This seems to be a reasonable suggestion, as I think Rebekah is being generous by describing any exchange with Paul as a "debate" . . . A debate requires that *each side* addresses the pertinent points raised by the other, and while the respondents to Mr. Treanor always seem to be trying to debate, he is not (nor ever has!) responded in kind. Instead, he engages in ad hominem attacks -- or, as Pete has pointed out, he merely says everything is bad (including, as far as I can tell,
any organized protests against injustice, since such an act would be an exercise of the right to free speech, right to assembly, etc.), without offering at all his vision of how the world should/could be. I suspect that's because he either (a) that doesn't have a vision of what the world should/could be, but only of what it is and what it shouldn't be or (b) that presenting his vision would demonstrate his own personal theory / practice split(not that we don't all have those, so why not just admit to it?), as it's only obvious that he must have a little money and some sort of shelter or he wouldn't be able participate on this list at all. This means that he's tacitly supporting the very systems he seems to so despise -- and if he's ever gone to the market for food, ever purchased clothes, etc., well, then his complicity grows even deeper . . . But I think until Paul decides he actually wants to debate, not just throw mud on the very people who are most likely to be his alli!
es!
, although we might disagree as
how best to achieve the "justice, equality, abolition of the WTO, abolition of the free market, abolition of nation states, and alternative political or social order" he implies he wants. A discussion/debate on what that alternative order might be and how perhaps we could achieve it might be perhaps a fruitful one (which is, I suspect, why people still try to engage him in conversation, hoping for something along those lines), but if the past is any indicator, that sort of debate won't be forthcoming, at least from Paul.
My 2-cents' worth. Now back to making my own contribution to the established market economy -- even though I feel guilty that I'm not out trying to change the world instead, which I hope counts for something!
Cheers,
Becky Kennison
In a message dated Thu, 22 Feb 2001 10:25:29 AM Eastern Standard Time, Rebekah Widdowfield <[log in to unmask]> writes:
<< I don't wish to stifle debate, but as discussion becomes increasingly
personalised and vitriolic I'm wondering whether the CGF ought to
establish a 'responding to Paul Treanor' sub-group.
Some of us have work to do - albeit supporting oppressive capitalist
society...
Rebekah
Dr Rebekah Widdowfield
Department of City and Regional Planning
Cardiff University
Glamorgan Building
King Edward VII Avenue
Cardiff
CF10 3WA
>>
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