Dear Michael,
First, let me offer my support to you and secondly, may I
echo your feelings toward those who have taken to personal
abuse off-list. Many of us have had to put up with personal
abuse on and off for years in the course of our everyday
lives. We don't expect to receive such treatment from those
who I would like to think are above such petty
vindictiveness. My personal message to these reprobates is,
go elsewhere if you have nothing more constructive to
contribute than mindless abuse.
Peter Handley
School of Economic & Social Studies,
University of East Anglia,
Norwich NR4 7TJ
On Tue, 8 Feb 2000 13:50:14 +0000 M.G.Peckitt wrote:
> From: M.G.Peckitt <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 13:50:14 +0000
> Subject: Replies
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> To all -
>
> There are two reasons that I often refrain from adding my
comments to
> one debate or another. The first reason is simple - I knw
that my
> view will be met with bad jokes or sarcasm, or in some
cases off-list
> abuse. Maybe abuse is too strong a word but definitely
some people
> asking me who the hell I think I am 'young so and so'
putting such a
> view down. Or may be off-list sarcastic jokes made of my
view - none
> made recently. Don't get me wrong, I have a sense of
humour, but I
> can't help but laugh and worry at the same time when I see
quite
> intelligent, articulate people making bad, sarcastic
hurtful jokes at
> serious issues when they are capable of giving a more
intelligent
> response. There is humour and there is sarcasm, there is
no call for
> the latter,I have found it to be a debating skill employed
when the
> person can think of no intelligent reply.
>
> My second reason is that in some cases I am scared to give
my view. An
> fictious example of what I mean would be this. Say I
actually liked
> Peter Singers philosophy (i don't but I don't want to use
my real view
> that I would never speak of here), and during our debates
on him
> supported it, saying that I liked Utilitarianism et
cetera. With a
> view like that I would of course expect argument, but not
to the extent
> that I am abused. People are passionate about issues as
am I but I
> would never attack someone off-list as I have been (a
cowardly act) for
> their views. This list often talks about free speech in
connection
> with dis studies. Would that be free speech when the
ideas spoken of
> agrees with yours? Unfortunately off-list is sometimes
the only place
> frank discussion can take place.
>
> Michael
>
>
>
>
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