Sir Percy ---
I have said before that I do not wish to play defence lawyer to anyone. I am not playing devil's advocate either. But frankly I find this picking on Lisa to be offensive and whilst Dr E puts it in terms that make it appear to be an offer to discuss, I think this is sophistry and against his own 'personal attack' rules. In spirit, if not in black-letter.
Sir Percy and I usually find some way to morph an agreeable gesture into a contest.
So I am shocked to have to depart from our comradely tradition.
( I really admire this Sir Percy "person/identity/scribe", even though we've never "met...")
Which brings me to my point of agreement with S.P.
I just do not get the "personal" attacks basis of Dr. Evil's philosophy of manners. Originally it was about not making generalizations and using grammatical devices to exempt one's remarks from banning. The easiest trick is to quote someone and express your personal ambiguity about the point the quote makes.... (Dr. E. ..... you taught me this tactic! :wink: )
Though I admire Dr. Evil's idealistic intentions to create a web "salon" where civility still matters, it all breaks down in this postmodern arena.
Problem is, the web is not a civil neighborhood where real people know their neighbors.
America has not been like that for about 50 years now...
So, in a space where no one knows their neighbor, how can anything be "personal?"
But, now, here's my trick of rhetoric.....
If
Sir Percy finds
Dr. E's "picking on"
Lisa to be offensive....
where among all the words-on-a-screen is the victim .... really?
How can you actually assault a textual impression of an apparition?
If you are reading this, you are looking at phosphorous dots on a screen
assembled to project a "voice..."
You cannot assault an on-screen "voice."
(And, if feminists get their way soon, cyber-hate-speech will be outlawed, count on it! Already two hostile and intimidating e-mails sent from person-to-person can be legally construed as "cyber-stalking!)
You can express any logical or emotional like or dislike of the inscribed person-on-a-screen.
That is not the same as making a physical gesture of affection or hostility.
I am going to have to write a post about "signs and meanings...."
It's time for SYG to consider semiotics....