[Am-info] Gates gets governmemnt security at tax payer expense

[felmon davis]

On Mon, 2 Aug 2004, Gene Gaines wrote:

> Felmon and everyone,
>
> OK, OK.  POLITICAL RANT "OFF",  MICROSOFT "ON".
>
> But. I have learned a lesson, personally, from the few shots of
> political rant, name-calling, etc. that have flown over this
> list recently.
>
> Bad stuff.
>
> In thinking back, I am guilty of the same sort of thing relating
> to Microsoft.
>
> I have reached this conclusion, regarding my actions:
>
> Because I am frustrated or angry or defensive, firing off an
> attack-dog email accomplishes nothing except pushing other
> readers away from me.
>
> Polite, rational, facts-quoting discourse can inform others and
> in so doing encourage them to think about your point of view
> and the consequences of the information you are imparting.
>
> I have been guilty of rather rather empty name-calling against
> Microsoft and some of its key executives in the past.  What was
> I thinking?  Did I think that blind name-calling would change
> the opinions of others?  Am I stupid?
>
> I will be more careful, more temperate or at least carefully
> fact-based in the future.
>[...]

I find it regrettable but necessary to draw that conclusion,
regrettable because a good rant, esp. from the side I agree with, is a
pleasure and I can even enjoy a well-turned rant from my opposition.

one doesn't rant to alter opinions, one rants to voice them.

but there is a nastiness and even violence in contemporary political
debate in the USA, however, which rather takes the fun off of it. it
is part of our new war-culture, I guess, where people even see
fellow-citizens as potential enemies.

so probably better to do less ranting in general (as you advise) and
in any case, to confine it to the topic of the list.

'tis a pity if we can't once in a while fling an epithet or two -
at least at Microsoft!

Felmon

Felmon Davis
Love is a slippery eel that bites like hell.
		-- Matt Groening