From: Olga Bourlin (fauxever@sprynet.com)
Date: Thu Dec 12 2002 - 08:10:42 MST
From: "Lee Corbin" <lcorbin@tsoft.com>
> Jeff Davis writes
>
> > Wrong again, John.
> >
> > Either stick to a subject you know something about,
> > check your sources, or shut the fuck up.
>
> I find two things egregiously wrong with the sentiment
> expressed here. One is that no one has any obligation
> whatsoever to stick to a subject they know something
> about. One of the delights of a forum like this is
> that people are and should feel free to spout off about
> anything they feel like. Provided only that they do it in good taste.
"Good taste?" Now there's something the scientific method would not be able
to get a grip around. I understand what you're trying to do, Lee, but
sometimes ... well, let me give you an example. I'm currently reading a
book about Billie Holliday. It tells of instances of how some people were
prone to walk out of her nightclub performances when she sang "Strange
Fruit" - her famous rendition of the evocative song about lynching. They
thought the *song* was in bad taste. Never mind that lynching was the REAL
obscenity.
Certainly we can (and should) feel free to spout off, here, and that's what
both Jeff and John have done.
> Does anyone here really need to tell anyone to shut up,
> and moreover to use abusive or profane language to convey
> the suggestion? Let's keep to our rather excellent
> civility, overall.
Lee, I understand and appreciate your sentiments regarding keeping civility
but, again, one can be ingratiating as hell and still be the real "abusive"
(as with one's facts) and "egregiously wrong" culprit (i.e., John).
As to "profane" language? I thought that Jeff's "... or shut the fuck up"
was like a breath of fresh air (in its context)! Remember, too, that
"profanity is a victimless crime." ;-)
Olga
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