[TenTec] Public Opinion, Off-topic recollection RE:

[Art]

Thanks Max for the suggestion regarding manners.

I would like to suggest though that at some point we, on this side of the
pond, listen to Tony Blair when he speaks to the Commons.  I think many of
us would be amazed at that (apparent) level of incivility.

However, it seems that these people have developed the mechanism to be
forceful, even mean-spirited, when debating (or heckling) and yet 'park it
at the door' on the way out!

Now this was sufficiently off-topic that I ought to get flamed, unless of
course the afternoon elixirs are already flowing...

Art
KC2G
----- Original Message -----
From: "Max Moon" <maxmoon at umn.edu>
To: <TenTec at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2003 4:07 PM
Subject: [TenTec] Public Opinion, Off-topic recollection RE:


> Hello,
>
> My grandmother was from Tasmania but she wouldn't have approved of Taz.
She
> always said, If you can't say anything nice--don't say anything at all.
She
> didn't mean we should only speak saccharine, banal trivialities. There was
> plenty of room for comments that were constructive, relevant, rational,
even
> room for *respectful* disagreement. We understood we could have our own
> opinions. But there was no room for having tantrums, being rude, throwing
> toys at other kids,  shouting No! No! No! Even if somebody said something
we
> didn't like.
>
> I know many people reject notions of manners like that as irrelevant
today,
> thinking they're no more useful than learning the "right" way to use
eating
> utensils. I still think it's worth knowing of those ideas as some of them
> constitute or apply to "civil discourse," a viable alternative to road
rage,
> flaming, physical abuse, and such.
>
> For me, "civil discourse" represents a powerful idea. The two words seem
> synergistic, they have greater meaning as a pair: to exchange ideas,
> feelings, and all the rest with each other; to do it respectfully,
honestly,
> constructivly. Not only is it within our grasp, it is one of the very few
> things we can do that will contribute (even if slightly) to making our
world
> a little less Hobbesian (I think he described life way back when as
"short,
> mean, and brutish").
>
> To that end, I will try to make my comments here be constructive,
> respectful, relevant, honest--everything my grandmother would accept. If
her
> idea has any resonance for you, by all means give it a whirl. Who knows,
> maybe we can make life, at least on this reflector, slightly utopian!
>
> 73,
> Max, k0max
>
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