Posted by zeugma on October 31, 2005, at 18:15:25
In reply to Re: the Ministry of Civility, posted by Dinah on October 31, 2005, at 7:20:58
> Often "truth" is subjective.
is it? 'subjective' is one of those words that get cloudy, and 'truth' is another, although the prospect of the latter alarms me more. i admit, truths slip away all too easily. but life isn't perfect.
>
> But moreover, nearly anything can be said on this board. It just requires a bit more creativity to say it civilly. Altogether I think it would be a much better world if that were a skill widely used. Apart from less practical reasons, it's also true that people are much more likely to be open to other points of view if their own is treated with respect.>>perhaps i lack creativity, though if you imply such it well may be true, subjectively or otherwise, but nonethelesss something unflattering about me and hence a putdown, thus 'uncivil' by your definition (forgive me if i am wrong). but we are slipping badly here, both you and i, because you said 'it's true that other people are likely to...' and how am i to construe if your 'truth' is subjective and hence perhaps idiosyncratic to you? and if 'truth' is a problem, is only subjective, then how do even more contentious words like 'respect' get parsed? is it respectful to a person to lie to her about important matters? but what is a lie if truth is subjective?
i hope i am showing respect to you by saying what i think is true. it is my best attempt.
this poem IMO is relevant:
Thus
lose the way
virtue remainslose virtue
humanity remainslose humanity
righteousness remainslose righteousness
ceremony remainsdoing ceremonies
faithfulness
at its thinnestall disorder's
origin-Lao-tzu, trans. William Higginson
-z
poster:zeugma
thread:573181
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20051013/msgs/573873.html