Posted by Larry Hoover on May 11, 2006, at 11:42:19
In reply to Re: thanks for getting back to that (nm), posted by Dr. Bob on May 11, 2006, at 3:56:09
Dr. Bob, I want you to know that I stand behind your intent 100%. What separates us is not ill will. It is, I surmise, a separateness of comprehension, at its root level. Of all the things I've ever tried to understand, outside of my own existence, this construct you have called civility has occupied me more than any other thing, ever. And it's not because civility itself is incomprehensible to me. It occupies me because of the differentness itself, this separateness of comprehension. If only we could, if only I could, find a common understanding, all the rest would simply fall into place. And we could each attend to other things.
The inherent imbalance in power between us only complicates things. When posters draw attention to your power, I do hope that you appreciate the symbolic and pragmatic inequality that permeates all discourse. When people pose questions to you, replying with a question is perhaps the very worst thing you could do. Your guidance, your leadership, are inseparable from the power you wield. Clarity is what eludes me. I would not question your exercise of power, if I understood it.
Unintended consequences are neither irrelevant, nor unavoidable. However, if they were avoided, they would no longer have relevance. Placing sole responsibility on the poster is not a good exercise of leadership. There is a pattern in these unintended consequences, and changes in management also influence incidence of these consequences. An unintended consequence of your management structure is that it all falls on you.
I am sorry that I made that so very clear, Dr. Bob. I regret treating you as if you were not a person, like myself. I regret treating you as if you were nothing more than a caricature, just another Internet personna. The impending Babblefest gathering in Toronto showed me that I had two versions of you in my mind and heart. One was an illusion, a cardboard cutout to fire verbal darts towards, a blow up doll to figuratively punch. I spoke here to that illusory version. I expect to meet the real one, soon. I'm sorry that I ever forgot that they are one and the same. I'm sorry, Dr. Bob.
Humbly,
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:614568
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20060412/msgs/642601.html