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- Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
- Path: sparky!uunet!paladin.american.edu!auvm!SICS.SE!TORKEL
- Message-ID: <9212221537.AA07853@lludd.sics.se>
- Newsgroups: bit.listserv.words-l
- Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 16:37:09 +0100
- Sender: English Language Discussion Group <WORDS-L@uga.cc.uga.edu>
- From: torkel@SICS.SE
- Subject: Re: Deep beliefs
- Comments: To: English Language Discussion Group <WORDS-L@uga.cc.uga.edu>
- In-Reply-To: Your message of Tue,
- 22 Dec 92 04:14:39 -0800. <9212221522.AA19760@sics.se>
- Lines: 23
-
- >Why? What difference would it make? You obviously attach a meaning to
- >the word respect that I don't.
-
- I do indeed find it a bit odd to say that one respects that which
- one holds in contempt. But this is of no great consequence, since you
- have now made it clear that what you object to is "mockery". So let us
- try to understand this specific objection to mockery, quite apart from
- the notion of respect. Your present comments
-
- >Seems to me, if you want to apprehend what is contained in even the most
- >repugnant of values, ideas, etc. so you can at least UNDERSTAND them,
- >(or is that not a worthy pursuit?) then you're not likely to get very
- >far if you mock them, least of all are you likely to affect the thinking
- >of the person whose ideas you find so contemptible. Surely this is all
- >common sense!!!???
-
- are really nothing to the point. First, there is still no explanation of
- why you object to mockery, but not to attacks and denigration. Surely
- everything you say about mockery being an obstacle to understanding etc
- could as well be said about attacks and denigration? Second, supposing I
- have formed an opinion of certain deeply held beliefs, which I believe
- I understand well enough, why should I abstain from mocking them, on your
- view?
-