I love conflict, but not mean-spirited conflict.

"It's good to look for trouble. It is honest work."

Aye. I never meant to say that probing in an way potentially disturbing to the probee was a bad thing. It's always interesting to throw a firecracker into a lake to see what comes floating up. (figuratively, of course.) As long as the prober is looking for something. If you're being silly and asking questions with no meaning or purpose, then it's irritating. If you're being angry and openly insulting someone with little reason to back up the onslaught, then it's hateful. Both are destructive and detrimental to this forum. Open discourse is not. Most everyone here means well. And I do see where Aurino is coming from, to a certain extent. But you've got to keep calm. Saying to someone "You know, you've really got to stop doing that." Is a far cry from "Who the hell do you think you are? I'm not even going to bother reading your posts anymore." That is, conflict with the intention to improve or have fun is one thing, conflict with the intention to destroy is another.

• I agree good manners are important - quiet - February 3, 2002 - 07:03 UTC
  • Depends - stormcrow - February 3, 2002 - 07:20 UTC
    • Hairsplitting -- pretentious or honest, did you mean - quiet - February 3, 2002 - 08:40 UTC