Re: OMG!

["Christopher D. Heer" <chris-heer.nospam@home.com.nospam>]

Roy and/or Janet Miller <millers@inetnebr.com> wrote in message
3AE48AFC.A3398DF2@inetnebr.com">news:3AE48AFC.A3398DF2@inetnebr.com...

> "Christopher D. Heer" wrote:

> > We all censor things all the time, individually.  Do you read
> > every magazine that arrives at your local Borders?  No?  Why?
> > Are you only interested in reading magazines that relate to
> > topics you like?

> Your second full question shows why you shouldn't killfile anyone
> Chris. While no one has the time to read everything that's
> published, there are frequently articles in magazines and
> journals that neither you nor I read, that can still be useful
> and interesting.

I do not disagree.  But you don't read them, do you?  Why?

Because time is limited.

> And while you might not like what QC wrote above, I
> would suggest that you can quickly see what he or anyone else
> is posting about and move on with little time lost,

I disagree.  Yes, one silly rant can easily be skipped.  Buckets of them
cannot.  I work very long hours, and spend almost all of my remaining time
with my family.  My time allocated to usenet is very, very small.

If I had seen QC post reasoned, intelligent posts, I'd discard a rant as an
isolated incident.  Instead I saw several posts, almost all attacking
"cturley" without much substance.  I therefore reasoned that my life would
likely be complete even if I never read another of his posts.

> and yet with still having the opportunity to
> see posts where he does make a valuable contribution. If you aren't
> interested in the legal, moral and ethical questions about
> violating copyright and/or patent law,

Not sure how you draw that inference.  I am very, very interested.  If he
makes serious, valuable posts on this subject, it hasn't been during the
past few months I've been lurking here.

> perhaps philosophy or mathematics are more up your aisle.
> He has posts on all of those subjects in the past.

I shall take your word for it; I don't claim to be an expert on who
contributes around here and who does not.

I have discovered, however, that the only way to keep usenet manageable is
to have an itchy trigger finger with the killfile.  I'd love to be more
granular, but that's really not feasable.

> Paul has killfiled not just QC but
> anyone who ever posts expressing strongly against his position
> in reference to piracy.

Which is certainly his right.  I would not killfile someone who disagreed
with me -- what fun is that?  I live for debate -- a bit too much, if you
ask my wife.  :)  But a combination of information and debate is what I want
out of usenet.  Not everyone may share that.  C'est la vie.


> > Do you watch Christian religious broadcasts or read Christian
periodicals?

> I know this might sound strange coming from me, but of the
> former, one or two a year, and of the latter, only three make it
> to my study - so much stuff, and so little worth spending my time on.

Precisely my point.

> > How about Jewish ones?  Muslim?  Do you only read the ones for your
> > particular faith?

> Personally, reading publications of those with whom I have profound
> disagreements is intellectually stimulating.

I agree whole-heartedly.  But how much do you actually get to read?  There
are some weeks I'm lucky to make it through InfoWorld or The Economist.  If
I was less busy, I'm sure my attitude would be different.
--
  Christopher D. Heer -- chris-heer.nospam@nospam.home.com
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