From: Lee Corbin (lcorbin@tsoft.com)
Date: Wed Sep 18 2002 - 19:41:29 MDT
Extropes,
It's a little bit difficult to comment formally on the
subject matter of this thread, and be at all objective,
but I do appreciate the psychoanalytic-like analyses that
a number of people have been willing to make about me,
or my writing, whatever.
I also apologize to the list for having become so
notorious that an actual thread is devoted to my
case (though, of course, I didn't start the thread).
My first reaction is that I was shocked that at least
four people do consider me guilty of "game playing",
and, as you know, for every one person that posts such
an opinion, there are many who simply don't trouble
themselves to do so, or are reluctant for other reasons.
Therefore, it seems immediately incumbent upon me to
attempt to understand just how it is that I'm "playing
games", and I continue to invite analyses---perhaps
offline would be more appropriate, but suit yourself---
that would provide me some insight. Now a small component
of this criticism is directed towards "semantic games"
(from the perspective of several posters), and on this
score there can be a sincere difference of opinion on
the importance of the meanings of words---I am still in
a long discussion about what "you" means and about what
"motivation" should cover, for instance. But this does
not seriously dilute the impact of the statements and
impressions of those who were critical.
Now I do note that with the probable exception of Eugen
Leitl, each person negatively criticizing me does happen
to be a political adversary as well; so I cannot entirely
dismiss the possibility that some criticism here is
motivated, perhaps unconsciously, along partisan lines.
Also, of course, it was reassuring to read the posts of
an equal number of people who wrote in my defense, in one
way or another (not to imply their having necessarily taken
any particular stand). Still, they are perhaps no more free,
necessarily, from unconscious bias than the others. Only
one of them however, it turns out, is someone with whom I
almost invariably agree---and so it is possible that he
might be unduly influenced positively (though in his case
this happens to be rather unlikely). The others who
wrote in my support don't seem to have strikingly
ideological views, and I've sometimes indeed stridently
argued with them (or at least one of them).
Jef wrote
> On the couple of recent occasions when I have posted some thoughts,
> it seemed that you were more interested in some form of semantic
> competition than in understanding or illuminating new thoughts. You
> are clearly quite intelligent, but it appears that you carry on a
> conversation in much the same way you would a game of chess,
> anticipating and manipulating your conversation partner (opponent?)
> rather than working together productively.
and Eugen added
> I don't read Lee's messages often these days, but this has also
> been my impression.
Two things surprise me about this. The first is that I would
have supposed that engaging in "semantic competition [rather] than
understanding or illuminating new thoughts" would be something that
applied to most of those who get into disputes on email lists, so
it's curious (and damning) to be selected out here. Isn't it well-
known that (alas) "illuminating new thoughts" does *not* happen in
a huge number of posts? In what percentage of discussions, anyway,
do people "work together productively"?
The other is "anticipating" someone else's replies. On *one* reading,
this is an innocent and even praiseworthy behavior, as it anticipates
objections and so saves writing time. Could someone explain how this
is not a good thing? But I'm totally baffled about "manipulating
your conversation partner (opponent?)". How could one do that? Now,
yes, one can make *good* points that are hard to respond to, but it's
clear that something more than this is meant. Again, I would be very
grateful for a clarification here, because a part of me (clearly not all
of me if it's true that I'm just playing games) genuinely wants to know,
and would appreciate any hints.
Well, I can think of nothing further to say now, and again,
thanks to all those who took up my invitation to speak
frankly. I've looked over all of the above writing, and cannot
see any places where I'm playing games or being disingenuous,
but of course, criticism is always welcome. ("What a wonderful
gift God could give us to see ourselves as others see us.")
Lee Corbin
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