From: "Erich Newell" > That said, it has been my experience that all discussion groups that are > comprised of a wide array of participants will occasionally fall into > disharmony. It is the way of the universe. One basic notion underlying Usenet is that it is a cooperative. Having been on USENET for going on ten years, I disagree with this. The basic notion underlying USENET is the flame. --Chuq Von Rospach (OK, Usenet != mailing list, but the basic principles are similar....) > As for me, I enjoy knowing and being friends with > people who have radically different views than my own. We can argue until > 2am to the point where we're foaming at the mouth...and once we're tired of > tearing down each others ideas, sit back and have a cup of coffee This is good, and is one of the signs of a mature mind. However, not everyone can do that. (I try, but I don't always succeed.) > For those who seem unable to debate without personal insult: Please learn to > focus discussion on the topic at hand and not the belief structure or mental > faculties of others involved in the conversation. Argumentum ad hominem is just so *easy*, though. If a thing is easy, people will do it. I don't know a good way to defuse that... maybe on a list or Usenet, the best thing to do is to [snip] the ad hominem bits and not reply to them. > My feelings are indestructible. Words like "N is indestructible!" are typically followed by N being destructed in a highly dramatic manner, if I'm reading the Evil Overlord List correctly (-: . > Debate and discourse feed my soul and help me to shape the > axioms of my life and allow me to better understand others...even those who > infuriate me to no end. (You know who you are) If everyone followed the principles you stated, the world would be a much better place and all the mailing lists and newsfroups would be Full Of Awesome. Unfortunately, people are people, and they get crabby or say dumb things. Long-term, the best thing to do is probably like Siddhartha G. and T.S. Eliot said: "Give, be compassionate." --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss