Richard,
Pot? Kettle? Black?
-H
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Date: 06 Apr 96 11:40:55 EST
From: John Whiting <•••@••.•••>
To: "Richard K. Moore" <•••@••.•••>
Cc: ""Craig A. Johnson"" <caj>, Andy Oram <•••@••.•••>,
John Whiting <•••@••.•••>
Subject: * Do we have to put up with abuse? Yes.*
Dear Virtual Friends:
I'm beginning to suspect that news groups are obsessed with
"Nettiquette". The spirit of Emily Post hovers over us all.
After living in London for over thirty years, I find the climate of
discussion in these international forums to be peculiarly Anglo-Saxon.
To forbid the expression of anger among people who are devoting a
great deal of time and energy to things about which they care
passionately is to invite smouldering resentments that are likely to
surface in subtly vitriolic postings which follow the letter but not
the spirit of politesse. A gentleman, says Oxbridge tradition, never
unknowingly offends.
My own experience of corporeal (as opposed to virtual) forums of
artists, writers, poets, and radicals suggests to me that, within such
a context, Craig Johnson would be regarded as a pussy-cat. I have
followed his substantive contributions with close attention and, when
vitriol has flowed from the screen, with appreciative chuckles. I'm
sure he's a tough customer, but not nearly so prickly as, say, my
favorite poet, Ezra Pound.
It would be a shame if we always had to tiptoe so as not to
awaken the light sleepers on our list. There's something to be
said for Harry S. Truman's dictum on the subject of heat and
kitchens. Perhaps there's an exemplum in Charles Ives second
string quartet, which he scored for "four men who argue, get mad,
shake hands, and walk up the mountain-side to view the firmament."
(One of his markings is "con fistiswatto".)
John Whiting
London
P.S. Although this is a personal posting, you're welcome to put
it on the list, with a preface stating unequivocally that I'm an
unrecalcitrant shit-head.
--- End of forwarded message ---
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