Klarinet Archive - Posting 000086.txt from 2003/07

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Anons
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2003 18:12:08 -0400

At 09:08 AM 7/2/2003 -0400, Erik Tkal wrote:
>At 08:46 AM 7/2/2003 -0400, Bill wrote:
>
> >One of the important factors used in evaluating an idea is consideration
> of the SOURCE of the idea. Anonymity makes evaluation MORE
> difficult. And if one does not have the moxie to back up his unpopular
> opinion, maybe he should keep it to himself?
>
>Hmm, on what grounds do you base this statement? If we are evaluating a
>statement or position, would it make a difference who has put said idea
>forth? I contend not, as that can often lead the observer to make
>judgments that are not based on the statement, but on the originator.

I recall seeing some quotations of otherwise reasonable-sounding ideas, but
the were quoted from Adolph Hitler's "Mein Kampf." Admittedly this is an
extreme example, but the source DOES matter.

>For example, the company I used to work for imposed a restrictions on
>resumes to *not* include a picture, and on passing around evaluation
>copies removed the name, because people tend to make evaluations based on
>the source, and knowing whether the person is male or female, or black,
>Asian or whatever, can lead to involuntary discrimination.

For good OR ILL, the source DOES matter.

>Having said that, let's look at evaluations. If several people are
>evaluating or commenting on something specific and one wishes to judge a
>position *compared* to others, *then* one might wish to know the source in
>order to take competency or domain knowledge into account.

I think this is applicable in this case. List members wanted to know where
to place the poster on the "credibility index" as compared to other listers.

Bill Hausmann

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

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