Klarinet Archive - Posting 000991.txt from 2000/12

From: rgarrett@-----.edu
Subj: Re: [kl] Statements of fact?
Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 06:44:43 -0500

Neil,

You don't come on too strong for many people. And keep in mind that
substance of what we say is valued and judged by those who have an interest
in what we are saying. In a world in which many survive by establishing a
pecking order, someone will always criticize another for what they have to
say - simply because it is the way they live - to pick on someone in order
to establish the pecking order. In human terms then (rather than using
roosters and chickens), they would be attempting to establish a position of
dominance or superiority over you. Most people on the list will see
through that kind of silliness.

In order to judge the "substance" of another person's posts, one would have
to define what the list is all about to begin with. Since the list can
only be about the collective interests of those who are
subscribed (probably having something to do with information pertaining
to the clarinet or related topics), some people may focus well on your
posts - both in terms of substance and in terms of intensity - and others
won't. But I don't think anyone would say your posts don't have careful
thought behind them, nor do I think a majority would say that the
information is not helpful in the detailed way in which you describe it -
quite the contrary. Certainly, your posts are as valuable to some on the
list as lengthy posts from others.

If you are confident in your postings, don't let someone else's petty
attitude about if you come on too strong for the substance of the post you
are making get in the way of what you are most interested in
saying. Substance to you is what is important - not to someone else. They
have a delete button - if they don't like it. Or, they can debate the
points you bring up. The little snipes don't seem to have much of a
purpose other than to establish the aforementioned pecking order.

Finally, I'm sure you have already considered that someone who says that
they very careful not to say things that aren't true always cause raised
eyebrows amongst the listeners. This is because, inevitably, the person
who states that will eventually say something that isn't true (or has
already said things that were untrue), and they will end up looking even
more foolish than if they had thought it out a bit more carefully to begin
with. Looking foolish isn't that bad I guess. But it reminds me of the
story of the snake that saw the tail of another snake and bit it - only to
find out it was his own. After he got over the pain - he bit it again, and
again, and again...........In the world of snakes, this would look very
foolish indeed!

Sincerely,
Roger Garrett

Roger Garrett
Professor of Clarinet
Director, Symphonic Winds
Advisor, IWU Recording Services
Illinois Wesleyan University
School of Music
Bloomington, IL 61702-2900
Phone: (309) 556-3268
Fax: (309) 556-3121

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