Posted by Neil at term4-216-231-033-016.speakeasy.net on December 22, 2001 at 02:59:16:
In Reply to: Um, was that a rhetorical question? posted by Dragoncub on December 22, 2001 at 01:36:59:
I was asking the question as a means to make a rhetorical point rather than to gather the information requested.
That said, the information itself is appreciated.
: : Am I really supposed to treat this person as my equal?
: Yes.
Ok.
: Not in terms of film knowledge or general experience, but in terms of fundamental value as a sentient (I don't know how else to put it). We can't discern anyone's potential based on a few words on a screen--to categorically dismiss this person...
I'm not categorically dismissing this person. I believe that nearly all people are ultimately redeemable, and you are correct, these are hardly the most inflammatory words to respond to. It happens that I speak in broad and hyperbolic terms.
It's who I am. Some people have issues with it, but it's not something I perceive as a fault on my part, so it's not on my long list of things to improve about myself.
I speak in the same kind of terms about things I feel positive about. Back in the days of sunshine, lollipops and rainbows everywhere on the View Askew board, I frequently would do that. Now that mostly ends up happening other places, since this place has been taken over by people like this and lost its sense of community.
I expressed my overwhelming awe about LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING in other places. I complimented Lynch on his preview page for "Monkey Man Unleashed" on another forum. The last time I had something really pleasant to say here was when I came on to say my piece about JAY & SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK.
And, yes, most days, weeks and even months, I just shut up and read the few posts that interest me here and move on. Others I just feel frustrated and feel the need to "rage against the machine", as it were.
: ... especially based on a few comments that were in no way defamatory to anyone (except Chewy), is unfair.
I think Chewy's goddamn well enough!
: Clam was intrigued by something in a VA project and took his/her examination here. Would it be so uncomfortable for you to issue your impressions of this post from a position of basic respect for this individual's right to explore Kevin's work from the vantage point of whatever phase of life he/she happens to be in?
Uncomfortable, no.
I just don't see what benefit is given to the world.
Seriously.
If I respond to this as if it was all a reasonable point about Kevin stating his own opinion through his character and how one should interpret it, then the next post will be the same and soon enough the whole board... Well, it is anyway, but the point is there are ways of going about presenting ideas, and having thought them over clearly is an important function of that. If one skips over things, then they do everyone a disservice, and we do them and everyone around a disservice to treat them as if they didn't.
: Would you find it entirely unpalatable to reply according to the merits of the content herein rather than making judgements about merits of the poster?
The two are interconnected. I can't seperate them in my mind.
And that's because I'm never talking about the potential merits of the poster.
Let me say, there are thousands of posters here and hardly a couple dozen are even coming close to living up to their potential merits. Lord knows, me least of all, although I'm sure you'll take that with a grain of salt.
The point is the functioning merits of the poster, which are, in the cases I toast, below what I feel is a reasonable par for discussion on a forum like this. If they don't like it, they can learn to defend themselves. Some of the people I like and respect the most on these boards are people I've gotten into good rows with.
: *{Understand that "defamatory" is a key concept in all of this because if the post had been slanderous in some way (like some of the destructive things I've read here regarding women) I wouldn't be objecting to the harsh tone in reply...}
And when I notice posts like that my harsh tone is much more extreme even than the ones you're pointing to.
: PS: what was it about the last exchange that sent it into the great eternal void? Cuz we could be teetering on that edge again.
I don't know exactly. Probably just off-topic.
For the record, why did you have that weird quote on hand. It has to be at least three months old, if not six months. I don't see it as that compelling one way or the other. I made an off-the-wall joke and rushed through the sentence and so the grammar was more than a little awkward, but I mean, much has happened since then.