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Subject: Ed Sermon from Mount Sinai

Author: Fernando Villegas

Date: 11:38:14 05/07/99


Hi ED:
Pretty and wise words were yours. On the contrary of what is the current though
here, solution is not to implement new systems of control, but just to recognize
from the beginning free speech, without other limits that extreme and
unacceptable personal attacks. What kind of madness has taken the minds of smart
people that really pretend to do of a human place where discussion is the core
at thje same time a peaceful, courteous place? We have no more but even less
fight that in any average human group, but even that seems to be too much.
Please...
"But what is the limit" many can argue, "respect personal attacks?" Well, this
is not an academical issue. You do not need to engage in a deep search to
recognize what is extreme; there are some in-built definitions of it that we
share as a matter if fact. No neccesary a pedantic exercize of definitions.
Anybody can detect an unacceptable insult when  he see it. Many valuable people
that was somewhat sarcastical but not neccesarily insulting would be still here
If we would have had from  the beggining a more open mind about this.
Once you have defined that this is a place for free speech about chess computer
and not an Orwell site where the most important thing is avoiding flaming,  once
you define this place like one where we discuss chess computers in most of the
cases but also other stuff if ocasion arises -and in other language from time to
time if so please some poster-, then many things follow suit: first, you must
have or develop a capacity to resist criticism without believing that your ego
is being putted in trial because of that; if you have not that virtue, better to
abandon this and any other kind of colective engagement. Second, a capacity for
resisting even -beyond criticism- a degree of personal attack as a matter of
fact of life when debate arises; if you believe you are so important nobody has
the righ to flame you a little in the hot of discussion, then you are a sad,
weak soul, urgently needed of some kind of siquiatric help. Third, a capacity to
know that in ocasions, no matter how much smart you are or you believe you are,
you will say a nonsense and so you will be flamed with reason; if you cannot
withdstand that, better to go. Maybe this is precisely the case. Please, flame
at your will. You welcome.
So, paradoxical as can appears, Ed is right: less, not more rules; more, not
less tolerance to off-topic posts. And the core of it: a lot less  egotism, that
childish attitude that cannot resist any touch to his sensible skins and at once
to the lap of the moderators asking for for a revenge. Curious: tough positions
about control seems to be the virtue and features of strong people, but it is
all the contrary.
Fernando



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