[pure-silver] Re: OT: Concerning Rudeness Was: Re: Re: NOW: Exposing paper was Re: POP with paper negs?
- From: Lloyd Erlick <lloyd@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 18 Dec 2004 11:29:18 -0500
dec1804 from Lloyd Erlick,
I wouldn't normally interject in such a discussion, but I have a theory to
expound. Also, I find this list particularly valuable, and I do not want to
see it descend. And speaking of particularly, both RS and PDS are, from my
point of view, on the level of primary sources.
I haven't been following the discussion, and I know nothing of it. The
following is worded (nuanced, hah!) as generically as I can manage:
My theory is that a very large proportion of the conflict we see keyboarded
over the Internet is due to the fact that one or both or all sides of the
'discussion' are speaking English-not-their-primary-language. All languages
have subtlety and nuance that are nearly impossible to learn as an
outsider, not least because they even differ geographically and socially
across native speakers. So it is nearly impossible for native English
speakers to reliably communicate even with each other, without emotional
'noise' taking place. It is even farther from possible for non-primary
users of English to successfully eliminate all unintended negative
connotation from their English writing. Where there is voice contact, or
even handwriting on paper, there is a basis to at least attempt to decipher
the intended emotional content. Keyboarding onscreen puts it down to words
only, and they are slippery words. I'm tempted to say English words are
especially slippery, but I really don't speak anything but English so I
can't compare. Still, as a lifelong English speaker who has paid attention
to it, and written, a lot, I find English very slippery indeed.
Mono-linguists like me should just be grateful the rest of the world chose
English!
The solution, in my opinion, is that one (everyone) must make a strong
conscious effort to resist a negative emotional reaction to anything
keyboarded over the Internet. Where a strong reaction is legitimately
called for, I believe one is entitled to it, as long as one has analyzed
the writing sufficiently to be sure that it is, in fact, legitimate. This
implies a measure of detachment even in situations of legitimate emotion.
The alternative is flying off the handle merely because many people have a
less than perfect skill level at English. I admit that I have flown off the
handle myself, more than once, merely from exposure to an instruction
booklet originating in any one of many countries ... (and if I changed that
to "any one of many foreign countries", are there people who would take
offense???) ... the level of this group has been higher than that.
regards,
--le
________________________________
Lloyd Erlick Portraits, Toronto.
voice: 416-686-0326
email: portrait@xxxxxxxxxxxx
net: www.heylloyd.com
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