Calling the argument ridiculous, moved from MAIN

[Ceridwen]

Carol:
> Struggled to find the word "ridiculous"? why not simply say that you
> disagree, state the point that you disagree with, and explain why?

Ceridwen:
Hi, guys.  I hope I'm not crashing here!  You're both so nice and 
settled, and...  *sqinting*... are those eclairs on the table over 
there?

I'm not involved in the thread you're talking about, so I don't know 
how it's going.  Apparently, there seems to be an impasse.  Could it 
be semantic?  You're debating canon points, not ideas, right?  And we 
all know there are a lot of different interpretations of canon that 
can be found.  I suggested one a while ago, the Evil Weasleys.  It 
was all tongue-in-cheek, of course, but sufficient canon could be 
found to, IMO, support at least the raising of a question concerning 
this all-too-squeaky-clean red-headed league (with a wink to Sir 
ACDoyle).  So, canon points don't always, unless they're 
painstakingly pointed out within canon, lead to a single assumption 
or conclusion.

As far as Alla debating in the thread, she's debating as Alla, not as 
a list-elf.  Her views may not be shared by other elves, for one 
point.  For another, becoming an elf doesn't mean the elf has to give 
up posting as a member.  I think fewer people would become elves if 
that was the case!  I'm not even sure if elfy identifications are 
commonly known.  Of course, they can be, but that doesn't mean 
everyone has an interest in knowing who may or may not be an elf, so 
there will be people who don't look that information up.  Alla's 
posting won't necessarily encourage others to emulate her style is 
what I'm saying.

On the word 'ridiculous', I'd have to narrowly agree with Carol that 
it can be taken offensively, even if it isn't applied to the poster 
but to the argument.  We're all sort-of wedded to our arguments, 
unless we're playing Devil's Advocate, which some of us do at times.  
Even then, yes, a lot of time is put into crafting the argument.

HOWEVER!  Alla stated she looked for a better word to describe her 
impression, but couldn't come up with one.  At least, that's how I 
interpret "struggling to find the word".  Alla, correct me if I'm 
wrong!  'Ridiculous' was not the best word, IOW, but the only one 
Alla could access.  I really hate to use this argument, but I feel it 
does apply here.  Alla is English-Subsequent-Language.  Others of 
this sort - English not the first language, or different generational 
connotations of a word, or even different countries or even regions 
within one country, may view the word 'ridiculous' as somewhat 
innocuous and not as insulting in any way if not directly applied to 
the member but only to the argument.  The baggage of the word doesn't 
apply across the board.  I take umbrage at it (and I'm not sure any 
more if I'm spelling the character or the term which inspired her 
name!!!  Dictionary.com is our friend), but I know a lot of people 
don't see the nuances I see in it.  I'm older, I was raised by older 
parents, I read old books, I circulated in a certain set of people 
where the word was offensive while still being vaguely amusing.  I 
think Rowling may have circulated with the same sort of people, 
judging by her use for it (Ridiculus!).  Same with Umbridge/umbrage, 
and a few others which slip my mind at the moment.

Anyway, to make a long post longer, I think the nuances of the term 
are not universal.  I also think that maybe it's time to give that 
line of discussion a rest, but that's just me.  Everyone is getting 
something different from canon, as is often the case.

Ceridwen, speaking for myself only, but aptly aka "Vexxy Elf", since 
it's finals time and I'm sorely vex(x)ed over the mystifying logic 
behind exam scheduling!  Pass those eclairs and break out the 
firewhisky, please.