Hi Michael R. Brown, > Oprah-style book discussion group > odor of gunpowder and blood
False dichotomy. Matt: Yeah, well, it wasn't really meant as a dichotomy. I don't think those are the only two options. I think reading the whole Letter suggests a subtler analysis, but even then, the Letter was intended neither as a complete analysis of the MD nor as an elaboration of an ethics of conversation. I've been unhappy with the composure within the MD for years. That's no secret, I don't think. My own composure has changed, accordingly, as my judgment about what my relationship should be has changed, and how to express my unhappiness. The difference between the Letter (and the original Straw Men post) and your comment that "Like WW1, fighting over the same patch of ground. Sounds much like it did the past few times I looked in," is that you've just signaled yourself as an outsider. And outsiders have no rights to direct the ship. It'd be like allowing non-citizens to vote. Outsiders are rightfully looked askance at when they make comments like this, even if one agrees with them. This is an optional family that people belong to, and you don't talk shit about people's family members--unless you are one of them. Despite the fact that these days I'm at best a third cousin who stops by for tea occasionally, I do take an interest in the future of the family (for whatever reason). The way in which we compose ourselves to each other matters: that was probably the most important underlying thought of the Straw Men post. Standing there on the outside and judging us is of course your prerogative, as it is all of ours to leave, and move to the outside and reject the family (as many have). But if you _actually_ take an interest in the future trajectory of the MD, standing on the outside is not how to have an effect. Matt Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org/md/archives.html
