Re: RC: Time Out

[Tivers@aol.com]

In a message dated 12/19/99 7:33:12 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
appyhehehorses@yahoo.com writes:

<<  may be just a stupid teenager, but I know when to
 lay off. We need to half respect for each other, and
 go about our discussions without blowing up at
 nothing.
 I personally am embarassed by some of you. The
 resonalbe ones are not here to baby sit the ones that
 like to talk and talk and talk then pat them selves on
 the back for all the crap they put on others.
  >>


Bbbbut don't you see? Your post, itself, is inflammatory and name-calling. 
The scolding mommy syndrome so prevalent here. The more of these posted, the 
more I am embarrassed to be part of a group where such illogic is so 
pervasive. 

Meanwhile, the way to get over thee flareups, if you really care about what 
is being said here, is to offer civilized comment on the actual substance of 
the conversations. Amidst all the mud-throwing, there is still that kind of 
discussion going on. Jump in.

It is my policy to respond to all posts that refer to me, be they 
inflammatory or solid discussion. And I respond in kind--that means if you 
want to call me a name, I'll respond with direct criticism of you--if there's 
anything to criticise. In your case, it's a simple lack of elementary logic. 

Actually, it goes deeper in many cases. People who feel inadequate to 
participate in a discussion lie in wait for an opportunity to pounce upon the 
irrelevant and easily-postured issues--morality, humanity, political 
correctness, etc. Stances they know will draw applause from masses of 
non-thinkers--and votes, if you're playing politics in this mode. 

But, to anyone with a brain, this approach to interchanges is shallow and 
transparent. Sophomooric. It's not an effective way out of an argument, nor 
is it a decent entry for folks who can't find anything else to say but want 
desperately to participate in lively debate. It's plain irrelavant and 
absurd. 

As far as advancing the educational value of the list is concerned, all you 
have to do is ask a reasonably intelligent question and you'll get a 
truckload of reasonably intelligent answers--and you may even start a war you 
can sit back and learn from in huge dollops of hastily assembled and ardently 
defended stacks of fact and opinion. 

Your offering, above, is trite, transparent, shallow and useless--even though 
it may fall into someone else's defnition of Christmas spirit. Since the two 
of you are in fast agreement, I predict years of enjoyment passing emails 
back and forth in private. In fact, there is an entire moral indignation 
group here. The question in my mind is, what in the world of substance are 
you going to talk about? Feelings? Favorite colors? 

ti      


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