Re: qui s'excuse
Peggy F. Jean-Louis (pfj6868@is.nyu.edu)
Mon, 12 Jan 1998 16:58:38 -0500 (EST)
On Mon, 12 Jan 1998, Scottie Bowman wrote:
> If the ethos of a mailing list places the avoidance of offense
> above the wish to divert & engage then I'm obviously in the
> wrong place. I wonder would J.D. Salinger - or young master
> Caulfield - feel any more at home ?
>
I don't know why I always feel compelled to speak out on these issues of
offense on this mailing list but I do. In my opinion, yes, we should place
the avoidance of offense over "the wish to divert and engage" as you put
it. There are so many ways to provoke interesting discussion without
offending anyone. If it happens inadvertenly that someone is offended by
something you've said, is it so hard to apologize and try to avoid doing
it again?
As for your reference to J.D. Salinger, I can't recall ever reading
anything of his that can be deemed offensive. Although he is a product
of Western society, he is nothing but respectful, and even admiring, of
Eastern philosophy in his work.
Peggy