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From: rcd@opus.UUCP (Dick Dunn)
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Re: Playboy, honestly
Message-ID: <780@opus.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 4-Sep-84 20:09:43 EDT
Article-I.D.: opus.780
Posted: Tue Sep  4 20:09:43 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 14-Sep-84 09:06:05 EDT
References: <768@opus.UUCP> <244@uwmacc.UUCP>
Organization: NBI, Boulder
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[self, responding to Jeff about reading Playboy]
>>But at least you're being honest.  Basically, you're doing what they're
>>thinking--if not, they wouldn't be so judgmental, would they?

[Paul DuBois, responding to me]
>First.
>How does being honest about an particular act confer any measure
>of virtue upon the act?...

It doesn't.  However, if after some act (of whatever measure of virtue) you
are dishonest about your motives, the dishonesty is itself an act, probably
reprehensible in itself.  What I was saying, in a sense, was better to be
wrong once than twice.

>Second.
>I don't think that I can agree much with the part about Jeff
>doing what his critics are thinking, either.  I was not one of
>them, but I do think that reading Playboy is unlikely to bring one
>closer to God.  And I haven't the slightest inclination or
>desire to read it.  Yes, really.

Unless you are one of Jeff's critics, you can't speak for them.  Since you
just disavowed being one, you don't know (nor do I).

I do not know whether reading Playboy is likely to bring one closer to God,
nor would I much care.  I am quite sure that if one must act only in ways
which unquestionably bring one closer to God, one will spend a great deal
more time in contemplating action than in acting.  Who knows, reading
Playboy might have all manner of side effects of varying values (insights,
humor, disturbance,...)

If you haven't had the slightest inclination or desire to read it, may I
jump to the conclusion that you don't read it?  Based upon that tentative
conclusion, let me then ask how you could possibly judge whether it is
worth reading--let alone judge another person for reading it or not?
-- 
Dick Dunn	{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd		(303)444-5710 x3086
   ...I'm not cynical - just experienced.