Klarinet Archive - Posting 000185.txt from 1997/07

From: rteitelbaum@-----.com (Rob Teitelbaum)
Subj: RE: RE: Jerry Korten's Note on Improvisation
Date: Mon, 7 Jul 1997 02:40:40 -0400

I'm afraid I must disagree with Ted Lane's comments about posting
"private arguments" to the list, and agree with Neil Leupold's praise of
the all-powerful delete button. Ted, I read Jennifer Hall's post as
simply asking to change the subject, whereas you seemed to go on an
all-out (and, I think, uncalled-for) attack, specifically at Dan Leeson.
(If you really want the object of your flame to be anonymous, you might
make it a little less obvious who you're talking about. Comments like
"Monday...Europe will have its hands full..." tend to be a dead
giveaway.)

OK, I'll admit that when I'm arguing with another list member, I usually
choose to do it privately. But the operative word here is "choose." If
list members really want to have their arguments in public (maybe, heaven
forbid, because they want viewpoints other than their own to enter the
discussion), I really don't think it is the place of the list members to
try and supress them, so long as their discussion stays primarily
on-topic and completely within the bounds of common decency. If you don't
want to read it, fine--as Neil says, delete it. That's part of the reason
we have subject headings on e-mail. Yes, it's an imperfect system, but
all things considered we really do have one of the best lists in
cyberspace. I have friends on mailing lists for other instruments, and
their discussions are often flat, uninformative, and generally inferior
to the threads found here. (This is, of course, yet another testament to
the superiority of the clarinet over all other instruments, even the
kazoo.)

As for Dan, I have found his posts to be an insightful and welcome
addition to the Klarinet list. (I know it's really a welcome back, but I
wasn't on the list when he was previously, and I now see why some of the
more seasoned members were lamenting his absence.) I understand you see
him as pompous, Ted, and you've a right to your opinions. On the other
hand, you might consider that Dan is a well-respected clarinet scholar
who has perhaps earned the right to have his posts taken a bit more
seriously than--well, mine, for example. I guess what I'm trying to say
is that there is a fine line between informed discourse and pomposity,
and it's difficult to know where that line is demarcated, as a visit to
any college campus (yes, even mine) will sufficiently demonstrate. And
that is my $.03 worth.

Rob Teitelbaum
rteitelbaum@-----.com