Party Party! No need to hide behind Aleta's skirts!
(Friendly Warning to all: This post was too long to put on Yahoo, and contains little Zulu content. It is part 7 of the Drone Wars, so skip or skim as you choose)
The Bait
You've gone all smarmy on me ... was it because you were writing at 3:00 A.M. and you can't party like you once could?
The Quotes
You said, a ways back (on Yahoo) and not worth finding, something like
<<..suppose that I loan my Florida property to HPD ...>>
I then made up a little reflection on a possible visit to your Florida place, replete only with Zulu innuendo (see my Yahoo post #11255 at:
messages.yahoo.com@m2.yahoo.com.
You replied indirectly, through Aleta (Yahoo # 11258)
<<Aleta, since this post is directed to you, please kindly alert HIGHPLANESDRIFTER, your Yahoo, now SI, soulmate, that real and beautiful people on earth live in homes such as he described, and in less even. That they are also free and happy away from the garbage of his wretched descriptions. Is he a distortionist, intentional or otherwise? Perhaps his children will inhabit a "trailer" some day, or maybe mine or yours will become homeless. Maybe then he'll answer better, with no nemisis in mind.
And also inform him that he cannot write about credibility, integrity and/or the consciousness of others writing as he has, poet or not. You see, conscience gives forth no license. Perhaps he'll read this, understand it and you won't have to tell nothin'. Whether you would, could or not? I'll never know. But I suspect he knows by now.>>
The Mystery
That little non sequitur diatribe (look up the exact meaning!) was apparently triggered by my use of the ordinary English word "trailer" ! What it was about that word or the context of its use that set you off is a mystery to me.
A Little Cultural Context
Now,up here, the word trailer is not a value-laden word. I can not speak for things in your environment or experience. But up here, they are things pulled behind cars when you go on a trip to see nature. If we get humourous about trailers, we say things like:
Q. Why is your trailer parked way over there in the field?
A. To keep tornados away from the house!
In short, they are sometimes (but not always) inexpensive and temporary accommodation (hot button: - like Zulu).
When I used a trailer as a prop in my allegory, I did not intend to import by inference the unfortunate lives of those "real and beautiful people" to whom you referred, and frankly, I don't know how you brought them in. If I use the word "street" , does that import the dreadful subsistence which some people endure "in the streets"? I won't parse your words further, as their origin is a mystery to me.
The Permission
But let's talk about words. I personally take no offence in words, for myself or for others. You may use any word you wish in a word discussion with me. That is the essence of debating! And it's not that I have a thick or a thin skin, but rather simply that as far as I am concerned, my skin, my sensitivity to words is not an issue in a debate.
When you are debating with me, you have permission to use any words you wish to describe me, or even my ancestors if you are so moved! You may compare me to any of the enlightened saints or dark villains of history or fable. For you, I will gladly don the mantle of Joan of Arc, don Juan (please!), don Quixote, Aristotle, Mephistopheles, Hitler, Mr. Saddam or Mother Theresa, although somehow I don't think you see me as the latter (Jon Tara is our Mother Theresa).
The old adage applies to me in spades: "Sticks and stones etc" Look what it tries to teach. That in WORDS alone there is no harm, but in ACTIONS there is certainly that possibility. Is there a grey area? Of course.
The Exception
If words are an incitement to harmful actions, that is quite a different issue. This is the realm of the demagogue, the fomentor, the person with the power to command obedience. Here however, we use words to make intellectual points, not incitements to action.
Now you may argue that naysayers incite people not to purchase a security, but step carefully if you do! Because I will then respond that positive interpretation invites people to purchase a security, an even more dangerous activity with greater peril of real harm. If I am a negativist, which I deny, the only thing my followers lose is the opportunity cost of the investment they didn't make - the kids can still eat.
The Game
Party, you seem to play a little chess, perhaps even down by the river or at a shaded outdoor cafe. But wherever you play, chess is a vicious "game" of pure mental domination, as boxing is its equivalent on the physical side. Happily, when the chess game has ended, and a victor and vanquished have been declared, the combatants can stroll off together and share a Guinness!
So too with debating. We spar with words. I thrust, you parry, at least according to the model you purport to follow. I do not take my dictionary and cross off certain words as being politically, morally, ethically , sexually or religiously taboo. (Alas, Yahoo takes a different view, which can lead to action, but I believe that is a wrong-headed attempt at censorship ... I believe that you agree with this view)
Indeed, simple people like Q-Dog, Loser and others gain little credence with their crude use of the language. Given that the judges of a debate are not those engaged in it but those who listen to it, the jury of our peers makes short shrift of those whose use of the language is found wanting. In that context, I suggest that few others took offense, that is personal umbrage, at my use of the T word.
Certainly, they may have cast their votes away from wearisome negativity, but that is the nature of the contest. So grab your Webster's, while I my Oxford, and let the debate rage without acrimony!
For instance - Trailer: n. Unsolicited little film clip that precedes the film you came to see.
The Correction
As concerns Aleta, we have shared only information, but have not compared souls. It is therefore inaccurate (but not offensive to me!) to call us soulmates!
|
