Klarinet Archive - Posting 001056.txt from 2000/02

From: Neil Leupold <leupold_1@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Opinions
Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 13:34:11 -0500

--- Daniel Leeson <leeson0@-----.net> wrote:

> What are you yelling at me for? I have said and continue to say that
> many people on this list give all sorts of opinions which have no basis
> in fact behind them. So if someone takes that idea and runs in a
> direction that you happen not to like, somehow that's my fault???
> Go figure.

Ah ha, playing the innocent. Careful Dan, or I might have Mark
dredge the database and pull up a few of the diatribes which have
issued forth from your keyboard over the years on the subject of
substantiating opinions with facts.

I'm kidding, of course, but besides, I'm not yelling at you or any-
body else. It just concerns me that those who are not normally in-
clined to ask a question or post a response will continue to remain
silent for fear of retribution or, worse, "looking dumb." People
are self-conscious, even in cyberspace (including me, believe it or
not) and we're a lesser forum of discussion when members of the list
instinctively suppress their input. Sitting in a class of MBA stu-
dents at a Big 10 university, I am still surprised at how timid and
reserved my classmates are when it comes time to debate an issue.
They're not stupid people. In fact, every one of them is quite bril-
liant, but there is this unspoken mantra -- more intimidating than a
gun pointed at one's head -- that one shall not utter a rebuttal if
there is the slightest risk of looking naive or impertinent in front
of their peers (not to mention the professor). The irony escapes no-
body that most of one's learning occurs through interaction with their
peers, and yet these extremely bright people continue to shoot them-
selves in the feet by remaining silent. Surely we can all see the
connection between this phenomenon and the dynamics of Klarinet.

I have to say, some of the most enjoyable times I've had on
the list have been when a young junior high or high school
student has asked about one of the fundamentals of playing,
and several people chimed back with all sorts of ideas and
viewpoints based on their personal experiences. There's no-
thing more inspiring than seeing a young player shooting for
excellence, asking questions, the answers to which could lead
them to the very heights of the music profession over time.
Yet the less experienced ones are the same people who cower
most fearfully at the keyboard, never knowing if it's "okay"
to ask their question about this reed or that ligature, or
darn it all, why doesn't my chalumeau c-sharp play in tune?
This isn't speculation on my part -- they've said so them-
selves publicly on the list.

And so, I disagree not only with the idea that all statements should
be based in fact or codified theory, but more so with the *assertion*
to that effect. We only stand to lose when such an attitude prevails.
Discussions might not be as focused or accurate as some of us would
like, but hey, I've seen some pretty silly and disjunct exchanges take
place between the most sophisticated and highly educated members of the
group. The inexperienced and timid do not have a corner on the absurdity
market.

We're mostly faceless fonts to each other on a computer screen, but
everybody is listening. The irrational paranoia that somebody will
think we're ignorant or irrelevant is as real on Klarinet as it is
in the corporeal world of tangibility. So, in my opinion, we should
take it easy on the pedantism and the restrictive viewpoints concern-
ing the appropriateness of any given submission to the list. Lest
we forget, there is a delete key on each of our keyboards, and that
is the only allowable arbiter (beyond Mark's discretion concerning
profane or needlessly disruptive rabble-rousers).

-- Neil
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