From: phil%miracle@merk.com (Phil Hill)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Please Stop.
Date: 6 Apr 92 23:27:54 GMT
Article-I.D.: miracle.06Apr92182754
Organization: Miracle Computer Consultants

michaelg@Xenon.Stanford.EDU (Michael Greenwald) writes:
>The style and content of the arguments here are getting out of hand.
>
>I don't mean to pick on Phil Hill, and I don't mean to defend Scott
>Tai (that is, some people here seem to believe that all beliefs are
>binary: either you are a Mensan or a Mensa-Basher.  So please don't
>take this post as a blanket endorsement of all Scott's positions, nor
>as a blanket condemnation of Phil Hill's.)  I'm picking one trivial
>point which is no worse than all the others that I've seen, and no
>more significant.  It just happens to be the proverbial straw.  
[Previous postings deleted]
>"I know what Mensa is like because I read this newsgroup" 
>
>does not seem to be a reasonable translation of 
>
>">>>If<<< the posters to this group are representative of MENSA as a
>whole, >>>than<<< I have undoubtedly gained some insight into this
>organization."
>
>I have emphasized "If" and "than" [sic].  Many people have used your
>interpretation of Scott's words to construct a straw man they then
>proceed to knock down.

I stand by my interpertation 100%.  I'll agree with you when you take
his quote out of context.  But in context, his first statment is that this
newsgroup is representative of Mensa as a whole.  His Second
statment is that if the posters are representive then he has gained
insight.  He can't have it both ways.  Either he knows about Mensa
or he doesn't.

>Come on.  The second clause of Scott Tai's statement might be false,
>(although, to nitpick, even if "the posters to this group are not
>representative of Mensa as a whole" it is possible that "[Scott] has
>gained some insight into [Mensa]", although the mechanism implied by
>his statement would not be the agent of his "gaining insight"), but
>here you are not arguing, you are just picking a fight.
>
>Maybe Scott started it, I don't know (read: "I don't care").  
>
>Other than by a liberal use of kill files, I can't legislate what you
>post [again, not to be taken personally by Phil and Scott - this just
>seems to be a general trend among several posters on this group], but
>it seems like the barroom rule should apply here.  If you aren't going
>to respond in a "civilized" way, (i.e. argument, rather than
>repetitive baiting), then maybe you should "step outside" (and "come
>back in friends"? to complete the cliche).
>
>There are no bouncers here, other than your conscience.  If I'm a
>minority opinion on this, then my post is way out of line, and I
>apologize.  Again, I don't mean to single out Phil Hill or Scott Tai. 

I for one am tired of Scott, and am not going to respond to his postings
in general.  (I will make an occasional exception!).  And I'd love to
"step outside" with Scott, even though I doubt that he would be
capable to "come back in friends".

- Phil 
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