Hello?

[Henry M]

Redbug, I also had a major problem with that post. It's possible that 
a lot of us were just tired of the whole thing and wished that it 
would go away. I don't think of Ms. Blaine as foul-mouthed, etc. 
Certainly less so than than others that, not having disagreed with a 
grey-back, have not been attacked. 

As far as censorship goes, attacks such as the one that you objected 
to are far more censorial than are messages that request that 
writers consider behaving ever so slightly decently. Sticks and 
stones may break my bones, but email can hurt even more.

On 21 Dec 96 at 10:43, RedBug wrote:

> 
> Was I the only one who had a problem with:
> 
> >Compare this attitude, then, to the foul-mouthed, smug-as-ice, and
> >ultimately meaningless screeds of Diane York Blaine (a teacher who
> >disgustinglyt demeans her own students in order to project herself
> >[snip] as bringing feminist Enlightenment to the befuddled populace
> >of N. Texas, whose latest maliced missive is a perfect metonymy for
> >the elitist orb of
> her so-called disciple. [&c. &c.]
> 
> I read this post from Jeff St. Clair (aka Steelhead) regarding what
> began as a somewhat reasoned discussion and couldn't believe the
> resounding silence with which it was met on this list. I followed
> this thread and S's vicious, ad hominem attack on Ms. York, though
> not without historical precedent, seemed to go WAY over the top.
> This is a fairly old tactic of the Steelheaded one, to enter a
> discussion, or perhaps dangle a provoking, extremely binary opinion,
> and then if everyone doesn't fall into his line, steps up the
> insults and name-calling (Steely's got the act of naming DOWN, my
> friends), slips comfortably into hyper-demonizing and then, when
> someone throws a little cold water in his face, slinks away for a
> couple of months (or sometimes just threatens to -- "oh no, Steely,
> please don't leave"). 
> 
> I like this group and find SH vastly more intolerable than even the
> fabled Koopman. There's a lesson, dear Steely, in that book we all
> admire so much, regarding Kindness. You once cleverly retorted when
> you were awhile back accused of in danger of being perceived as an
> asshole (when you made derogatory remarks about anyone who would
> read and enjoy DFW's IJ), that you saw yourself as Pig Bodine. You
> remind me much more of a left-wing Major Marvy. I fondly recall when
> I had the temerity to defend an idea with which you absolutely
> disagreed and found myself on the receiving end of one of your
> screeds; in fact, I think you came after me several times (without
> my even having to participate). You must be great fun at a party
> (perhaps more relaxed if it's a group of students rather than a
> group of professors). You should re-read the your 12/15/96 message
> entitled "In the Jungle The Indian Knows All." Substitute your name
> for Ms. Blaine's. It's a remarkable fit. 
> 
> I know it may be a bit too boring for you to just participate in
> this group without picking fights and deploying your
> clever-but-often-specious attacks. I don't mind arguing about ideas,
> and attacking ideas, but you all too often go after people,
> categorizing and demonizing them. It is really the kind of tactic I
> would think would be beneath someone of your obvious intelligence. 
> 
> RedBug
> 
> 

Keep cool, but care. -- TRP
Moderation in moderation. -- Husky Mariner

http://www.nicom.com/~gravity