Freedom to flame

[David Morris]

http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/286/focus/Freedom_to_flame+.shtml

By Nicholas Thompson, 10/13/2002

THE OTHER DAY, a group of Americans gathered together to deliberate the wisdom
of a war with Iraq. 

D. started it off with harsh words for President Bush, arguing that he just
wants a war to distract the nation from other ills: ''Face it America, [Bush]
is nuts, and is as dangerous as any outside terrorist we could possibly face.''

K. fired some harsh invective back. ''You moron Hussein butt kissers are
proving the fools that you are,'' a retort that E. parried with ''Will you
imbecilic right-wing armchair commandos ever tire of calling anyone a `Saddam
lover'?''

L. ignored the two prior debaters, looked straight at D., and let it rip.
''You're a moron. I won't even begin to point out all the twisted logic in your
[comment].'' But D. had an immediate rejoinder to that: ''Thanks! Coming from
you, I'll accept that as a compliment.''

If possible, the discussion disintegrated further. Everyone talked past,
around, and through each other. No one, presumably, left knowing anything more
about Iraq.

Of course, this conversation didn't occur at a university round table or in
Harvard Square over tea and scones. It took place on the Yahoo! political
discussion message board. The potshots above represent just a small sample of
the discussion on an early October evening. But many of the 125,000 comments
about the war posted in increasing numbers over the last 12 months display the
same unedifying, sophomoric tone. 



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