Posted by yxibow on March 16, 2007, at 20:57:26 [reposted on March 16, 2007, at 21:00:26 | original URL]
In reply to Re: Please be civil, posted by FredPotter on March 16, 2007, at 15:48:41
> I think this thread has been most informative and represented a wide range of views. OK some views were mulscularly expressed but the people taking part seemed tough enough to engage in a tough argument. It would be a pity to curtail such threads because of "offense" where none was present.
>
> Incidentally normal gets confused with the central tendency of statistics. A lot of people hower say homosexuality isn't natural. Well I say it must be or it wouldn't happen.
> Fred
I would have to agree it would also be pity to curtail threads as deep as this as I noted in my response because of their possible offense and controversy.I know I haven't been a member of this board since its beginning, but I have been a member for some time and in comparison to some threads, there havent been a lot of f- yous and other such indecentness. Yes, words have been exchanged but I think largely the threads have just expressed the generalized opinions and views of people of possibly controversial topics.
If you cannot discuss religion, politics, sexuality, mental illness, and a number of things that one's favourite "manners" column writer would say, then there is almost little left to engage in intellectually with others.
It is impossible not to offend someone (the age long modified quote of some of the time and all of time time). We all try our best to be civil in the sense that I find civility, which is to not directly and without a doubt point out an individual and attack them ad hominem or use them for the pleasure of Schadenfreude.
In fact I encourage people to examine that word
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schadenfreude
It has no direct translation in english because it is as many German constructs are, a combination word. It is the ultimate and extreme opposite of civility.
-- tidings
poster:yxibow
thread:741698
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20070304/msgs/741708.html