| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 1164.1 | | MSCSSE::BERENS | Alan Berens | Wed Mar 29 1989 21:44 | 24 |
| re .0:
One of the things I rather passionately believe in is freedom of speech.
In SAILING I have occasionally tempered my belief to the extent that, as
a moderator who also happens to be a Digital manager, I have chided some
authors for offensive language and have asked that a very few insulting
or rude notes be deleted. Beyond this, though, I am reluctant to go.
I (personally and as moderator) would like to see wide ranging and
vigorous discussions of any topic of interest to those of us who sail on
the waters of the world with the proviso that, since SAILING is made
possible by Digital, those discussions be in accordance with company
policy.
As to your request: You seem to have found the discussions in Note 1158
offensive. I'm sorry that you do, but asking me to delete Note 1158 puts
me in a difficult position. To delete Note 1158 would abridge the
freedom of speech I believe in and verge on censorship. The authors of
1158.* are not advocating harm to others. Rather, they are reporting
actions taken in the face of extreme provocation by mindless, reckless
behavior by an irresponsible few. As moderator, I would prefer not to
delete or write lock Note 1158.
Alan Berens
|
| 1164.2 | Right | AKOV12::DJOHNSTON | | Thu Mar 30 1989 02:14 | 4 |
| Good show, Alan.
Dave
|
| 1164.3 | | CDR::SPENCER | John Spencer | Thu Mar 30 1989 09:41 | 13 |
| I, too agree with you, Alan.
To those who read these notes: Try to understand that a great deal of
what is written, even in the heat of passion or of frustration, can best
be read with a sense of humor (through-bolted to your attitude, with a
heavy backing plate of open-mindedness, and well-bedded with 3M5200!)
To those who write: Even in extremis, remember your readers, and aim to
keep it fun. As a few other writers (Shakespeare, Shaw, etc, etc) have
shown, wit and satire can be effective but soft swords.
J.
|
| 1164.4 | YES, BUTTTT! | CIMNET::CREASER | | Fri Mar 31 1989 12:03 | 17 |
| I'm a strong supporter of free speech and an even stronger supporter
of the system of laws which insures our future freedom.
I believe that I am not alone when I say that promoting illegal
reckless and dangerous action is all too often rewarded with
repeat offences.
I will alway act with equal determination and without regard to
an offender's class or status when someone's rights are abused!
The note should stay, BUT THE THOSE WHO PROMOTE SUCH BEHAVIOR
ARE ACHIEVING LITTLE MORE THAN A CHILDISH EMOTIONAL VENT!!
Isn't freedom of speech wonderful... 8>)
Jerry
|
| 1164.5 | Yep! Your Right | SALEM::KLOTZ | | Fri Mar 31 1989 14:26 | 41 |
| OK --
Let's take em one at a time.
re: .1 Alan is indeed right. I also support freedom of speech
& as suggested in another reply as a human can also get caught in
the heat of the moment; BUT, the bottom line is I do agree Al
has the right headset.
One mild point Al: I didn't really find it "offensive" as much
as a "disappointment" when compared to the normal level of
dialogue in the conf.
re: .2 OK I agree with ya Dave -- Al is on the mark.
re: .3 John is also correct. (God I hate being wrong(?))
I guess I just have a hard time finding any wit or humor from
within when my favorite pastime seems to be approaching the
mentality of the L.A. Expressway.
re: .4 Ah... some mild support from Jerry -- Credit him with saying
something closer to what I should have said.
----------------------------------------------------------------
However -- if some BOZO goes around trolling logs etc.. simply with
the intent of harming the vessel of some equivalant BOZO
I hope the end result is indeed spectacular and equitable to both.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Well - some day if I can see any humorous way to respond I'll try
again.
Feeling somewhat humble &
admitting it's OK to trail a Dink :>)
Lou
In the meantime I'll keep reading this conf.---
trying to learn from the "Sailors" & "Boaters" in the crowd
& quietly hating/ignoring the "Windbags" & "Stink Pots"
|
| 1164.6 | isn't it just human nature ??? | BOOKS::BAILEYB | too much of everything is just enuff | Fri Mar 31 1989 15:01 | 27 |
| So what's wrong with an emotional vent anyhow? I mean, sometimes
if you verbally vent your frustration if helps prevent further,
potentially harmful action. At least that's what the psychiatrists
would have us believe.
How seriously should the "offensive" comments be taken anyway.
Haven't you ever heard a frustrated parent threaten their offspring
with death? Do you think for a second they'd actually carry out
the threat? Nah, 99.9% of the time you can take it for what it's
worth, nothing but an emotional vent.
So why think this is any different. Most of us have an aggravating
story to tell about some run-in with a bozo in a speed machine.
So we can relate to the aggravation. We find it fun to fantasize
about "getting even". But also, most of us realize it's just talk
and fantasy, in other words, an emotional vent. Is it childish,
or just an innate human desire for justice?
I say, keep venting. But do try to act responsibly when actually
encountering one of these situations. It may be fun to think about
revenge, but there's nothing funny about somebody getting hurt.
No matter how much you think they deserve it.
... Bob
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