From: Greg Burch (gregburch@gregburch.net)
Date: Sun Sep 16 2001 - 08:49:14 MDT
From: "Samantha Atkins" <samantha@objectent.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 16, 2001 3:00 AM
> Greg Burch wrote:
> >
> > To all:
> >
> > PLEASE TONE DOWN THE RHETORIC!
> >
>
> Don't yell.
> >
> > To those who have been beating the war drum, PLEASE calm down.
>
>
> I am not sure what that phraseology does and does not signify.
> Personally, I have simply given my honest opinion of what should
> be done and why. If that is "beating the war drum" then too
> bad. The day I can't give my honest opinion here on something
> of this level of import is the day I leave.
Samantha, it's not at all a matter of not giving an honest opinion. It's a
question of *rhetoric*. The choice of words with which one expresses one's
self has a real impact on how we are able to engage in discussion here or in
any forum. Excessive use of the blood-curdling language of revenge is
counter-productive in the current emotionally charged atmosphere. That was
my point.
As for yelling, I am as close as this list comes to a "moderator" -- read
"cop." Sometimes the person charged with maintaining civility has to raise
his voice to make sure things are well understood. Ironically, that's
exactly what folks like me -- who *do* advocate the use of force in response
to the 911 massacre -- are advocating, in a metaphorical sense.
Greg Burch
Vice-President, Extropy Institute
http://www.gregburch.net
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