From: "Erich Newell" <
erich.newell@gmail.com>
> 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."
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