What I think is interesting, amusing, often lovable about him is it seems to me he is naturally contrary. I get the impression he automatically wants to do the exact opposite of what people tell him should be done. It seems to be a knee jerk response. He compromises now more than he used to, but I think his first instinct is still to resist all popular suggestions.
It seems like -- and maybe this was truer 30 years ago than it is today -- that either you have to not say anything at all to him or you have to use reverse psychology (and be subtle and expert at it) to sway him to do something other than what he is doing. Certainly, nagging or criticizing didn't get you very far.
Michele
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