Re: My 2 cents worth

[bird <birdw@aloha.net>]

I was going to leave this one alone, too, but a few new issues were 
brought up that I want to comment on.

First, I don't this Forant ought to be censored from the List, 
either.  I mean, I think Forant's acting like a ... well, you know 
what I think (and he thinks I'm an "idiot" -- a badge I wear proudly 
when it comes from his ilk), but that's a different issue from 
"banning" him.  I mean, I wish he'd self-censor himself, but I wish 
for lot's of things that have no chance of coming true.  (On the 
other hand, Paul Moriarty "owns" the List and can essentially do as 
he pleases.  Not that that it makes it right -- as in Greg O.'s case.)

I'm going to continue calling the attackers "retarded," because I 
mean retarded in the sense of their civic duty.  Clearly, if you use 
a weapon to "solve" a petty argument your sense of responsibilty 
towards your fellow citizens is significantly retarded.  Not quite up 
to the standard we'd like.  They don't play well with the other 
children.  No offense to the "mentally challenged" (or whatever might 
be the "correct" term) intended.  Offense to the perpetrators very 
much intended.

I was also going to provide some examples of Forant's posts to rebut 
those who think that he was acting like some kind of caring, paternal 
figure, or that he has any sympathy for Pierce at all.  By his own 
admission, he doesn't.  Anyway, Alex Wang beat me to the punch, and 
probably did it better than I would have anyway.

Just wanted to avoid being labeled as someone who was calling for 
anyone to be banned from the List.  Though Forant might not think so, 
I know exactly what's entailed by the term, and spirit of, "free 
debate."

Regards,

Bill

P.S. I never would have thought that Pierce would have been out of 
the hospital by now.  Amazing!  I guess a lung collapsing/diaphrapm 
being punctured isn't always as bad as it sounds, or maybe the 
initial reports weren't true after all.    Anyway, a couple of days 
ago I would have said that expecting Pierce to be back near 100% in 
three weeks or so would be expecting too much.  Maybe it isn't. 
Thank god for leather.