OT -- Re: random cover of a range

[Jarrett Billingsley]

On Sat, Feb 14, 2009 at 10:13 PM, John Reimer <terminal.node at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Oh... BTW, the implication here is that I assassinate a lot of characters. I
> would question this conclusion.  I am in no such habit, although I do often
> assassinate my own privately.

I was just referring to within this thread.

> I have stepped in to try to STOP altercations in here on many occasions and
> have sometimes been direct even with those I consider my friends.  I've also
> admitted where I have been wrong or indiscrete.
>
> But I must say that this is actually a little strange coming from you,
> Jarrett, though you have improved a lot over the years.

I'll let that one slide.

> I invite anyone here who feels so to freely state that I should remove
> myself from the list if they so desire that such confrontations not occur in
> the future.  No, not martyr syndrome...  Complete practicality in the
> matter. It's not worth it for me to pursue it here any longer if no-one can
> see what I am warning against.

I don't think you should.  I think that you're usually a pretty
level-headed guy and it frankly shocks me to see what you're doing
here.  Why?  I don't claim to speak for anyone else, but here at least
are my reasons.

- Content on the Internet is, at least in the US and probably
many/most other countries, protected by free speech.  Both the CDA and
COPA were struck down based on first amendment rights violations.
What bearophile has on his site is far, far tamer than just about
anything else on the Internet, and while I don't know if that argument
will wash with you, what he has on his site is his decision, not yours
or anyone else's.

- If you want to draw comparison to the superdan/tytower incidents,
this is far different.  They brought their foul language and racist
attitudes to the newsgroups.  bearophile has not done or said anything
here about anything other than D.  What you've done is dragged out his
personal life into the public view, laughed, pointed, spoke of fire
and brimstone, and expected others to do the same.  Forgive me for not
being so cruel as that.

- I have heard and read the same tired story a million times about how
moral values are decaying and the whole world is going to hell in a
handbasket.  I read it today.  I read it in a Japanese novel written a
millenium ago.  I read it in the Bible written longer ago than that.
I read it in Greek writings from longer ago than even that.  And you
know what?  It just doesn't seem to be coming true.  If anything the
world has become far kinder and more moral as time has gone on.
Besides, what do you care how people live when you're gone?  What say
do you have in how people of the future will live their lives?  I am
obviously much more socially liberal than you are.  But does that
somehow make me a friend of the Devil?  I'd say _you_ are the one
forcing _your_ philosophy on others in this case.

I know that you will go to bed tonight praying for my soul.  Please
don't.  I don't need your, God's, or anyone else's pity.  I've chosen
my path in life just as you have yours.  God will judge me as he will,
and I am prepared to accept any consequences (if any of that is
actually true).