On Tue, 3 Dec 1996, Richard Landes wrote:
> i have, in the past, tangled at a number of points with Dennis, and i
> don't want him to think i am picking on him, especially since others on
> the list have done so quite ably. but, having just taught *The Name of the
> Rose*, and walking my students thru the link btw the thread on heresy and
> the thread on humor, i think it worth pondering not too ponderously the
> correlation btw humorlessness and inquisitorial tendencies. i think we all
> need to lighten up a bit. Pope's initial post may have been a blast from
> another world, but we need not hammer him to death for his faux-pas. For
> those interested in just how delicate these issues can get, i recommend
> checking out the recent thread on Richard I and Philip (just what does it
> mean to "share a bed"?) on mediev-l.
>
> the true sign of mastery is the ability to play.
>
> :-)
>
> rlandes
>
>
Richard,
No, I don't think you are picking on me with this post and I am
grateful.
However, with all sincere respect, I would ask you to read your post with as
much distance from it as you are capable of and see if it does not
seem just a bit condescending toward poor Mr. Pope?
Civility is not the same as game-playing.
I am not devoid of humor, indeed, I did my best to include a bit in my
last post, though, doubtless the results fell far short of my
intentions.
The declaration that civility is not always the best rhetoric, however,
is not something to trifle with. If it really represents the viewpoint
of a significant number of listmembers, we are in difficult straits
indeed. I was hoping others might take some distance from it, perhaps
even, on reconsideration, its author.
Dennis Martin
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