reminiscing...those wonderful Abanes days... NOT!

[Haggridd]

No: HPFGUIDX 23556

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Steve Vander Ark" <vderark at b...> wrote:
> Hey...
> 
> As I was reading the latest round of posts concerning the banning of 
> the religion topic, it occurred to me that those who weren't here 
> when Richard Abanes joined this group really should pause a minute 
> and consider. You have no idea what it was like.
>
. 
> He had come on the pretext of honest, open, debate, but quickly 
> demonstrated that he was only interested in using his gift of words 
> to antagonize and irritate and hurt and wound and maybe even show 
> these silly, misguided Harry Potter fans what idiots they are.  
>


It strikes me that there are two points that should be reinforced:

First, I sincerely believe that Abanes had no intention of engaging in 
debate for the purpose of arriving at a new conclusion or consensus.  
Neil is right on the money there.

Second, there are some topics that in my experience have NEVER le to a 
resolution by discussion.  The various parties' initial positions 
never do change.  This is one of them.  Abortion (at least as US 
discussions are conerned) is another. Capital punishment, perhaps, is 
on the list (I have changed my opinion about it recently, but not as a 
result of any argument.) Even had Abanes been honestly seeking an 
answer, I believe that the nature of the topic completely precluded 
any resolution.  Once one comes to that realization, staying away from 
dicussion of those fe topics is the sensible and adult thing to do.

  
> Now why do I say all this? You have to understand, those of you who 
> weren't part of that Dark Time, that those of us who were here then 
> DON'T WANT TO GO BACK THERE AGAIN.  

AMEN TO THAT, BROTHERS AND SISTERS!!

 
But I know our limits. Please accept that.


Haggridd