Calling people nazis and fascists and misogynists

[Phil Wise]

except, except... Doug's been under almost ceaseless attack since I started
reading y'all (well over six months ago); the situation's far more complex
than you're making out.  I'm afraid that at the moment he's started treating
every voice almost as one (I've found Quail absolutely reasonable, and a
number of others, yourself included, that espouse views I don't agree with,
have taught me things and made me think).  But you can't have been reading
this list and not have noted the jaded regularity of the behaviour patterns
around here, or that there is often one constant target.  Not for refutation
and debate but for abuse, and as some participants have admitted, abuse for
the sheer fun of it.  Bullying.

I have to apologise you you, Paul, because it is your post that I'm finally
breaking silence to, and that may not be appropriate because you've never
been a participant in any major way.  And I should apologise to Doug before
noting that he could protect himself more by engaging in debate when it is
offered in good faith.  And perhaps it is ancient history that induces
people to read the worst into any old slightly ambiguous construction.  Me,
I would have walked away long ago.  I too have found Doug a frustrating
presence recently, but - history lesson forthcoming from Doug or Terrence
about who might have started what namecalling back when, undoubtedly,
notwithstanding - people under siege often lose perspective, become a little
strident, especially if they believe (not unreasonably) that part of the
reason they are being attacked is for the beliefs they espouse.  To me, this
is the context.

I'm one of the crowd that could do without the conflict.  Others get right
into it, often including the baitee.  But don't let's pretend this is
happening in a vacuum here, okay?

phil




----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Mackin" <paul.mackin at verizon.net>
To: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 8:30 PM
Subject: Re: Calling people nazis and fascists and misogynists


> Oddly, Doug's p-list participation once appeared quite normal, evenly
> praiseworthy. It was only a couple years ago that the violence  began to
> appear. One may remember the accusations of Holocaust Denial where
complete
> cognitive breakdown was evident. The posts began to sound desperate. Like
> those "Hail Mary" plays football teams (American football) resort to when
> they get behind a few touchdowns and feel they have nothing to lose.
> Something happened. We will probably never know what.
>
>         P.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <MalignD at aol.com>
> To: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 9:59 PM
> Subject: Re: Calling people nazis and fascists and misogynists
>
>
> > << Not that the list needs any more cheerleaders, but I think Quail has
> been
> >  more than decent and patient beyond measure in all his responses to the
> >  list-scourge named Doug. >>
> >
> > It should be obvious by now that the man is a crackpot.  An "on-line
> > journalist"?  A journalist of any sort?  Does he strike anyone as
> > journalistic?   As professional?  As even attempting to be objective?
> >
> > God knows who he is or what he actually does, besides sit in his bedroom
> and
> > glom the internet.  I think he's quite unbalanced and there is ample
> evidence
> > on this list to prove it.
> >
> > Pity his wife and child.
> >
> >
> >
>
>