Kristin wrote:
> I AM leaving the list. I told JDG so off list when he reminded me of
> netiquette. I cannot maintain my reason around arch Republicans. THis list
> is supposed to be polite and JDG is turning me mean. (But can't I call
> Bush an asshole? He is n't reading this! I ain't saying it to his face!)
> Julia CAN YOU PLEASE GET ME UNSUBSCRIBED????
>
> Kristin
> leaveing the floor to any more skilled liberals there are out there
*sigh*
Then go. Quit telling us about it and just go.
Kristin, you've got to acknowledge that *you* are making the choices to
respond in the way that you do. John is not making you respond. If you
can't respond to John politely, don't respond at all. If you can't post
about politics politely, don't post about politics. You, and you alone, are
responsible for your actions. Don't try to shovel the blame onto someone
else.
Moving from a specific case to a meta-discussion, I've read complaints in
the last couple of months about the volume of political posts on Brin-L, and
some people have been kind enough to tell us all that they're leaving
because of that. All I can say is, "Good for you. I hope you find a list
that *is* exactly what you want." I *like* the political discussions, even
the ones with John. Even when I get so irate at his wrong-headedness that I
beat my head against my keyboard in frustration that he's so intelligent and
yet so *wrong* on some things. I'm sure John feels the same way. I read
posts from people on the opposite political side because every once in a
while, I read something and I stop and think. I reevaluate my beliefs, and
sometimes I change them. Most of the time I just continue on my merry way,
but I *need* to be reminded every once in a while that maybe, just maybe,
I'm not right.
To my mind, primates are political animals. Chimps and gorillas have
well-established hierarchies, and we're no different. Well, actually, a
little different - we're (usually) not as hairy, and most of us can't pick
things up with our feet or say "Ball pretty Koko play color ball banana" in
sign language. We're fascinated with each other's doings, and we delight in
chattering from tree to tree about the relative strengths of our respective
bands. There's a quote that escapes me here in the wee hours of the
morning, but the gist of it is: "Some people say that you should never
discuss politics, religion or sex. Intelligent people realize that those
are the only things worth discussing." I couldn't agree more.
While I'm throwing quotes around, here's another one to chew on:
"Men are never so likely to settle a question rightly as when they discuss
it freely." - Thomas Babington, Lord Macauley
Adam C. Lipscomb
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
ICQ# 32384792
PS - If you're serious about leaving, here's some pertinent information:
>From http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Atlantis/6074/adminfaq.html :
1. To unsubscribe, send the following message to [EMAIL PROTECTED]:
unsubscribe brin-l
