Dear Gary, Yes, I can understand the distinction you are making - freedom of speech as a right gives permission to say what you will, regardless of how others respond to it. I am sure that you are correct about that, and I agree that it's a right that's worth defending. By the same token, one is not quite free to defame others without being held to account for it, so the countries that allow freedom of speech usually have laws to constrain libel and defamation of character. It's a moral dilemma - in the UK, which has long been a bastion of free speech, we are beginning to understand that its use (for example) to promote religious hatred may have more terrible consequences than we realised. So where should we draw the line?
As far as the lute list is concerned, I feel that e mails to the list should not contain anything that one would not say to another person face to face in public. I am sometimes astonished by the rudeness and offensiveness that a small minority of postings contain, this latest comment from MO that I cited being a case in point. So I am glad that Wayne occasionally chooses to intervene when such things get out of hand. I feel that it helps to protect the integrity of what is such a useful resource for all of us. Best wishes, Denys ----- Original Message ----- From: "gary digman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Denys Stephens" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2005 12:19 PM Subject: Re: [LUTE] Re: to Matanya Ophee > Dear Denys; > In the US freedom of speech is a right not a privilege, at least in > theory. > > Gary Digman > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Denys Stephens" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "lute net" <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2005 3:05 AM > Subject: [LUTE] Re: to Matanya Ophee > > > > Dear James, > > I understand and sympathise with your views on > > this, but I agree with Wayne and Alain. The sad thing > > about this is that Matanya is a long standing and > > intelligent member of the guitar community. In an > > ideal world it should be quite possible for people > > with diametrically opposed views to argue their > > cases in a way that we could all learn and benefit from. > > But freedom of speech is a privilege and in my opinion > > should not be abused. To call someone "a liar and a fraud" > > as Matanya has done is, I think, unacceptable. It's certainly > > not the language of reasoned argument. > > > > Best wishes, > > > > Denys > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[email protected]> > > Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2005 8:52 AM > > Subject: [LUTE] Re: to Matanya Ophee > > > > > > > In a message dated 8/27/2005 12:33:15 AM Pacific Daylight Time, > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > > This is the lute list however, and Ophee had nothing to say > > > about the lute in this discussion, as he admitted himself. > > > There is no censorship involved in Wayne's decision. Just common sense. > > > Alain > > > > > > However, many lutenists on this list feel free to voice their opinions > > > about the guitar. That's fine with me, as I play both, and enjoy the > > dialogues > > > and exchanges on this forum. It's very easy to press delete, isn't it? > > So; > > > suppressing someone's opinion you don't agree with is "common sense"? I > > don't > > > think Voltaire would have agreed with that. :) > > > > > > Sincerely, > > > > > > James > > > > > > -- > > > > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > > > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > > > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > > > Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.16/83 - Release Date: > 26/08/2005 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > No virus found in this outgoing message. > > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > > Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.16/83 - Release Date: 26/08/2005 > > > > > > > > > > -- > > No virus found in this incoming message. > > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > > Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.15/82 - Release Date: 8/25/2005 > > > > > > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.16/83 - Release Date: 26/08/2005 > > -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.16/83 - Release Date: 26/08/2005
