Thanks Avi. Yes I think this is an example of where you have to use a modal proposition. I will have to look at your book on the subject. It's interesting stuff.

Jeff: One cannot make a universal proposition out of a singular one, as this guy tries.

What he was trying to do is what I call permutation, i.e. changing a proposition with a common verb into one specifically with the verb "is".

Thus for "Joe never says hello" we would simply say: "Joe (subject) is (copula) not (negative polarity) ever (general temporal modality) 'someone who says hello' (predicate)".

See Future Logic for a fuller treatment of modality and permutation.

With regard to your critique of his universal negative proposition, if you want to get more deeply into this topic, see this essay, on the triviality of the existential import doctrine: http://thelogician.net/7_fortiori/7_appendix_7.htm#_Toc370306065

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