other.
I find it curious that someone tries to project their shortcomings on others by being deliberately inflammatory. I'll take my imagination over a black and white world all day long, and do find it a flaw not to possess an imagination.
Even more curious would be to think an educator would direct students to a video game forum as a method of instruction. Lets assume for a second Doug is exactly who he makes himself to be. What kind of educator would discourage and belittle creativity and imagination? Math perhaps. Thinking "outside the box" is an asset to businessmen, teachers, contractors, programmers, engineers, and a vast number of other professions. One would hope that educators encourage creativity and imagination from their students.
Instead of feeling anger or frustration at the first poster, I feel pity for his world and views. Poor kid. Couple that with the free speech reference and my conclusion is our "hero" lives in a very small, cold, black and white world. That in and of itself probably fuels the need to belittle others to make himself feel superior, when the reality is the post shows his lack of imagination.
What would be interesting is to use the first post and follow-on posts as a talking point for a basic psychology class. Perhaps maybe our "teacher" can direct his "students" towards a better "teacher" without personality issues?
Good luck Doug. Glad we could give you a chuckle. All you gave me was a shake of the head.