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Article 3640 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: smoliar@hilbert.iss.nus.sg (stephen smoliar)
Subject: Re: Robotic Follies
Message-ID: <1992Feb11.122413.5016@nuscc.nus.sg>
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Reply-To: smoliar@iss.nus.sg (stephen smoliar)
Organization: Institute of Systems Science, NUS, Singapore
References: <1992Feb6.164620.1368@oracorp.com> <1992Feb7.110004.8578@husc3.harvard.edu> <1992Feb10.205727.3829@aisb.ed.ac.uk>
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1992 12:24:13 GMT
Lines: 34

In article <1992Feb10.205727.3829@aisb.ed.ac.uk> jeff@aiai.ed.ac.uk (Jeff
Dalton) writes:
>
>(4) In many cases, the quality of the discussion would be improved
>if the participants had to do some reading rather than just respond
>to postings with whatever their views were at the moment.
>
This is a very good point, but it is also highly idealistic.  I think it is
important to acknowledge that not all subscribers bring the same level of
intensity of scholarship to any "serious" bulletin board.  (rec.music.classical
ranges in content from discussions of music theory which may ultimately find
their way into the published literature through first-hand experiences of both
performance and composition all the way down to incessant requests for a good
recording of CARMINA BURANA.  It takes all kinds to make that world.)  It is
also a sad truth that not all subscribers have access to a well-endowed
library.  Just because they lack the resources to do the necessary homework,
should they be attacked for trying to contribute?  Well, if they approach a
subject from a position of extreme naivete, it would be a disservice NOT to
point out that they are out of their depth;  but to rant on at excessive length
with no objective other than to humiliate the poor curious soul is, if nothing
else, bad manners.  Now perhaps good manners are not part of the Zeleny style.
Perhaps, like Menander, he believes that "The man who has never been flogged
has never been taught;"  so he figures that the sort of verbal flogging which
he performs with such relish is actually the ultimate tool of education.  On
the other hand, if he chose to simply ignore those who he has decided are
hopeless fools and devote his attention to those who CAN engage in profitable
dialog with him, not only would this arena become a somewhat more peaceful
place but also his credibility among all observers might go up a few points.
Here endeth the brief sermon on rhetorical fire.
-- 
Stephen W. Smoliar; Institute of Systems Science
National University of Singapore; Heng Mui Keng Terrace
Kent Ridge, SINGAPORE 0511
Internet:  smoliar@iss.nus.sg


