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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Declan on February 16, 2007, at 2:02:35
I was impressed to see he said that if John Howard really wanted to 'stay the course' in Iraq he could send 20,000 extra Australian soldiers to help out.
That must be why Howard attacked him.
Posted by Declan on February 16, 2007, at 20:00:48
In reply to Barak Obama, posted by Declan on February 16, 2007, at 2:02:35
Howard said the Democrats were the party of choice for al-Quaeda.
This is the standard of politics in this neck of the woods.
Nothing new there, I guess.
Posted by yxibow on February 17, 2007, at 3:28:51
In reply to Re: Barak Obama, posted by Declan on February 16, 2007, at 20:00:48
> Howard said the Democrats were the party of choice for al-Quaeda.
>
> This is the standard of politics in this neck of the woods.
>
> Nothing new there, I guess.Well, Howard is one of the most reactionary politicians in Western Commonwealth countries, so its not surprising of his gaffes.
Posted by Dr. Bob on February 24, 2007, at 8:07:29
In reply to Re: Barak Obama, posted by Declan on February 16, 2007, at 20:00:48
> Howard said the Democrats were the party of choice for al-Quaeda.
Please be sensitive to the feelings of others (such as Democrats). Even if you're quoting someone else.
But please don't take this personally, either, this doesn't mean I don't like you or think you're a bad person.
If you or others have questions about this or about posting policies in general, or are interested in alternative ways of expressing yourself, please first see the FAQ:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#civil
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#enforceFollow-ups regarding these issues should be redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration. They, as well as replies to the above post, should of course themselves be civil.
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by fayeroe on February 24, 2007, at 18:24:11
In reply to Barak Obama, posted by Declan on February 16, 2007, at 2:02:35
> I was impressed to see he said that if John Howard really wanted to 'stay the course' in Iraq he could send 20,000 extra Australian soldiers to help out.
>
> That must be why Howard attacked him.17,000 stood in rain to hear Obama here in Austin yesterday.......
Posted by Declan on February 24, 2007, at 18:58:48
In reply to Re: Barak Obama, posted by fayeroe on February 24, 2007, at 18:24:11
I'd stand in the rain to see him too, of course.
Posted by Declan on February 24, 2007, at 19:01:46
In reply to Re: please be sensitive » Declan, posted by Dr. Bob on February 24, 2007, at 8:07:29
I'm sorry our PM has been uncivil about the Democrats.
It's not very nice is it?
We've had 10 years of it, but I get the sense that people in the USA have had a lot more of this sort of thing.
Posted by caraher on March 2, 2007, at 7:02:04
In reply to Re: please be sensitive » Dr. Bob, posted by Declan on February 24, 2007, at 19:01:46
The idea that any Democrat would interpret Declan's quote of Howard as anything but an indictment of Howard is makes me laugh.
I rarely visit the politics board because it appears civility/sensitivity as locally defined and even the most innocent of substantive commentary are incompatible...
Posted by 10derHeart on March 2, 2007, at 12:17:00
In reply to Re: please be sensitive, posted by caraher on March 2, 2007, at 7:02:04
> The idea that any Democrat would interpret Declan's quote of Howard as anything but an indictment of Howard is makes me laugh.
I don't think that was the concern behind the PBS. Part of the civility rules includes not posting statements that could lead others to feel accused or put down, *even if you're quoting someone else.* That's why Dr. Bob included that phrase, and his warning centered on "sensitivity." The potential insensitivity was in posting the quote from Mr. Howard *at all,* not because Democrats would see Declan as agreeing with the statement and feel put down.
I think of it as sort of an abundance of caution so the most sensitive reader will not have to come upon potentially negative/upsetting quotes, no matter the context?
Not that that changes your view of how tough it can be to write posts on this board, and how it can feel far too restrictive. I understand and in some instances, agree :-)
Just thought I'd point out a distinction in which aspect of the guidelines I think Dr. Bob used here.
Posted by Declan on March 2, 2007, at 15:07:49
In reply to Re: please be sensitive » caraher, posted by 10derHeart on March 2, 2007, at 12:17:00
I apologise.
It was wilfulness that lead me to post Mr Howard's statement in the first place, and which then led me to misconstrue the civility rules as applying to Mr Howard, rather than me.
No one expects Mr Howard to be civil.
See, there I go again.
Posted by Declan on March 2, 2007, at 15:38:37
In reply to Re: please be sensitive, posted by caraher on March 2, 2007, at 7:02:04
It's good to have you here to talk to.
Now I can write ironic posts to you as well as to myself.
The Politics Board may be slow, but is useful in learning how to express yourself.
Posted by Declan on March 3, 2007, at 21:45:24
In reply to Anger hath a privilege, posted by Declan on March 2, 2007, at 15:07:49
Of course I was wrong.
Mr Howard is reliably civil (and it is reported actually affable).
It is however uncivil to mention the qualities he lacks.The reason for the attack on Mr Obama was to distract attention from Mr Rudd on climate change.
Posted by caraher on March 4, 2007, at 0:48:35
In reply to Re: please be sensitive » caraher, posted by 10derHeart on March 2, 2007, at 12:17:00
> I don't think that was the concern behind the PBS. Part of the civility rules includes not posting statements that could lead others to feel accused or put down, *even if you're quoting someone else.* That's why Dr. Bob included that phrase, and his warning centered on "sensitivity." The potential insensitivity was in posting the quote from Mr. Howard *at all,*
Now that I've had more time to reflect, I realize there's a deeper problem here. I think we're all guilty of taking it as a given that Al Quaeda approval is a *bad* thing. This might cause those sympathetic with them to feel put down. I hereby apologize to any radical Islamists for my insensitivity...
Posted by Declan on March 4, 2007, at 2:28:54
In reply to Re: please be sensitive, posted by caraher on March 4, 2007, at 0:48:35
Our Defence Minister relied on our amnesia by telling Australians that the fight against radical Islam was for this generation what the fight against Japan at the Kokoda Trail had been to the generation alive in WWII.
Unfortuantely for him there are people alive who remember that Australia faced an invasion.Maybe the strategy, such as it is, is that they believe themselves to be in a win-win situation?
Certainly the government here has not behaved with evenhandedness, and has an incentive to provoke the reaction from which it can draw proof that it was right all along.
In such ways the interests of the nation are subordinated to the narrowly political.
Posted by fayeroe on March 4, 2007, at 8:59:48
In reply to Re: please be sensitive » caraher, posted by Declan on March 2, 2007, at 15:38:37
i appreciate having anyone here to talk to......including the both of you.........however, i do think we have to be a lot more careful here than on other boards......that being said, i'll tell you something funny. i belong to PETA and my signature at another board said "don't be a dick, ban hunting"....i got into huge trouble over it because they thought i was dissing you know who...........who knows? perhaps i was........i'm a "retired" bird hunter myself.
Posted by Declan on March 5, 2007, at 2:36:47
In reply to Re: please be sensitive, posted by caraher on March 4, 2007, at 0:48:35
As you would be aware, a reason for the Islamist attacks on the USA is that the regimes of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan allowed rage directed at them to be redirected toward the US.
And unlike the western world with its tight-enough-media-control to win elections, some of these countries remember.I have no real idea why I'm writing this. One searches for like minded people to share some of this with.
This constant feeling that we are heading toward somewhere terrible.That seems to have entered the culture.
Posted by laima on March 21, 2007, at 23:05:33
In reply to Re: please be sensitive, posted by Declan on March 5, 2007, at 2:36:47
...is my top anti-depressant! He makes me feel excited and full of hope.
This is the end of the thread.
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