From: Zeynep Tufekcioglu <zeynept-AT-turk.net>
Subject: Re: M-I: Re: list conduct -- please read
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 20:54:48 +0200


Jerry, believe me, most list members know a dead horse when they see it.
There is nothing against repeating an argument that is relevant. What's
bringing down the quality of the argument is when all sides repeat and
repeat and repeat the very *same* argument about the *same* subject. There
is no clear-cut rule for it, we're just appealing to the common-sense of the
subscribers.

Zeynep
-moderator-


At 12:59 17/3/1997 -0500, you wrote:
>I am wholeheartedly sceptical about the prospect of being able to 
>(re) define a rule against repetitions. Let me explain why:
>
>-- Suppose Adolfo or someone else writes a post about Peru -- which they
>have *every* right to do (not only in a formal sense, but also because it
>is a sight of important class struggle). Now if A.O. or someone else posts
>about Peru, don't others have the right to make their thoughts known (even
>if the original post was called "news")?
>
>-- Consider the current situation in Albania. How could we possibly
>intelligently discuss that subject without an examination of Albania's
>past and the current political forces there? Yet, how could we discuss
>that question without reference to Maoism, Stalinism, etc..?
>
>-- Suppose we want to discuss Russia or China. How could we possibly
>discuss those questions intelligently without discussing topics such as
>Stalinism, Trotskyism, state-capitalism, socialism, degenerated and
>deformed workers' states, etc.?
>
>-- Suppose we want to discuss the Left in the US. How could we discuss
>that subject without discussing the _history_ of the Left in the US?
>Doesn't that mean discussing social democracy, Stalinism, Trotskyism,
>sectarianism, reformism, etc?
>
>-- Suppose we want to discuss South Africa. What subjects would that
>require us to confront?
>
>-- Suppose we want to re-address the question of the strikes in France.
>Wouldn't we have to discuss the  positions of the political
>parties on the Left in France? Wouldn't we then have to discuss social
>democracy, eurocommunism, popular and united fronts, etc?
>
>In other words, the *reason* why there is repetition is that there are a
>core of political disagreements among listmembers. If we don't want to
>discuss any subjects where these "repetitious" concerns come up, what
>will we have left to be able to discuss? The weather?
>
>Jerry
>
>
>
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