As you also know, you have your own thread where you have banned me from posting, and at least one friend of yours has a thread where you have persuaded her to ban me from posting also. So there are plenty of ways for you to avoid any interaction with me if that is your personal need.
But that is the point, Christopher. She has just told you (for the millionth time) that she prefers not to interact with you. You say that there are plenty of ways for her to avoid anyinteraction with you if it is her wish, but her goal is not avoiding some interaction...it is avoiding ALL. Her "wish", Christopher, is ALL Don't you understand this? Avoiding "some" interaction is like intercourse with half a condom...
There are times when you say things in posts that I feel it is is appropriate to comment on. I am unwilling to give you free rein to say things that I feel need to be clarified or challenged, and to promise in advance not to inject my views on them
For Christ's sake, Christopher. She didn't ask you not to weigh in on issues. She asked you not to post to her...not to personalize her posts. You can demonstrate values of respect without losing your freedom to express your views on public issues, Christopher. It is easy to express an opinion on an issue POet may have raised without engaging her personally in the issue.
I must decline your request, but must preserve my right to express my opinions and views on such issues.
Again, you are not reading your mail. I don't believe she is suggesting your opinion be stifled in any way. Is it?? She would like you to respect her desire not to discuss any of her PUBLIC opinions directly with you, because shwe feels they are not being respected independent of your personal motives and agenda.
Whether she is right or wrong about your character is irrelevent. If you asked me not to post directly to you or about you, I would respect that request. For you to intimate that insulting the desires and feelings of others would interfere with your right to self expression--this shows an unfortunate confusion of moral agency and moral responsibility.
Every other person on SI can show respect for others. I am sure that you can, too. Expressing your opinion on world issues has nothing to do with personalizing those opinions against all the known and unknown people who may disagree with you. The issue is expressing your public opinion--not expressing your personal opinion.
This issue is not a public one. It is a personal one. It is like a no-contact order. Only, it relies on the presumption of human dignity, value, and self respect...not on ghost cars...not on free season tickets.
Many people do not believe that freedom of expression means violating freedom of association. Some do.
You might believe that honoring someone's request to avoid personal engagement is a violation of freedom of expression. This would be wrong. Respect and honor are not enforced by law, per se.
It is that freedom of expression that is being called into play here...along with certain principles shared by intelligent and caring people. You are not being forced to respect...you are being asked. The question is moral, not legal. Everybody will guage your answer according to their own lights. Being a man would not interfere with your right to free expression on public issues. |
