Posted by Dinah on May 9, 2009, at 22:05:23
In reply to Re: Straightforward, posted by Sigismund on May 9, 2009, at 21:31:51
But...
If Dr. Bob is being sincere, then he's being sincere. Sincerity is self referential isn't it?
For example, what X considers "civil" Y might consider anything from quaint to stupid to wise. But if X considers something civil, and says so, then X is being sincere. If Y thinks X's ideas of civility are quaint and says so, then Y is being sincere. But if Y says that X is being insincere, when X is truthfully reporting X's beliefs, then Y is mistaken about X's sincerity.
My take on it is that Dr. Bob is perfectly sincere and straightforward. Any given poster may have any given range of feelings about Dr. Bob's view of civility. But unless what he says disagrees with his internal convictions, he is being both sincere and straightforward.
I don't know for certain that my perception of Dr. Bob's sincerity is any more correct than yours is, of course. I see his actions as evidence of my point of view. But I can't know, unless I'm in his brain. Which thankfully I'm not. I can barely figure out my own brain.
Also, while I do not know Dr. Bob's thought processes in choosing statements to quote, he is able to choose whatever he wishes. I can't imagine why he would choose a different quote than he means. Since he considers his administrative actions to illustrate Babble civility guidelines, I can't imagine that he would deliberately choose the wrong statement to quote.
All this is intended as general remarks and not specific to this situation.
poster:Dinah
thread:894857
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20090302/msgs/894955.html