logajan@ns.network.com (John Logajan) (12/28/89)
Dave, ... Actually, my public postings -- well I should know better -- but I suppose I would do them again at the same "level" of intensity. I mean, I saw you do something that looked good, and then saw a bunch of people dump on that and then I saw you back down -- too quickly for my tastes. I admit a high level of frustration in seeing progress rolled back -- it is worse psychologically than never having acheived the progress in the first place. I've been on this net and others with my "individualist" brand of politics, so I get hate mail practially every other day. You have to realize that people tend to overstate their emotions when they write -- that people can accidently sound cold and heartless in their writing, even when that is not their intention. Even those who are intentionally abusive are usually much more so in the written word than in person or even on the phone. Interactive written communication is just not most people's normal mode of interaction, and so they are unskilled in the most difficult aspect of it -- diplomacy. I certainly fall into that same problem. So my whole point is that you should heavily discount the "fire" in our postings, and try to pick out the ideas (if any) that are sprinkled here and there within and between the abuse. Also a word of warning -- any posting that you make that takes a strong position could be (and probably has been) taken to be more negative and personal than you ever intended. Readers aren't practiced in reading the work of us unskilled writers, either. It is all a vicious cycle unless you restrict yourself to blowing sun-beams. I must say however, your postings have been models of diplomacy -- it is just that I pick into the hidden or unintended consequences (out of habit from my usual mode of debate) of otherwise innocent looking statements. There are just some people that diplomacy is wasted on, and I happen to be one of them. All I am trying to say is that you shouldn't take any of my stuff personally, even if it is clear that it can be taken no other way. It is not intended personally, it is intended as an unmerciful examination of actions and arguments. I do not harbor ill will toward you or toward most of the people I trade insults with -- it just seems to be an inescapable part of having diverse opinions. But no one ever gets killed! -- - John M. Logajan @ Network Systems; 7600 Boone Ave; Brooklyn Park, MN 55428 - - logajan@ns.network.com, john@logajan.mn.org, Phn 612-424-4888, Fax 424-2853 -