Re: [ga] List decorum

[Marc Schneiders <marc@venster.nl>]

On Fri, 6 Apr 2001, at 09:10 [=GMT-0700], Dave Crocker wrote:

> If the GA list is ever to be productive, it needs to focus on content and 
> not on people's affiliations or motives or competence or....  

I do not agree with the 'affiliations' part. I think it is
relevant.

> If the devil 
> sends a note saying that the sky is blue, should we focus on the fact that 
> it is the devil is speaking and even question its veracity?

The colour of the sky is like everything else a matter of perspective
and focus. Affiliations can have a tremendous bearing on these, esp.
in humans. The devil may be right. Still I would check his statements
with more care than those of, say, you.

> Focusing on the person is almost always entirely irrelevant to serious 
> content.

'Almost': true. But it certainly is relevant who someone works for or
is otherwise connected with to evaluate the statements that person
makes, if they are related to his 'boss's' interests or his own.

-- 
marc@schneiders.ORG
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