Klarinet Archive - Posting 001538.txt from 1998/04

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [klarinet] Ad hominem attacks are not appreciated
Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 16:16:43 -0400

On Mon, 27 Apr 1998, Jonathan Cohler wrote:
> All of these are examples of highly inappropriate ad-hominem attacks.

No....I am sorry, but they were not. They were in response to your
attacks on others......several of them were. I simply was trying to put
your comments in perspective. They were also reactive - that is, in
response to your comments. Your approach is to bully and to intimidate.
I just don't appreciate being bullied and intimidated.....

> And, in short, they were ALL recently authored by you, Roger. Please
> desist from this annoying harassment of the list, and limit your remarks to
> discussion of issues, facts and opinions, and NOT personal attacks against
> the many individuals who dare to take issue with some of your positions.

Contrary to what you may or may not believe Jonathan, and I say this for
all.....your extraordinary CD's do not give you the right to order people
around on this list. That you do is indicative of someone who is unable
to consider a position other than your own. I have said before your
approach toward others' opinions is simply one of intimidation.....or
bullying tactics. It sets a bad example for students who read the list,
and it makes others look bad. Your naming a personnel manager and then
boasting about angering him was most distasteful......something I cannot
even conceive of doing.......and this is only one example of the many
things you say and do. It is sad that a person with the high profile you
have must feel the need to put others down so quickly and without caring
about who they are and what they think.....regardless of their opinions.

I do not harrass.....I speak the honest truth. If you have difficulty
reading it.....I feel sorry for you.

Dan Leeson argues his points with grace and style......he sets the example
you might want to follow.

To the list:
My comments here are quite strong - and I am aware that they are negative
in a way as to seem contradictory to what I have explained to Jonathan
as appropriate or inappropriate. However, while it would be politically
correct to keep it private, where Jonathan Cohler is concerned, it would
only result in his continued attacks and sensationalized statements.

Jonathan may have the last word on this as I will not respond to this
specific issue again. Let me close with one last thought - a quote my
first principal of my first teaching job passed on to me when I spoke with
him regarding a story in the student newspaper about another
student.....that someone should stand up to the person who was using the
media poorly. he told me:

"Roger, it doesn't do any good to get in a piss fight with a skunk."

Roger Garrett
IWU

---------------------------------------------------------------------
For additional commands, e-mail: klarinet-help@-----.org
For other problems, e-mail: klarinet-owner@-----.org