Posted by Jack Boyd (167.206.58.39) on October 23, 1999 at 20:34:47:
Guess it is all a trade off. If we want to encourage a free exchange of ideas then we have to tolerate boorish, insensitive, posts without redeeming value - like many of mine.
The offensive posts usually kind of just hang out there in cyberspace for what they are and when we respond it sort of gives them more attention then they deserve.
The board can be a little self-censoring and doctrinaire and I wonder how many have refrained from posting what they believe out of fear of offending.
The Internet is really unique - where else can we get to vent, expound, ruminate, theorize, postulate, network, bond, try out our personal schtick, etc., etc., without actually meeting or seeing another soul.
Guess that is both the strength and the weakness of the cyber world. It ain't real or maybe it is a little too real - no distractions of the physical kind.
So I guess the challenge is too disagree respectfully and to call it the way we see it and at the same time encourage participation. Now that I think about it - seems pretty hopeless, but it is a lot of fun trying and this is an interesting bunch, that I am proud to be part of.