[geoschmo]

Originally posted by Growltigga:
I am actually sure that I do have significant ammunition against computer nerds (which is a bit of a surprise). I recall you mentioned you have children, so I am assuming you have been near to a female at some point in your life (or at least once). I suppose the computer nerd profession is such that it really is too boring to even make jokes about...

ROFL! I'll have you know sir that I am considered something of a "stud" among my fellow computer nerds having been with two women in my lifetime.

Er no, other way round I think. YOu need to reconsider who was keeping who on target [PS was your sporting analogy baseball?]

No, this was a pathetically inept attempt at putting into cricket terms so that you would understand. I recently had occasion to catch a game, or match or whatever you call it on ESPN 8 between the Pakistani and Dominican Republic teams. It was quite interesting and has caused me to seek out additional information on the sport. If you have any direction in that regard I would appreciate it.

Yes, your comments were emotive but it is obvious that the mens rea behind your remarks was to make your point AGAINST the English in particular. You are aware that I recently spent a considerably amount of money watching my team play in the World Cup in Japan, and it is obvious that on this basis, you were trying to (I beleive the American phrase is) "score a point".

Given the profound fallaciousness of your remark, of course it is only a naturla reaction for us europeans to frankly lose bladder control.

Ah, but here you are off the mark. My comments were not aimed at English, or Europeans in particular, only at you as a football fan. The reference to body paint in your national colors was only by point of comparison. I was no more saying that all English do this than you were saying all Americans are linedancers. I could have just as easily compared linedancers to the ridiculous American Football fans that dress up in their teams regalia, but that would not given weight to my point that idiotic behavior is not limited to linedancers per se, because as both Groups are primarily made up of Americans they could in fact be the same people. And at any rate it would not have gotten a sufficient reaction out of you, which I have already admitted was at least part of the objective.

An example of a snide comment directed at persons of a specific nationality would be something like pointing out that europeans lack of bladder control is something which is beyond my means to affect. Please note that I do not make this comment except for the purposes of demonstrating the difference to you.

I do believe however that this whole debate started in analysing whether or not the United States has true Freedom of Speech and whatever you wish to tell me otherwise, we are back to this proposition.

That is in fact where you have attempted to take the debate. But the debate in fact began as a discussion of whether or not the particular offending website should be protected under the right of Freedom of Speech. You have chosen rather than to speak to this point to try and redefine whether we as Americans in fact have this right that the majority of us hold as self-evident.

You can stand by your statements and that is your right. I however, have had this debate dozens of times with Americans and it is interesting that the people who primarily do not believe you have true freedom of speech in the US are your attorneys. I find that interesting.

This I cannot speak to other than to point out that making any sort of assumption based on your discussions would be a hasty generalization, which is another logical fallacy. One would have to assume that either you have spoken to every American attorney, or that the opinions they expressed were actually their opinions and not simply polite conversation aimed at not causing you distress, or that their opinion is somehow representative of the opinion of all lawyers in the US. And even assuming those things, it is not uncommon for one that is in a certain field and well versed with it's negative aspects to become jaded to it.

[ July 16, 2002, 20:17: Message edited by: geoschmo ]