From: Lee Corbin (lcorbin@tsoft.com)
Date: Sat Aug 04 2001 - 11:22:49 MDT
Michael Wiik writes
> Thank goodness extropians only consider 2/3's of [these notions]
> list to be appropriate targets.
and to Eric Chen Yixiong, Joe Dees writes
> Oh my. The extropians are not gonna like you. They are going
> to call you a troll and a socialist.
Each remark contains a strong note of complaint. In the
first, Michael Wiik seems to be implying that pointed criticism
of ideas is somehow inappropriate. Or is Michael referring to
ad hominem attacks? If so, would he kindly produce examples?
And Joe Dees believes that soon Eric will be accused of being
a troll. This is completely incorrect, if not paranoid. Very
few people are accused of being trolls, and none are who provide
reasoned discourse (such as Eric is doing).
And what the devil is this "accuse" you of being a "socialist"?
That's making it sound as though being a socialist or having
some socialist beliefs is a necessarily reprehensible view, or
as though criticisms of those with socialist beliefs were
devoid of real substance (but consisted only name-calling).
No one should expect to voice any view that is not subject to
criticism, and to sometimes powerful, convincing, and yes,
embarrassingly accurate criticism. It's the price that should
be gladly paid in the free exchange of ideas.
Russell Blackford writes
> I am uncomfortable about list rules. I think anyone should
> be free to say pretty much what they like.
Hear! Hear!
> If someone becomes too annoying, he or she will simply get
> universally plonked.
Well, no. But that person should expect that fewer and fewer
of his or her posts will actually be read.
> Moreover, if offensive material is being posted the answer
> is surely to reply with more speech, not to impose censorship.
Absolutely!
Lee Corbin
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