Re: Libertarian Economics
Lee Daniel Crocker (lcrocker@jupiter.colossus.net)
Mon, 22 Sep 1997 11:10:52 -0700 (PDT)
> Lee Daniel Crocker wrote:
> > Joao deserves insults. He is not merely ignorant, he is willfully
> > ignorant; he /has/ been pointed to sources of information (I pointed
> > to some myself), and he chose to waste our time instead. That's not
> > just ignorant, that's rude. I can respect someone who has spent
> > some time studying and thinking about an issue who then argues with
> > me, but not someone who doesn't want to learn, and who just wants to
> > hear his prejudices validated.
>
> My reply to Michael Lorry can be basically applied to you but I would
> also like to add that insults usually don't make persons do what you
> want. Well, at least that's my opinion but, probably unlike you, I'm not
> used to insulting other persons so I'm also a bit ignorant in this
> subject.
Yes, that was pointed out to me by Kennita as well, but it is not
my intention to manipulate people into doing what I want--it is my
intention to express my ideas honestly and plainly. Yes, being
nice might be better at winning converts to a cause, but it is less
likely to result in open, honest, valuable debate.
Of what value is praise if one never uses insult? It's like the
visitor who tells you your house looks nice every time ey visits;
you know ey says it every time, no matter what, so it is utterly
meaningless. I much prefer a real friend who says "your house is
a mess, Lee", in a friendly--but honest--way. That can be done in
a jovial, loving way, but it also conveys useful information in
a way that perfunctory courtesy does not.