Re: Society

Lee Daniel Crocker (lcrocker@mercury.colossus.net)
Mon, 29 Dec 1997 23:23:28 -0800 (PST)


> However, in most forms of day to day interaction, there is no
> reason *not* to be polite; there is a substantial difference between
> politeness and altruism...one doesn't necessitate the other. Neither
> politeness or rudeness will contribute to social breakdown...they are
> simply two ways of looking at reality: through an optimistic, polite view,
> or a pessimistic, rude view.

I don't see politeness as optimism at all; I see it as capitulation
to irrational standards. Learning to use the dribble glass, as it
has been put so eloquently. And the expectation of politeness gets
in the way of plain no-bullshit communication.

--
Lee Daniel Crocker <lee@piclab.com> <http://www.piclab.com/lcrocker.html>
"All inventions or works of authorship original to me, herein and past,
are placed irrevocably in the public domain, and may be used or modified
for any purpose, without permission, attribution, or notification."--LDC