LOL ---- glad you came to your senses, amigo! ;)
Welcome back, indeed...
---------------ap
(Slippin' Back into Lurk Mode)
JIM DOHERTY <
jimdohertyjr@yahoo.com> wrote:
That's
not altogether an exaggeration. Since I dropped off the list,
I've had nearly 20 messages from Rare Birds asking me to come
back. And that's not counting Mario's who, as Listmaster, was
sort of obliged to make the effort, whether or not he wanted
to (though I flatter myself that he did want to).
I did not leave in anger or bitterness, but because I thought
that, unintentionally, I had become the cause of anger and
bitterness.
What finally convinced me to return was a recent message a
correspondent sent me in which he reproduced a recent, rather
heated thread between two members, in which, as near as I
could tell, the dispute boiled down to whether or not ERB's
John Carter of Mars novels were ever officially referred to
as "Martian Chronicles."
That persuaded me that I should't feel responsible if a small
number of people on the list have skins that are a trifle too
thin. That, in fact, maybe I was being just a tad arrogant by
assuming that it was all me.
I know that some of you probably assumed I'd be back
eventually, and, certainly, I didn't wish to leave. I thought
that, by leaving, I'd be helping the list, and that's the
only reason I went. And, firm in the coviction that I was
inadvertently causing anger in others, I intended to stay
away.
But, generally unaffected by flattery though I am, I'm not
immune to the blandishments of my legions of fans who
requested, nay demanded, my immediate return.
For the record, then, so there are no future
misunderstandings:
1) I have very firm opinions that, when challenged, I defend
with a tenacity that some find annoying. If you're one of
those who find it annoying, then the obvious solution is
don't challenge my opinions. It happens that I enjoy a
hard-fought debate and am usually ready to jump in with both
rhetorical fists swinging at the merest sign of disagreement.
If that's not your style, that's fine, but don't blame me if
it's mine.
That said, I have occasionally had my opinions changed by a
well-made argument. So if rough-and-ready debate IS your
style, there's always the chance, albeit a small one, that
you might just get me to concede.
2) The more over-the-top my message, the more likely I am to
be kidding. Hence, I don't really despise all academics (just
most of 'em), don't actually believe that it's my God-given
duty to persuade the entire world that I'm right about
absolutely everything (even though I AM right about
absolutely everything), and don't truly think that I'm as
infallible as the Pope
(I'm MORE infallible; he's only infallible about faith and
morality, and only when he speaks EX CATHEDRA).
Get the idea?
Having been forewarned, if you find an obvious attempt at
humor offensive, then, as another of my correspondents put
it, "Juck 'em if they can't fake a toke." You don't have to
find it funny. Humor, like beauty, is in the eye of the
beholder. But don't look for deliberately hurtful insults
where none are intended, 'cause I'm no longer going to take
responsibility for the anger of others.
3) I really DO know a lot about this stuff. That doesn't
necessarily make my OPINIONS about this stuff absolutely
correct, but it DOES make them well-informed. If my being
more widely read in the field than you intimidates you, or
seems to you like showing off, then, once more, I'm not going
to take responsibility for that.
That said, I HAVE been wrong on factual issues, and have
admitted it, with what I hope was gracious acknowledgement,
when it's been pointed out to me. If you think I'm wrong, and
you can back it up, don't be afraid to point it out. I'm not
afraid to 'fess up if I'm caught in an error.
4) Finally, for those of you who took the time to write and
ask me back, thank you very much. We all like to feel wanted,
and that's how you made me feel.
JIM DOHERTY
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