 |
 |
Dear list, In his long, passionatly argued response to my first posting on this subject, Bruce Anderson ended by requesting that I did not respond unless I felt the need to. At the time, despite the fact that not once did the posting address my main point, I felt no need to respond. The persistance of the thread has, however, changed my mind. The postings on the subject have fallen into two groups. The first has concentrated on the boxing issue, The second on the right of individuals to their own opinions. 1. Boxing I am actually in full agreement with the view that boxing is a terrible sport and should be banned. That viewpoint was a major part of the posting to which I was responding. However, in my opinion, the whole point of that posting was that this was cause for the PD community to disassociate itself from PWP who may have developed PD as a result of activities not approved of by the majority. My quarrel was with this PD related issue. I did not address my reply to the boxing issue as I did not see that my opinion as to the brutality or otherwise of boxing was relevent. Once we accept the principle of "culpable" PD we open Pandora's box. How many of us will be "2nd class PWP" before we get the lid back on, is anybodies guess. 2. Opinions It goes without saying that eveyone is entitled to their own opinions. That right relates to the individuals right to hold their own opinions. It in no way conferes the right to express opinions unchallenged. The opinions I now hold (and despite my shy,retiring nature I have a few) are not, in the main, those I held as a twenty year old. They are hopefully better informed today than they were back then, and they got that way, in part, by being tested against the opinions of others. If I express myself strongly on occassion, it is because I feel strongly. Despite this I am more than willing to change any opinion I hold if I can be shown where I am in error (as I say most of my opinions have changed in the past 27 yrs, so I have had lots of practice). If any posting of mine has frightened, brow beaten, or intimidated anyone on this list I appologies unreservedly. If, on occassion, I have "played the man" and not the ball, I will endevour not to do this in the future. But I fully intend to take issue with any published opinions on subjects about which I have strong contrary views. If this upsets anyone please feel free to let me know, publicly or privately. insult me if you must, call me names if it makes you feel better (as an ex army sergeant I doubt I'll hear anything new) but if you want to be constructive take issue with what I actually say. Don't just tell me I'm wrong, tell me why I'm wrong. That way we all can grow. Dennis. ++++++++++++++++++++ Dennis Greene 47/10 [log in to unmask] http://members.networx.net.au/~dennisg/ ++++++++++++++++++++