Gautam Mukunda wrote: > --- Robert Seeberger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: >> Think you could tone down the insult rhetoric a bit? >> Remember that you guys have an audience. >> >> >> TIA >> >> >> xponent >> Concrete Maru >> rob > > I'm sorry, Nick just called me a McCarthyite and a > Fascist and you object to me telling Nick the word > doesn't mean what he claims it means? I mean, as a > conservative I accept that this is an automatic > reaction - disagree with a leftist and being called a > fascist is pretty much a first response - but this is > a bit much. If I wanted to insult him, trust me, it > would have been a lot more pointed than that. >
I can appreciate that, but when you take broad swipes with remarks like "pathetic left" it could easily be taken as an insult to anyone who votes left of center by anyone who votes left of center. I don't think you are intending to do such. You are a decent fellow and I think almost everyone would support me when I say so. It might help if you take that for granted in the times when tempers get a bit testy. I pay attention to the "smart" people on the list. I notice that guys like Dan and Ronn! and even Bob C make their points without stepping into a testosterone pissing contest. I try to follow that example and try to take the kindest interpretation of others comments I can. I don't think Nick intended to call you a McCarthyite (though I am just skimming mostly tonight and could be wrong), but if in fact he did, that is his problem and you should not allow it to become yours. The tit-for-tat games should have been left in the schoolyard and the high ground lies elsewhere. As someone who has commited this particular sin often enough and is tempted frequently, I would hope that those of you who have the advantage of a good education would endevour to match that knowledge with the wisdom of how to respond morally and ethically in stressful social situations. The enviroment of the List is much improved over the last couple of years (with a few exceptions and qualifications) and I hope we can continue to follow this trend. Gautam, you are one of the most respected members of our list. I hope that you "know" this and recognize that when people disagree with you it is not for a lack of or diminished respect. >From outside the discussion I do not ever get such an impression. xponent Sharing The High Ground Maru rob _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
