off topic stuff and flame wars

From: James B. DiGriz <jbdigriz_at_i16.net>
Date: Mon Jul 9 15:56:49 2001

On Mon, 9 Jul 2001, Brian Knittel wrote:

>
> Up to a point I find the off-topic stuff kind of funny... it's like
> a small town where all the old retired guys sit on the front
> porch of the old hardware store and BS all day.
>
> But when the stort of stuff we're seeing lately shows up,
> it's no longer charming. The types who engage in the invective
> we're seeing thrive on attention. Argument and returned insults
> are exactly what they're seeking. The response should be cold silence.
> Don't respond to it, don't argue with them, don't acknowledge
> their presence on the porch until they act like adults.
> That's my two bits worth.
>
> Brian
>

Physician, heal thyself?

It's not invective, but this particular argument-from-psychology is
invariably belittling to its objects. Same difference in my
book. If it fits, fine, but it's flatly wrong in this case, with respect
to these participants.

"Sometimes a banana is just a banana." Having an opinion and expressing
it, in a culture where silence is taken as assent to countering views, is
not the same thing as seeking attention. It can be a matter of
self-preservation, in fact. Or not, but that's a judgement call.

My 0x0010 cents,
jbdigriz
Received on Mon Jul 09 2001 - 15:56:49 BST