Re: An observation

[thomst@netcom.com (Thom Stark)]

Perry Metzger writes:

> > Folks this is precisely what troubles me about the IAHC. Thom wrote a very
> > thoughtful post,
> 
> No, he wrote yet another comment to the effect that the IAHC has
> already decided everything in advance, etc. This is not thoughtful. It
> was not only counterfactual but also highly divisive.

Incorrect.

My comment observed that the wording of your statement APPEARED to
indicate that you were speaking on behalf of the IAHC, despite your
disclaimer.  It then went on to state that the content of your comment
gave the APPEARANCE that the IAHC was/is prepared to make no more than
cosmetic changes to the 12/19 draft.

You seem to have entirely missed the point.  Unfortunately, that
probably also means that you didn't bother to absorb the rest of my
comments, as well.  Those comments advised against a "bunker mentality"
--the very thing your response both above and below this inclusion
demonstrates.

Get this straight, Perry--I am NOT attacking you, the IAHC or anyone
else involved in this process.  I *did* point out that your choice of
phraseology undermines your repeated statements regarding:

  1. On whose behalf your posts are made

  2. The IAHC's openness to comment/criticism and flexibility with
     regard to potentially substantive changes to the 12/19 draft

I stand by those observations.  If you care to review the posts in
question, I think you will concede that they have merit.

> Having chosen to state as "fact" these notions, I decided to gently
> point out that they were counterfactual. I could have chosen to be
> cruel, or even crude, but I instead chose to use a light layer of
> comedy to get across my point. I personally think of this as being
> more civilized than many of the possible alternatives.

It's too bad that you misunderstood what I was saying.  The "fact" is
that you missed a pretty important point about the impression YOUR
choice of words fosters about the IAHC's position.

Regards,

Thom Stark

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