Klarinet Archive - Posting 001033.txt from 1998/12

From: LeliaLoban@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Opinions and Arguments
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1998 08:43:55 -0500

In list #854, Donna Corbitt wrote,
>Back to Scott:
>You have toooo much time on your hand.... or need something besides a
keyboard or a clarinet to fill (feel) it.......
>You seem to NEVER let things go.....
>So I am going to.....
>YOU enjoy listening to yourself..... How could you ever measure up to
yourself?>

IMHO, that's about as nasty as anything anybody else has said, but in
addition, as Scott politely and humorously pointed out later, she completely
misrepresented what he had said, by attributing a quotation to him that
actually came from someone else's message. (Evidently Donna confused a
quotation Scott used with the part of the message he wrote.)

In list #857, after Scott tried to correct the goof, Donna Corbitt responded,
>>Tony or Scott.... which ever one....... It becomes all bundled up as the
smears keep going on and on...........etc...>>

Since when does it not matter who says what? I think it does matter, because
what Scott Morrow actually wrote, in list #853 (in response to the ongoing
thread) was this:

>>>Gentlemen,

>>>If the whole point of this thread unfolding was truly to forgive and
forget, this is a petty way of doing it!

>>>I've been watching this little "comedy of errors" unfold, and it is
escalating to World War Vandoren III, all under the civility of "No hard
feelings, but..."!

>>>I've never approved of people on the list asking for a thread to be dropped
(I prefer to see them just unravel on their own!), but I implore you both this
time to please just stand back before someone gets hurt!>>>

In other words, Donna, you attacked a peacemaker who wrote some common sense!
The reason it matters is that these postings end up in the Archives.
Depending on the search words used, someone might happen on part of this
thread but not read all of it, or might become confused, as you did, about who
said what. Scott's reputation could end up damaged as a result. People might
assume things about him that would taint their reading of his other messages.
That's just not fair.

We're not having a private conversation here. We're in public, where it's
important to quote and attribute correctly. IMHO it's also worthwhile to take
a time-out before sending an intemperately-worded message that might prove
embarrassing later.

Lelia

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