James.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.org (James Womack) (05/04/91)
Index Number: 15388 [This is from the Silent Talk Conference] To all of you people who sent me netmail urging to me not stop posting on Silent Talk-Thank you for your support. I did not realize how many non-posting Silent Talk readers were out there. Nor did I realize how much support I had among you. I wish to apologize to Ann, Jack, Stu and others for not adhering to an approach I used when I first began BBS-ing and Echo-ing. When a person's became less than friendly, I would simply not bother to respond to the person. That is the beauty of computer communication. You have absolute control over whom you will or won't talk with. You people who sent me netmail urging me to continue posting on Silent Talk Echo, I am back because you netmailers were numerous enough to make me reconsider, people here in Tucson who were aware of my ceasing to post my own views also urged me to continue. They sternly reminded of my own teachings to other Deaf people about not giving in to suppression tactics. It was kind of a rebuke of my not practicing what I preached. Moreover, my retreat is contrary to my nature. And finally, I was, again, sternly reminded that no matter what anyone does or says; you are going to have your critics, naysayers, and be a target. Again and in fairness to those I contended with, I should have adhered to an original approach of ignoring outright, and hit and run attacks on myself, ideas I stood for and etc. By doing so, no fuel was supplied to the afterburners tempted to speed to the offense. Those whom I BIT and BYTE with, I apologize, not for my ideas, but for not adhering to my own philosophy of "non-reaction" for getting bogged down into letting concepts become personal. No doubt I will stand oppsoite of you again. Just try to remember that it is not you, the person I contend with, but the issue itself. People can argue like cats and dogs over issues and still be friends when the debate is over and done with. I will not tipsy toe around ideas I believe in just because they are unpopular with certain people. I will post concepts regarding deafness based on my direct knowledge, the knowledge of others and experiences that back them up. If this gets me kicked out of the echo, then I guess that's what it will have to be. Now an allegory. -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!300!14!James.Womack Internet: James.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.org