You and I are far less likely to be pricked by an infected needle left on a train seat than we are to be pricked by a verbal needle in a Goanet post. Somehow, many of us cannot resist inserting an insulting word into an apparently innocent message.
For example, the recent extended debate on abuse is said to have brought some "worms" out of the woodwork! Rebecca O'Leary (no cousin or godchild of mine) got involved, and had some things to say that needed saying; I got involved as well. Neither Ms. O'Leary nor I are regular posters on Goanet, so the two of us must count ourselves among the "worms". Or is one to be considered more wormlike than the other?
On a related matter: Private messages are meant to be private. I sent a private message to Santosh that suggested alternative ways of conducting a debate; he chose to make public the fact that I had communicated with him in private, but stated that I had reprimanded him. I hadn't, for the simple reason that I do not feel I have either the right or the authority to reprimand another human being. I had merely suggested another approach. And I did not suggest he apologize; I especially do not think any apology is an apology, if it is worded in a way that leads to further recrimination.
The point that I am trying to make is that there should be civility in all our debates. In ALL of them, and in every part of each debate. I don't care who started the mudslinging---the person who has mud flung at him, and then flings mud back, also winds up having mud on his hands.
