Posted by Jock on September 29, 2005 at 00:28:49 from 84.68.246.119 user Jock.
In Reply to: Re: Self discipline and Use of Language posted by Peter H on September 28, 2005 at 19:02:29:
Well, I will say this, Peter, you're certainly a man who likes to call a spade a spade. I see no reason to go into a private huddle over this. If Tarboard is to continue to develop its own distinctive house style it will be through open discussion. Ian E-N does a fantastic job in keeping Tarboard clean from spam, but how we choose to address each other is very much up to the rest of us.
I guess whether we consider version B to 'ring absolutely false' or be a 'tactful' expression of support depends very much on how we were brought up. I do find it interesting that you agree with A, but regard B as 'yukky home-spun philosophy', because the philosophy in each is absolutely identical! Consider again the key sentences:
a) I suggest that people who play everything seriously... are usually 'losers'.
b) For as long as we retain the ability to laugh at ourselves we can deal with most things that life throws at us.
Are they not saying the same thing? What differs is the emotional context, not the philosophy.
Two things make me uneasy about version A. The first is the style. You may find it robust. Other might consider it agressive. The second is the underlying logic. (You will recognize the words in brackets from your original post.)
X= 'not coping' (not published)
Y= 'taking things too seriously' (not taking things seriously)
Z= 'usually a loser'
If X then Y - sentence 2
If Y then Z - sentence 7)
If the above are true, then: If X then Z, is also true. The conclusion is softened a mite by the use of the qualification 'usually' ahead of 'losers'.
If I was at the receiving end of such a post I could not escape the conclusion that the poster's opinion of me was that I was a looser.
You said in your post 18759, Tarboard, for me, is a dignified and friendly refuge. Don't let's spoil it.
Hear, hear.