RE: friendly advice

WILL HOCHMAN (hochman@uscolo.edu)
Tue, 13 Jan 1998 09:02:23 -0700 (MST) 

flame wars are really unnecessary--though I first read this post as
parallel to farrakann's calling judiasm "a gutter religion" and felt sad
since trashing so many beautiful ideas seems to be wasteful...but remember
seymour's fascination with ash trays?  Faith and even holiness is in
rubbish as it is everywhere...like seymour, I find some of my best ideas
in ashtrays and garbage...bless rubbish everywhere, even on this list!
will

On Mon, 12 Jan 1998, Tim O'Connor wrote:

> 
> > Oriental rubbish? I realize this is the only time I have actually posted
> >to this list although
> > I have been receiving it for over a year on and off but I feel that it is
> >now necessary that I do.
> > I am a very devote reader of Salinger but I also happen to be Japanese. I
> >find it slightly
> > offensive that you refer to us as having 'yellow faces' and mocking my
> >culture as oriental
> > rubbish.
> 
> I would like to think that the message was meant to be tongue-in-cheek or
> highly ironic.  If not, I'd like to hear Scottie's explanation.  The list
> is, for many of us, an escape from an increasingly impersonal world.
> Abusive messages like this are not acceptable here.
> 
> Yet, at the same time:
> 
> > everyone is free to express themselves and their opinions but I see no
> >reason why
> > racism and culture bashing should be tolerated.
> 
> I distrust sentences like this after I reach the "but" part.
> 
> The answer to hateful speech (as has been said more eloquently than I can
> say it) is more speech.   You were right to challenge the message.
> However, there is more to be gained by arguing against "culture bashing"
> than there is in trying prevent the subject from reaching the list.
> 
> Anyhow, if this discussion gets too heated, please take it to private
> email.  We don't need the fight to be in public.
> 
> Xerxes, please accept my apology on behalf of the list community.  This is
> not a place for dismissing people or cultures callously.  I'd like to
> believe that it was a wry remark that didn't come out the way it was
> intended.
> 
> Cheers!
> 
> --tim o'connor
> 
> 
>