How do you know who your friends are??......
Discussion
Calvin writes:"Hey anyone see the new titles under everyones nicknames in the author section of all the postings? When did they do that or have they do that for a while. Some of us are listed as oldtimers, newbies, and gasbags.
Hey Jim, they say you are a gasbag.
Calvin"
Calvin,
I am glad that the derogatory and hurtful characterization which the Editors of this list so callously and irresponsibly assigned to me and others amuse you so.
You, more than any other on this list, should know that my contributions are a sincere effort to assist fellow Lotus owners. Whether it be an answer to a technical question, a referral to parts and services, or to present a point of view.
In the area of personal opinion, I have never proffered that my point of view was correct, or anything other than MY point of view. I also do not believe that I ever called a viewpoint which I disagreed with as being wrong.
It is dangerous and counterproductive for the Editors to inhibit the free exchange that occurs on this list, either through direct censorship or through intimidation of select contributors.
Further, a characterization such as they have assigned to me and others detracts from one's credibility. Such a chracterization can have the effect of others not taking the substance of your contributions seriously.
Calvin, you are personally aware, and others have commented, that I posess a great deal of knowledge about these cars. Knowledge which certainly rivals, and possibly surpasses, your own. This knowledge is not the product of books, but rather detailed, hands-on experience. I freely offer this in the hope that it will aid others or prevent them from making mistakes or from getting the most of their repair monies and labor. It is not for personal gratification.
As my car runs in top form (as you know it took the 1st Place award at this year's annual Lotus convention - LOG22), I don't require an acknowledgement from others to confirm what I know about these cars. Not to mention that I am unlikely to ever meet but the smallest fraction of the list's members except online.
But what if, instead, they had characterized you as a slanty-eyed Jap Speedracer, or Matt for that matter. Would you be equally amused?
I would hope that, as your friend, you would know and have a right to expect, that I would be the very first to condemn such a characterization of you rather than find amusement in it. Calvin, I'm sure you didn't realize the more serious implications of this at the time, and I still consider us friends, but I have to call you on it.
Once one allows the arbitrary assignment of labels or characterizations, by those in control, where does it stop? These Editors know nothing of me, my experience or skills. What is the criteria with which they assign such characterizations? Is there even any criteria? Are our responses limited to a set number of words regardless of the intricacy of the question or answer?
Some will say "lighten up", others will disregard the greater implications that the Editors are free to arbitrarily decide, through labeling, who's opinion is more worthy than another's.
This characterization was extremely hurtful to me, and possibly the others to whom it was assigned. I condemn the Editors for this irresponsible, unethical behavior, and demand that they publicly apologize to me, and retract and discontinue these characterizations with immediate effect.
Jim McFadden '85TE
>>> Edited by lotusguy on Saturday 21st December 09:12
Hey Jim, they say you are a gasbag.
Calvin"
Calvin,
I am glad that the derogatory and hurtful characterization which the Editors of this list so callously and irresponsibly assigned to me and others amuse you so.
You, more than any other on this list, should know that my contributions are a sincere effort to assist fellow Lotus owners. Whether it be an answer to a technical question, a referral to parts and services, or to present a point of view.
In the area of personal opinion, I have never proffered that my point of view was correct, or anything other than MY point of view. I also do not believe that I ever called a viewpoint which I disagreed with as being wrong.
It is dangerous and counterproductive for the Editors to inhibit the free exchange that occurs on this list, either through direct censorship or through intimidation of select contributors.
Further, a characterization such as they have assigned to me and others detracts from one's credibility. Such a chracterization can have the effect of others not taking the substance of your contributions seriously.
Calvin, you are personally aware, and others have commented, that I posess a great deal of knowledge about these cars. Knowledge which certainly rivals, and possibly surpasses, your own. This knowledge is not the product of books, but rather detailed, hands-on experience. I freely offer this in the hope that it will aid others or prevent them from making mistakes or from getting the most of their repair monies and labor. It is not for personal gratification.
As my car runs in top form (as you know it took the 1st Place award at this year's annual Lotus convention - LOG22), I don't require an acknowledgement from others to confirm what I know about these cars. Not to mention that I am unlikely to ever meet but the smallest fraction of the list's members except online.
But what if, instead, they had characterized you as a slanty-eyed Jap Speedracer, or Matt for that matter. Would you be equally amused?
I would hope that, as your friend, you would know and have a right to expect, that I would be the very first to condemn such a characterization of you rather than find amusement in it. Calvin, I'm sure you didn't realize the more serious implications of this at the time, and I still consider us friends, but I have to call you on it.
Once one allows the arbitrary assignment of labels or characterizations, by those in control, where does it stop? These Editors know nothing of me, my experience or skills. What is the criteria with which they assign such characterizations? Is there even any criteria? Are our responses limited to a set number of words regardless of the intricacy of the question or answer?
Some will say "lighten up", others will disregard the greater implications that the Editors are free to arbitrarily decide, through labeling, who's opinion is more worthy than another's.
This characterization was extremely hurtful to me, and possibly the others to whom it was assigned. I condemn the Editors for this irresponsible, unethical behavior, and demand that they publicly apologize to me, and retract and discontinue these characterizations with immediate effect.
Jim McFadden '85TE
>>> Edited by lotusguy on Saturday 21st December 09:12
egomes said: TIM-
But what if, instead, they had characterized you as a slanty-eyed Jap Speedracer, or Matt for that matter. Would you be equally amused?
I think it's YOU that must apologize!
Ed-
Ed,
I find no need to apologize for the passage you quote out of context, or to explain myself to you for that matter.
But, point of fact, I did not refer to Calvin in this manner in any measure.
It was a hypothetical analogy (read what if?) to demonstrate the extreme limits of what characterizing and labeling can lead to.
In the years I've known Calvin personally, he knows that I would never believe, or ponder, let alone utter, such a characterization of him or anyone else. Resorting to ethnic or racial or really any stereotypes to express dispproval or annoyance with an individual is a sure sign of one's inability to express one's self or ignorance, or both...Jim '85TE
>> Edited by lotusguy on Saturday 21st December 22:44
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