I am not aware of any flaming going on either.

I am reminded of a good joke that helps to illustrate the problems the English language can experience with plurals.

A man wanted to start a zoo and he was writing to animal suppliers to order the various animals he wanted in it.

He wrote one letter which stated "Dear Sir, I am starting a zoo, please send me two mongoose."

Then he thought it didn't look right so he tore it up and started again..

"Dear Sir, I am starting a zoo, please send me two mongooses."

He concluded that this did not look right either so he tore it up and started again.

"Dear Sir, I am starting a zoo, please send me two mongeese."

Still not happy he tore that up too and tried again.

"Dear Sir, I am starting a zoo, please send me two mongi."

He still wasn't happy so that to ended up in the waste paper basket.

Then inspiration struck him as to how to get out of his plural difficulty.

""Dear Sir, I am starting a zoo, please send me a mongoose.

PS - Please send me another one"