> Har!! > > A culturally specific reference to anyone who watched Satuirday Night Live > back when it was funny (ie: the 70's). I'm sure that most list members > outside of North America, and under the age of (maybe) 35 or 40 won't > recognize that quote. But it's funny, anyway. I'm glad there are no list > members (that I know of) named Jane, though.
Right. The bit was a "point-counterpoint" kind of thing, and the female anchor, Jane Curtin, would always go first, presenting a measured, reasonable viewpoint. Then Dan Ackroyd would begin his rebuttal by saying, "Jane, you ignorant slut," and proceed to give his own viewpoint. What they were lampooning, of course, is that when you begin a response to somebody with an insult, you merely guarantee that the other party will either not listen to or not accept whatever comes next. It is, in other words, counterproductive to actual give-and-take, and to civilized discussion. Hmmm? --Mike
