<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Punki:
...What can we as individuals (and it is only as individuals that we can so act) do to make certain that all of our decisions are based on our own knowledge and experience, independent of the (often) unsubstantiated experieinces/opinions of others... </font>
Punki , part of one's "own knowledge and experience"
IS in fact the testimony of trusted and trustworthy friends. To ignore those opinions or discount them as not being as good as "our own knowledge" is simply not possible (epistemologically speaking) nor wise in terms of common-sense. I "know" many things from the testimony and experience of others and am very glad
not to have to have "first-hand" experience of those things. If you take your argument to its logical conclusion, then no one can know anything unless she/he has directly experienced it. Both you and I have
lots of knowledge based on the experience of others -- thankfully! (E.g., I don't have to personally experience the evil of sexual abuse -- or pick a less freighted category if you prefer -- to
know without a doubt just as much as if I had personally experienced it that it is wrong and bad. Why? Because folks whose testimony I trust tell me that it is so.) We don't rear our children with the understanding that they have to experience
everything directly and for themselves! I
know that if they run out in traffic they'll get hurt, and my experience and testimony to them does and
should become part of their knowledge. The principle is no different in the case before us.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> To agree with our friends, to go along with the generally accepted position, is human nature and easy, whether those opinions/positions be positive or negative. If Rudi tells me that someone is a very good guy, I am inclined to like that person even before I meet them. If svpii tells me that someone she met is a jerk, I might subconsciously put up my guard when I meet that person. ...To remain objective and examine, to investigate, listen and make up one's own mind based on the facts that one truly knows and understands (not what one has heard) is very hard.
Part of "the facts" are what indeed you've heard from people like
Rudi and
svpii Has your experience been that they are generally trustworthy and accurate in their perceptions of things based on their experiences? Then that
should weigh into your assessments and not to take their opinions into account would be negligent.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by wharvey:
...I - for one - had no preconceived notions about OZStamps when I joined this board last year (right around the same time OZ did). </font>
Same here.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> No one told me anything about him. My opinions were initially formed around his online behaviors and "actions...
Same here -- and watching as he indeed hurt those whose opinions and character I came to trust.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by FewMiles:
So what do you call clear evidence? I saw (and still see) plenty. I don't care how nice he is in person - at times, he was absolutely horrible on the FT boards. One's behaviour online and in person both reflect on one's character (or lack thereof, in some cases).... His actions here harmed a lot of people.... </font>
Again, I agree on all the above counts.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by nathan detroit:
Let it go. And in the spirit of the season, God bless one and all....And SHE does!</font>
Good advice indeed. And I shall now do so unless and to the extent that character-less and harmful behavior to a community and persons we all care continues to be explained away at the expense of those who have been hurt most directly and the community itself.
IMHO.
(edited for spelling and clarity)
[This message has been edited by cblaisd (edited 12-14-2001).]