From: Jacques Du Pasquier (jacques@dtext.com)
Date: Fri Jan 04 2002 - 02:42:24 MST
John Clark wrote (4.1.2002/00:14) :
> I guess you just want the last word
> but asking is not the way to get it, you have to earn. You earn it by
> showing that everybody is wrong except you.
Actually, anyone with a bit of judgment will give you the "last word"
almost immediately after you have started repeating yourself, or
systematically misunderstanding his arguments.
So it may well be that, in an environment of people with judgment,
"having the last word" on something only means people don't care to
discuss it further with you. (ANd if people recognize that you are
right as a result of the discussion, THEY will end the discussion by
saying so.)
When discussion pointlessly goes on, it doesn't mean anything, except
that some people can't resist the temptation to send one more post
(whether it has any new content and is still of any interest to
anyone in any way, or not), and don't care about the list members --
or vastly misunderstand the image they project by doing so.
What you have to earn is not to have the last word : it is that
someone with a working brain take the time and attention to write a
thoughtful reply to your post (vs. getting a thought-free post from a
compulsive poster). And you earn this, not by being right, but by
writing thoughtful posts.
Jacques
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Fri Nov 01 2002 - 13:37:32 MST