From: mlt@gdwb.oz.au (Mee Teng)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asean
Subject: Re: Racial Harmony: Where are we heading?
Date: 5 Nov 92 23:42:14 GMT

yewhan@tartarus.uwa.edu.au (Yew Han Hee) writes:

>Sinar Matahari (akm20474@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu) wrote:
>:    I have read many articles pertaining to this subject, but each time it 
>:    seems that there are no definitive answer. I saw a lot of flaming, blaming,
>:    twisting facts, finger pointing, bashing - many other bad things - and 
>:    once in a while worthy suggestions that went unnoticed.

>I agree with you, there are even cases where people trying to fight within
>themself (through words), just for a some trivial pleasure. Flaming,
>blaming, and all this negative actions will never solve the problems (if it
>is really exist), just will turn the bad to worse, and worse to worst!
>Some of the readers enjoy observing the discussion/argument, and when they
>find some issue they can make jokes of, just put in some comments, and 
>possibly, the other party will feel offensive, ..., it just create another
>battle instead of solving the original problem.

I appreciate both of your noble suggestions (no flame). Indeed this
world would be a better place to live in if everyone thinks along
the similar line (no flame).

Nevertheless this is far from an ideal world, ideal society.
We should therefore envisage people(s) of all sorts of characters,
mentality, etc. in this net too. Educated ? Intellectual ? may be.
But those do not necessary mould the temperament, the character etc
of a person. Knowledge does not prevent a person from committing
sins, neither will it change a person's sinful nature. On the 
other hand, knowledge can be misused even. Therefore, the fact that
most if not all the people in this net are learned (in a way at least)
does not really mean a lot, does not necessary mean that there will
be no flames, no offensive language will be used.

With your mind prepared for all these eventualities, you will not
feel totally shocked, dismayed when you enter into this net -
I would liken it as a parliamentary seating where they too
throw abuses & insults at each other. If we are not worst than
them I think we should be doing pretty well. For all who takes
things to hearts, who can't stand the intense heat created here 
at times, I suggest they should come with a fire-proof 
abestos cement underwear (or panties). :) (no flame)

Personally I think this net should be a place where everyone
can express his views or opinions freely without fear of 
being 'spied', or put under ISA. In this context, therefore
if a person feels so much hatred in his heart, or so much 
injustice being done to him, let him speak up, rather than
let him keep that in his heart, which may explode one day
anyway. For that matter, I am not against En. Othman
postings (he is way on top in Singapore for the number
of articles posted); to deny him of this 'pleasure' (could
be his only pressure relief valve), tantamount to asking him
to commit suicide, or he may run 'amok' & initiate a
massacre in NTU. :)   I think we should be mature enough to 
face up with postings like that. 

As to whether flames would make matters worse, I don't
think necessary so. It should make one more mature.
For example,I personally have nothing against En. Othman
or anyone in the net, neither do I think that our
flames would have any negative effects on the country.
Well, I may even call up En. Othman & say 'hello' to
him when I drop in Singapore next time. :)

cheers.

Newsgroups: soc.culture.asean