Theos-Talk Archives (December 1997 Message tt00039)

Hi, Jerry:

Thanks for your informative response.

In the maillists, I have found that some times some may use language that
one may not like for one reason or the other. On the other hand, the number
of subscribers on theos lists are quite small. From what I have seen, it is
very important that we don't run off even a single subscriber because over
a period of time, I have seen individuals change and become active
theosophists. So I am a proponent of supporting everyone to post anything
however distasteful to me personally. My 0.02.

mkr


At 01:33 PM 12/11/97 -0800, Jerry Hejka-Ekins wrote:
>Yes, Ramadoss, it is evident from numerous accounts of  private
discussions that
>the founders occasionally used what would be considered by today's standards
>very mildly scatological language (such as "damn").  I  would not be
surprised
>if such words occasionally showed up in notes exchanged between the founders.
>Rather, I have seen them in letters written by all of the three founders.  My
>own personal feeling about it is that there is a time and place for all
kinds of
>language, and considering the three founders were closely involved, and
events
>were very often frustrating, their language was indeed appropriate between
them
>and for those situations.  I feel no shame for their choice of words in these
>instances.  However, in the case of theos-talk,  the audience is much larger,
>and we don't all personally know each other.  Therefore, I would think that a
>more formal tone and choice of words is appropriate.  I don't mean that humor
>must be left out.  On that count, I must agree with Thoa that there are some
>Theosophists I know who I would love to see loosen up a little.  On the other
>hand, humor does not need to be scatological, to be funny.