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I'm don't think anyone was arguing from religious belief. For example,
no one was saying that people shouldn't say "GD" because it violates the
second commandment. The gist of the argument is that people in the
workplace should at least try to respect each other, and that along
those lines it is not unreasonable to ask professionals in a business
environment to avoid profanity.
OFF TOPIC:
Kevin McLauchlan said, "I can't muster respect for arguments based on
religion or religious beliefs - since I don't have those."
Isn't that kind of like saying, "I can't muster respect for women's
rights -since I am not a woman"?
As for guilt, I think you are confusing causation with correlation.
Guilt is part of the human condition. The Hebrews, for example, were
instructed in ways to atone for guilt thousands of years before Jesus
came along. And besides, Freud says guilt and repression are good things
as they are all that prevent civilized man from sinking into barbarity.
Consequently, even if your Catholic upbringing were the origin of your
guilt, you should be thankful.
Kevin McLauchlan said, "Also, since (again) I don't share the religious
beliefs, I usually invert anyone's implication of moral superiority that
they base on that association."
Isn't the attribution of moral inferiority to anyone who claims moral
superiority based on a religious belief self-condemnatory since you can
make that attribution only if you presume that you yourself are morally
superior? And isn't presuming that you yourself are morally superior
self-contradictory since as an atheist or agnostic you are
philosophically committed to nihilism? How can you make any sound
judgment whatsoever regarding morality when you are philosophically
committed to the idea that the very notion of morality is uncogent?
The funny thing about truly morally superior people is that they
invariably deny their moral superiority and evidence genuine humility in
their dealings with others.
Leonard (who has a long, long way to go before he can claim not to be
moral superior and who recognizes that by implicity denying that he
himself is morally superior he is painting himself as morally superior)
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- c
om] On Behalf Of McLauchlan, Kevin
Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2010 11:44 AM
To: John Posada; voxwoman
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: OT: Profanity in the workplace
John Posada said:
[...]I have a problem with those who
> "hijack" a conversation to state their indignation about a word they
> object to.
>
> It immediatly changes the direction and tone of the conversation from
> the subject at hand to the new subject.
>
> You can be rolling along, making progress on a topic, have everyone in
> the mind-space and clicking along, and in the heat of the momemt,
> someone utters the word "XXXX" (whatever).
>
> Don't say anything and everyone stays on the subject. Take the
> "initiative" to expres how you feel about that word (like you are the
> word-police to begin with) and BAM! there goes the train of thought.
>
> If you object to something someone said, after the meeting, approach
> them in private and explain your position. If they have a problem with
> what you are discussing, escalate it. All you did at the moment it
> happened is put them on the defensive and state that you feel yourself
> as morally superiior.
Having escaped all of my Catholic upgrinding... er... upbringing,
except the guilt, I can't muster respect for arguments based on
religion or religious beliefs - since I don't have those. So,
if somebody objects to some phrase that I've used, or to one
that somebody else used when I was present, I'll respond much
more positively to arguments from professionalism and from
(was it?) strength of mind, as were presented a few posts ago.
Also, since (again) I don't share the religious beliefs,
I usually invert anyone's implication of moral superiority
that they base on that association.
On a different tack, we can hark back to that recent
post about the naval commander - praise in public; dress-down
in private. That's a good idea not only toward subordinates.
So, on several counts, I think you are exactly right.
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