Re: ADMIN: Civility and content

Subject: Re: ADMIN: Civility and content
From: Michael West <mbwest -at- bigpond -dot- net -dot- au>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 22:31:31 +1000


Tom Murell writes:

> The problem that can be addressed is 'ad hominem' attacks and ripostes.
> Make ad hominem attacks carry the same penalty as the unauthorized
> posting of advertisements on the list. Immediate suspension of
> posting privileges and a fine and apology required for reinstatement.
> This would apply to the first offense only. A second offense by
> the same person should result in permanent removal of the offender
> from the list.

I really haven't seen "ad hominem" attacks here. What I
have seen is a tendency to deliberately misrepresent
another's opinion. For example, if A says "Technical
knowledge doesn't ensure effective communication",
and B says "What I'm hearing is 'ignorance is an asset',"
then what has happened is that A's comment has been
deliberately misrepresented and then attacked in its
misrepresented form by B. This is not the same as 'ad
hominem' attacks. An 'ad hominem' attack targets the
character of the speaker--as in, for example, "only an
idiot would say something like that." I just don't see that
happening here.

I think there should be a rule requiring that when
taking an opposing view on a question, one must address
the exact words of the statement one is disagreeing with.
Paraphrasing and then attacking the paraphrase should
be made a hanging offense. By "hanging" I mean, for example,
that the offender should be suspended over a vat of the
weird sauce that McDonald's uses on their fish sandwiches
until they cry Uncle and promise to be nice.

--
Mike West
Melbourne, Australia





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References:
RE: ADMIN: Civility and content: From: Tom Murrell

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