- Re: Category error Archived Message
Posted by margo
on April 26, 2019, 5:19 pm, in reply to "Category error."
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Twirlip: "the group collectively acts as if you were a cult leader" Hi Twirlip, A strange thing to say, if you don't mind my saying! Talking of "category error" it seems "the group" - as a phrase - is a category error. There are in excess of 100 people signed up here (last I heard), many of whom choose to read silently and barely comment, but they are part of what one might call the group or community of people who chose to sign up to this chat forum. So when one reads of "the group" but counts less than a dozen names commenting on this particular issue, it's hard to say these comments constitute "the group". That seems to be a category error: surely we're looking at a vocal sub-section, not the group as a whole? Then you say this group "collectively acts" - which implies some sort of a collective decision, rather than individuals piping up with their own individual opinions? Kind of insulting to individuals and their opinions? Further category error: To refer to the person who stumped the money and time to host a fairly insignificant cyber-chat board as "a cult leader" is strange. For a "cult leader", Dan's remarkably reticent and non-verbal. Months go by when you never hear from him and if you examine his rare comments they are usually minimally worded and dashed off, as if in a rush. Sorry to say, but the phrase "Cult leader" can come across as dual-use insult: it insults/smears both the responsible person and the group  Here's my personal opinion, fwiw (haven't consulted 'the collective'!): why would anyone want to chat on an insignificant little board that they despise as a "cult" where people have "lost critical ability", etcetera? It's kind of like when you really don't like the people and their attitudes down at your pub: the rational solution is to not frequent that pub and switch to a more convivial space, rather than continue to torment yourself? If TLN seems "cultish" to some who can hardly bear to post here because it's all so awful, then let the objectors launch Lifeboat Too and model a better example over there? It could be instructive to see what Lifeboat Too looks like, as it takes shape, and some people might even be inspired and decide to row over and join it? |