Given that this uncharacteristically disagreeable thread concerning whether Allen Esterson's posts are are too long (although this applies to many others) continues to rage, it's time I expressed an opinion.
Recent postings on TIPS are unfortunately beginning to remind me of that famous observation on Canada's national game, "I went to the fights last night, and a hockey game broke out". Except that we seem not to be having hockey games any more, only fights. For what it's worth, I'm with Beth Benoit and others on this matter. "Verbiage" refers to more than just the length of a contribution. It's also an insult, implying that the words are superflous or meaningless. I'm astounded that anyone would say this about Allen's carefully-crafted posts.They are models of scholarship, concise, informative, logical, and exceptionally well- documented. Just what we need on TIPS. It's not for nothing that Allen is recognized as a noted critic of Freud, and now also as an effective defender of Einstein against those who would distort history. As Allen himself as has pointed out, some issues require more words to deal with than others, but this does not make them verbiage. This is a discussion list, not Twitter, for heaven's sake. And as it has also been pointed out, those who are uninterested or who cannot appreciate scholarship, or whose lips must move while they read, don't have to read such posts. I say, bring 'em on. I learn a lot from them. To adapt a famous saying which a famous man never said, "An argument should be made as short as possible but no shorter". (I know. Jim Clark got there before me, without the disclaimer. But as far as we know, Einstein never said it. ) Stephen -------------------------------------------- Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada e-mail: sblack at ubishops.ca --------------------------------------------- --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=6647 or send a blank email to leave-6647-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
