Hi Luis,



I can understand your perspective, and I want to agree with it because it simplifies life and work. I should add that I’m ashamed that I usually let others do my fighting for me. But there are four reasons why I think I should not share your conclusions.



1. Women’s rights are still relatively new and absolutely fragile. Your post defends women, but the other women who have spoken earlier convince me that we must also speak for ourselves.



2. At this point, I don’t think that Keith is a troll. I wonder if his ad hominem attack was motivated by what did feel to me like a few ageist triggers posted earlier—I don’t have enough evidence, and I digress. A troll is a provocateur who wants only to stir the pot. I can’t say for sure, but I don’t think that the label fits.



3. But let’s say it does. Currently there is a troll in the White House—an absolute provocateur who loves to stir the pot. It is possible that the candidate became president because we did not confront him carefully enough. We let him entertain us and thought that he would run out of steam. We should not have fed him (enjoyed the spectacle)  but we should have confronted him. I am of course speculating, but it seems a reasonable case to me.



4. Last of all, I really have a problem with arguments built on logical fallacies by someone who knows better. It’s important to call these out so that they have less chance of dominating discourse. It’s also important to call this out so that claims don’t become or remain accepted conclusions. Keith can’t believe that no one notices that his weaving of references to convey the aura of weight  and substance is merely a string of shiny objects signifying little.



Of course, when making an argument, or testing a theory, I need to remember that my assumptions could be wrong as well—especially when delivered on the fly. Maybe I was triggered by the sloppy argument and am simply crafting a defense. It is something to reflect on.



All the best,



Susan











On Feb 14, 2019, at 1:14 PM, Luis A. Vasconcelos <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:



Shameful indeed. Keith has become an internet troll -- or perhaps he's been

one all along.

As most of you should know by now, don't feed the trolls, just don't.



On Wed, Feb 13, 2019 at 10:19 PM Keith Russell <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>

wrote:



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