They are. We get exactly one unit of information about #1, that they "complain[ed]". If we don't treat the assessments of #1 and #3 conversational prowess as

They are. We get exactly one unit of information about #1, that they "complain[ed]". If we don't treat the assessments of #1 and #3 conversational prowess as tautological, there is no information to be had. Why isn't #1 the straight shooter and #3 is an suspected silver-tongue bullshitter? No reason at all, because the whole article is just-so or non-falsifiable.