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From: janw@inmet.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: What is Fit to Print ?
Message-ID: <7800831@inmet.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 30-Nov-85 00:15:00 EST
Article-I.D.: inmet.7800831
Posted: Sat Nov 30 00:15:00 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 3-Dec-85 20:51:28 EST
Lines: 76
Nf-ID: #N:inmet:7800831:000:2077
Nf-From: inmet!janw    Nov 30 00:15:00 1985


The following piece is non-polemical (though prompted by polemics).
Just sharing the ground rules *I* [try to] follow.

			Fit to print ?

Fact you're sure of ? 			YES

Fact you're unsure of ?			Yes, but say so.

Fact that's only part of the truth ?	That's ridiculous.
					No posting tells *all* the truth.
					Supply extra parts when you have time;
					or let others do it. A fact is a fact.
					YES

"Fact" that supports your position	NO
and has a source - but you yourself
don't believe it ?

Unbalanced fact ?			Do not deliberately make it so.
					But balance is not in one posting.

Unpopular fact	?			Hurry! It restores the much needed
					balance.	  YES

Dangerous fact ?			Ha-ha .  YES

Facts with or without			As you like.
conclusions ?

Fact coached in evocative or		All language is. Matter of taste.
allusive language ?			YES

Opinion ? 				YES

Unsubstantiated opinion ? 		Something substantiated it to you
					if you hold it. 	YES

Opinion disguised as fact ?		NO

Does it matter how you arrived		To you, sure. Your private business.
at the opinion?					

Shouldn't you share that process?	Up to you. Could make your opinion more 
					convincing.

What about "intellectual honesty" ?	Seems like I brought that phrase to
					the net (in a reply to Gary Samuelson).
					Everyone should strive for it - but
					it is *essentially* private. No one
					can monitor or police it in others.

Personal remarks ?			Matter of taste - but better keep
					them few. Positive ones are more
					conducive to discussion of issues.
					Flames proliferate and drown the issues
					out. Second-guessing other folks'
					mental processes is especially
					dangerous. Thought is private.

Critique of other posters' arguments ?	YES

Critique of other posters' motives ?	NO 

Argument in favor of your		YES
position which is convincing to you ?

Argument which is NOT			NO
convincing to you but may impress 
others ?

A good argument in favor of 		Up to you - but not a bad idea.
*opposing view* ?			Party spirit corrupts.

Questions ?				I should post more of them.