JZEM@MARIST.BITNET (William J. Joel) (02/07/90)
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ + The past is but the beginning of a beginning, and all that is + + and has been is but the twilight of the dawn. + + (The Discovery of the Future, H.G. Wells) + +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Bill Joel jzem@marist.bitnet ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Group, I wrote and sent this out early last week. However, I made the mistake of routing it to SOCIETY@MARISTB, not MARIST. Sorry about the delay. I hope I haven't missed the argument boat! Mr. Joel please forward this response/thought to C. Haller. Certainly Haller's statement that "special demands and expectations pertain to people with special, privileged knowledge" is evidence enough to show that prejudice has even envaded the realm of the computer world. According to Haller, a person with knowledge is different than a person with lesser knowledge. Notice I didn't say better, I just said different. Haller, however, is implying that people with aquired knowledge "demonstrated integrity and reliability", which if I miss my mark, *IS* implying that those individuals with lesser knowledge do not posess any significant amount of integrity and reliability. Thus, Haller is suggesting that among humans there are those that are superior and those that rank below superior (notice *I* didn't say inferior), simply because some have a certain level of knowledge and others don't. I hope what I'm about to say doesn't offend anyone, and it's not meant to be a reflection of Haller, but doesn't Haller's statement sound like your typical bigot remark? It sounds like Haller's saying that just because one is intelligent, one should receive special treatment. First of all, if someone is LACKING certain mental capabilities then punish- ment should be "molded" to those who need special care (retardation, autism). BUT, if someone realizes and recognizes that the result of their actions can and may be viewed as unlawful, harmful, immoral, and/ or unethical then they should be subjected to the letter of the law. In this case, knowledge should not be an exemption or softening of laws and punishments, but the acceptance of the fact that if your smart enough to do the crime and realize the consequences then you should be smart enough to accept those consequences without questions. To simplify, instead of prejudice attitudes stemming from skin color or ethnic background, Haller's mind X is better than mind Y has brought prejudice to a new height, in terms of being low. Christopher V. DeRobertis