CompuServe Messages

<<I have also been somewhat amazed that people continue to offer you support in spite of your rudeness. I've certainly not gone out of my way to comment except when I think other people might benefit from seeing what I write to you.>> In any event, the help has been wonderful, and I am sincerely appreciative. << Not to belabor the point, but using a denigratory descriptive term for someone's freely offered advice is insulting.>> Advice is usually something that is of assistance. You are missing the key point and that is that I was not offered advice nor help. I was immediately slammed, inferred that I was a liar, challenged that perhaps I lacked a basic grasp of math, and in an intellectual sense: beaten up. I was not asked reasonably questions nor were facts of any apparent concern. Now, if THAT sort of thing is advice, I don't need any of it. To refresh your memory: I mentioned in one despirate posting that about 25% of our disks failed a verification test. In another posting I mentioned that about 8% of our disks failed to validate. What I got back was an attack that inferred that perhaps I didn't have a problem other than my inability to keep facts straight. This is neither help nor advice. Had it been help or advice, I would have reacted differently. The term that you seem to be simultaneously ignorant of and find so offensive ("Chicken Shit") is the only one that I know of that describes that particular type of slam. <If indeed "… it is the only phrase that I know of that describes the particular activity…" then can I suggest you spend some time/effort on improving your knowledge of the language?>> This is, again, a fine trite pot shot. As I mentioned, I know of no other phrase that describes the particular tactic used and being debated here. Your haughty attitude would indicate that perhaps there is another substitute phrase that I am unaware of. Perhaps it is beneath your dignity to enlighten me as to what term I should use since you offer none despite my asking for one. I spend a considerable amount of effort to improve my knowledge of the language and my vocabulary is above average despite my poor spelling. (Which is perhaps related to my difficulty remembering names.) <<I actually happen to agree that "chicken shit" is not a profanity, since it does not malign a deity. It is an obscenity, which is also discouraged by the rules of the forum and the online service, as well as polite company.>> This is an interesting intellectual point you have made. It is one of a very large number of common topics that I agree is inappropriate for polite company, in the formal sense. One does not discuss burps, one does not touch a napkin at a table until food is served, and one would not discuss "chicken shit" in polite company. But then, the rules for such polite company are very historical and clear while not being entirely logical. (Well, mostly not logical, things like never allowing the sharp edge of a knife to be placed on a plate in the direction facing across the table have some logic if you go back a few hundred years.) This is not "polite company" in the sense that you attempt to taise the conversation up to. This is a ordinary, every day, working conversation forum. In this forum we do vent frustrations about poor vendors and we seem to be ready to control and condem others, something that would not be proper in "polite company" no matter how graciously stated. I have not called any person a profane name. As far towards an insult that I have laid upon anybody has been suggesting that they had a demonstrated skill sufficient to administer drivers license tests. Granted, this is a rather biting remark, and it is one that has more edge than my normal comments. But again, I ask for perspective: I *clearly* indicated that I faced a serious problem and virtually begged for advice and assistance. While many people did respond and offered a great degree of help, in one case an individual offered no help, no suggestions, and nothing of value. What I receoved was an unprompted, uncalled for, and inappropriate attack. Maybe I just looked like a "newbie" who was easy pickings, bullies like that. I honestly don't know, but I certainly did nothing to prompt this outrageous reply. Back to your final point that "chicken shit" is an obscenity. I think that had I used an expletive by itself, or as an adjetive or adverb you would be correct. There would be so many other ways to express the concept that the use of a repugnant obscenity would just be uncalled for in a semi-public on-line forum. The problem here is that this is a phrase with its own meaning, with respect to tactics. It is a commonly used phrase, it is well understood, it is efficient, and it transcends the meaning of either word, since it has about at much to do with foul as it does with manure. I know of no other phrase to use to describe a "chicken shit" tactic and you have not suggested one that is commonly accepted, either. So, the use of the phrase is appropriate. You will certainly recall that when I was attacked, I stated that it was a "chicken shit" tactic that was not productive nor appreciated. I was not calling a name. Of course it is possible that political correctness has encroached as far as this. If in the making for the Pocahantus (sp) cartoon we can overlook the fact that she was only 11 years old so any romantic relationship with Mr. Smith was, er, either unlikely or irregular, then we can also overlook the fact that things for the settlers was so bad that they had to resort to canibalism. Finland, the normally open country towards thoughts, did, after all, banish "Snow White" because what possibly legitimate reason could a beautiful young woman have living WITH seven men? To recap–and I'll try to play fair here–you seem to be taking the side that it is better to ignore the results and actions and only look at the appearances and window dressing. While I disagree with this as being good, if it is your position then I'll at least understand your position even if I disagree. If I am correct (and I am not meaning to fuel the fire(*) on this one) then you will end up with a world that is far more pleasing to live in by a very narrow definition of pleasing. You will also follow the path of destruction that many empires have followed when the important things (like food and productivity) are discarded as "dirty". Footnote: (*) The expression "fuel the fire" refers here to neither arson nor gasolene. It is another example of an expression that has transcended the individual words, but not so far that the original meaning is entirely lost–just irrelivant. I do hope that you can understand this important point and not play "chicken shit" with me;-)