On 29 Jan 2006 at 18:59, Richard Yates wrote: [quoting me, unattributed:] > > I'm not sure why anyone > > thinks that public posts on that subject could be helpful under any > > circumstances. > > Because the posts are public, you know that everyone else knows that > the posts have been made and that, whether they agree with them or not > [1], most will be noting the tone of your future posts. . . .
I think you're missing the antecedent of the comment you quote. I was talking about the endless discussion of how awful I am as a person to be posting all these hideously rude things attacking other people, and all that rot. I don't think anyone is interested in reading that beyond the initial response of "how dare you!" > . . . Because you > know everyone will be watching it is presumably more likely that you > yourself will monitor your tone more closely. That is why making the > posts public could be more helpful than making them in private. I'm quaking in my boots at the idea that everyone is saying bad things about me behind my back! Or on the list!!!!! Look, I've been around a long time participating in online discussion, and I know how to hold up my end of a discussion. I'm not afraid of criticism. But bitching and moaning about the tone of my posts, rather than simply commenting on it once (or actually engaging the content -- what a concept!), seems to me to be of no benefit to anyone. > [1] I note all who have commented one way or the other do seem to > agree, however (as do I). Darcy supported me. Perhaps others who agreed with me felt he'd done a good job making the argument (I certainly think he did). Of course, the difference is that Darcy engaged my argument, instead of getting all worked up over the rhetoric. And even if no one *had* supported me, it wouldn't change what I post. I'm not a politician looking to the polls to see how to position myself for re-election. So, it really makes little difference to me that people's feathers get ruffled over something I post. Indeed, in the present instance, that was precisely my aim -- it *should* have ruffled the feathers of anyone who is resistant to listening to anything new. I also note that, while in the past I've gotten criticism for my tone/style from many of the list's heavy hitters, in the present instance, it seems that the "disagreement" (it's hardly a disagreement, since those who are complaining haven't even touched upon even one part of my argument) has come only from people who seem to make a habit of doing little more than responding to my provocative posts. At least, I don't recognize the names involved in other contexts (with one or two exceptions). -- David W. Fenton http://dfenton.com David Fenton Associates http://dfenton.com/DFA/ _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [email protected] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
