Iain Coleman wrote:
No one on this list, or off it, is obliged to spend one iota of their
time
and energy engaging with you.
That's true.
In our recent exchanges you had managed to
achieve a more-or-less civilised email message.
Thank you.
Before I could reply,
though, I witnessed the latest in your contemptible little spat with
Steve
K. As it happens, Steve is (in no particular order): a good guy, my friend, and right.
I'm sure he is a good guy and a friend, but he is very wrong indeed.
Socialized ground-ape that I am, I tend to be dissuaded
from friendly conversation with someone when they deal shabbily with my friends.
Ah, but what happens when your friend deals shabbily with someone else? Do you turn away?
In your brief and sorry history on this mailing list, you have shown yourself to be deeply ill-informed about crucial issues in performance, analysis, literature and epistemology.
Is that right?
You have also demonstrated an
absolute unwillingness to learn,
I'm learning all the time, Iain.
an imperviousness to any suggestions that
your interpretations might be questionable or open to improvement,
I am always open to suggestions.
and a
deeply unpleasant personal manner.
Here we go again.
The result of this is that people are
increasingly unwilling to spend any time in discussion with you.
For example, I read your analysis of 'Spacefall' with interest, finding things
I agreed with, and things I would question.
Then please ask your questions.
If anyone else had written
that piece, I would have replied and perhaps we could have fruitfully discussed the issues. As it was you, however, there didn't seem to be
much
point.
You are very angry with me. I can see that, but don't let your anger blind you to what is really going on here.
It's a shame.
That's true.
When one strips away the arrogance, condescension and wilful
stupidity, your analyses of Gan's character and of the first two episodes are interesting, thought-provoking and could be valuable contributions.
Then I'm not stupid am I? Think about it. I'm sorry I hurt you and Steve, but you have to see the big picture. Do you think I am writing all these emails and putting all this effort in for fun? If it's not for fun, perhaps malice then? No, that's no the answer. So what does that leave Iain?
As
it is, though, your words will increasingly fall on deaf ears, as people give up on you in disgust. When this happens, you will doubtless
interpret
it as the cowardly untermenschen,
That is an interesting word. Untermenschen means "subhuman". It's a term the Nazis used. Hitler knew a lot about mind control. He once said, "I am not here to make man better. I am here to exploit his weaknesses." Don't confuse me with him, Iain.
beaten down by the force of your logic,
retreating into a cosy hive -- rather than the natural human reaction to
a
person who is self-righteous, nasty, and unable to admit to ever being wrong.
You are angry with me for attacking your friend. That tells me that you are a very good friend to Steve. A friend like you is a rare thing, and needs to be cherished. I hope Steve realises this.
Anyway, I doubt I'll bother replying to you again.
Please reply to me offsite.
Carry on the way you're
going, and soon you'll have the comfort of being left all alone in your little corner, free to declaim to yourself without fear that the echoes might challenge you.
I don't fear challenge, I want to be challenged. Don't let your anger at me stop you from arguing your points. You do that and everyone loses.
Jenny
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Jenny Kaye