Re: Archival papers & inks

["David Dyer-Bennet" <dd-b@dd-b.net>]

rafeb <rafeb@channel1.com> writes on 3 November 1999 at 23:26:01 -0500
 > At 10:31 PM 11/3/99 -0500, Gene McLaughlin wrote:
 > >
 > >
 > >David Dyer-Bennet wrote: 
 > >> I'm sorry, but referring to Wilhelm's work as "some doddering old
 > >> fart's obscure tests" is insulting and ridiculous.  Stooping to
 > >> insulting the researcher, who isn't even here, when you don't like his
 > >> results, or how some people use his results, is childish, and you
 > >> should be ashamed of yourself.  Or better yet, you should stop doing
 > >> it.
 > >> 
 > >David:  While I agree with your comments re JO's choice of words, you
 > >miss the point.  "Insulting, ridiculous and outrageous" is just what JO
 > >is trying to achieve.  I am sure that he practices his penchant for this
 > >so called humor in many other venues.  One person's idea of humor is
 > >another person's ... well, you get the idea.
 > 
 > 
 > Gene, what Jan and Mike Greer and Jim Osmundson
 > are commenting on is the massive hand-wringing
 > and hue and outcry that has dominated this list
 > for the last three or four days, since Royce Bair
 > "announced" the latest Wilhelm findings on the list.


If you think they're commenting on the reactions of people here on the
list, why are the remarks about Wilhelm and his work directly, rather
than about the local people and reactions?

I'm quite happy for you and others to make fun of *me* for how
seriously I take the issue.  Maybe I *do* take it too seriously; it's
certainly possible.  But I'm here, and I can defend myself.

There probably *is* some worthwhile commentary, humorous or otherwise,
about how people react to the latest Wilhelm results.  I think that's
fair game.  The results themselves are fair game for scientific
analysis and criticism, of course, but I *don't* think they should be
casually made fun of *without* any scientific basis.

At bottom, what it comes down to is that that sort of outrageous
insulting comment poisons the discussion for all of us.  It's bad for
the group.  
-- 
David Dyer-Bennet / Join the 20th century before it's too late! / dd-b@dd-b.net
http://dd-b.lighthunters.net/ (photos) Minicon: http://www.mnstf.org/minicon
http://www.dd-b.net/dd-b (sf) http://ouroboros.demesne.com/ Ouroboros Bookworms
-
Turn off HTML mail features. Keep quoted material short. Use accurate
subject lines. http://www.leben.com/lists for list instructions.