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  • From: James Dasher <jdasher AT ibiblio.org>
  • To: "Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/" <internetworkers AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [internetworkers] Sometimes it pays to get your facts straight
  • Date: Thu, 7 Oct 2004 07:08:37 -0400

Every time there's a pro-Kerry post to this list, I cringe in anticipation of the loaded language and elided facts. Same with pro-Bush posts. Or any politically themed posts to this list.

On Oct 6, 2004, at 12:34 PM, matusiak wrote:

The reason I responded, and the point that I'm trying to drive home, is that using loaded language to get your point across often does more to call your opinion into question than to support your ideas. This is a problem on a national (if not global scale), both with our elected officials and with the constituents.

And, needless to add, people on INW.

If the goal is spreading misinformation, then use whatever lingo you desire. If the goal is to legitimately discuss topics and attempt to solve problems, then language and intentions must be made painfully clear for all to see. We all know it can be just as misleading to leave out important facts as it can be to completely fabricate information. In this case, we don't even know that Soros owns this domain or pretty much anything about it. The inference that he owns it (or scooped it up quickly based upon Cheney's blunder) and then made the point to redirect those web requests to his own site is both quite loaded, as well as lacking some significant details.

Isn't misinformation and loaded language pretty much what political discussions on this list are all about?

That's about all I have to say on that topic. I hope it was clear.

It's clear that you didn't agree with Tony. And it was clear that Tony had taken the hypothesis that Soros was behind the domain and run with it.

But otherwise, no. I think we need a thread on linguistics and semantics.

--
James Dasher
misterdasher dot com
IM misterdasher





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