Re: Extremism

From: Harvey Newstrom (mail@HarveyNewstrom.com)
Date: Mon Jan 15 2001 - 12:07:58 MST


>"Societies get the government they deserve" and all that rot. Societies
>that prefer high crime to individual liberty will get just that, and
>lists that prefer mentally unstable individuals posting rants and
>excretory comments demonizing other list members will get a list full of
>just that sort of person.

Unfortunately, most people won't wade through the flame-war to figure
out who is right. They will paint everybody with the same brush as
being one of those involved. Like Bill Cosby said about squabbling
children, "Parents don't want justice, they want quiet." I do
believe you are the reasonable one is this issue. I just thought
your explanation of deliberately baiting Joe seemed a little
excessive. I do agree that you were acting in self-defense.

I'm trying to retain a reasonable position on all of this. I don't
like the (mis)representation that the gun topic is exiled to your
list. Although I was vocal in trying to hush the flame-wars and
personal non-general-interest postings about guns, I would hate to
see anything censored by topic in the extropians list. I think
rational discussions about guns are interesting. I would hope that
such discussion on extropians would go more toward theory and future
developments of weapons rather than personal stories or current
politics.

-- 
Harvey Newstrom <HarveyNewstrom.com>


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