NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Frank Reed's head appears. was: NavList admin
From: Bill B
Date: 2007 Oct 27, 05:02 -0400
From: Bill B
Date: 2007 Oct 27, 05:02 -0400
> From: Wolfgang K�berer> your last mail shows again that you are the master of the snide remark ("And > now, I too am going to put my hand on my heart and piously intone:..."). > In real life I would answer to you as William F. Buckley once did to Gore > Vidal. Wolfgang The list seems to back on track, with many posts and new contributors, and I have little desire to dredge up the past, but do feel a need to respond to your post and deal openly with old business. I am the middle of moving, and dealing with the health problems of my 88-year old mother, so I apologize for the delayed response. (Bingo, plaid shirt and living in mom's basement looming on the horizon ;-) This IS real life in the beginning of the 21st century. AKA Cyberspace, game shows, and "reality TV" designed to reduce the expense of talented writers and performers while producing "entertainment" with high ratings and "wow" factors with higher profits for the networks. Don't nibble around answering, do it, but please be original. Let Buckley do Buckley. Famous feuds for $600 please. (Keeping in mind George's cross-cultural "Sea Monkey" criticism this refers to a North American game show where the contestants choose categories and dollar amounts. The higher the dollar amount, the more difficult the question.) Recalling the Buckley/Vidal exchange can we ignore the Truman Capote/Gore Vidal publicity stunts complete with verbal assaults and a powder-puff version of fisticuffs? The point of it all is to draw attention to oneself. I feel George has slipped in his fair share of "snide" or disparaging remarks as welloutright or between the lines over the years. Much like parliament where a speaker starts with a glowing review of the opposition and then attacks like a pit bull--but in reverse. A matter of style. I can't resist the occassional bout with a windmill and appreciate Peter's tenacity and prose, but feel saddened list exchanges sank to a level that George and Peter felt the need to put the reputations of two valued contributors in jeopordy; and especially peeved that George threatened the list owners for allowing a concentrated dose of his own medicine from Peter to be broadcast. George's opinions, objectively verifiable or not (and perhaps objectionable to the recipient) are protected by the right of free speech in many nations. The notion of George broaching the subject of litigation against Frank or Dan for allowing Peter's feelings or opinions to be virtually published strikes me as absurd given no real damage--particularly in light of George's record of exercising what he believes to be his right to slip the green weenie to someone. (Google "green weenie" if in doubt of literal meaning. In street usage generally means, "approaching" someone from behind--without so much as a reach around.) I suspect list members respect George's keen intellect, and when he makes disparaging remarks or changes the parameters of the original question to win the point they just let it go as George being George. We all have our faults, and folk wisdom suggests we keep a large hole in our back yard for our friends' faults--and hope they do they same for us. IMHO, that is the way the list exchanges should function. In my country (USA), expressing feelings or editorial opinions are protected by law. Nonetheless--and to paraphrase Buddy Melges--if you win the race but lose the respect of the other competitors you have won nothing. I feel all list members should keep that concept in mind before getting personal, or changing the parameters of a discussion to drive it into a debate of their own choosing with hopes of winning points in their own mind while boosting their "celebrity" status. Bill --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ To post to this group, send email to NavList@fer3.com To , send email to NavList-@fer3.com -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---