[MD] Ham unlike you I will not create false idols

[Platt Holden]

> [Arlo]
> Of course, I expected your "academic" response in denying the validity of 
> any article that disagrees with your worldview.

I love the way you constantly pat yourself on the back for being smarter, wiser 
and more discerning than someone who doesn't buy your line about academic 
superiority.  

> [Platt]
> How many studies are "far too many" and who sponsored the negative ones?
> 
> [Arlo]
> Who sponsored the positive ones? Why doesn't that concern you? Oh right, 
> the liberal conspiracy thing again.

Nice ducking the question by changing the subject.

> [Platt]
> Like you always read articles that present an opposite view? Pardon my laugh..
> 
> [Arlo]
> Just more evidence that you know nothing about what goes on the academy. I read
> articles all the time, in many domain fields, that present ideas counter to what
> I "already believe". Sometimes they change my mind. Sometimes they don't. I base
> this on the cogent argument made by the author, her references, analysis and
> synthesis of ideas. Not on blind faith to party ideology. You want another
> example, my views on "eminent domain" have significantly changed by
> "conservative" articles I've read. So, you can try to paint me as being as
> reliant on "blind faith to ideology" as you are, but you're sadly mistaken.

I know. You are a paragon of "fair and balanced." :-)

> [Arlo previously]
> Interesting response. I'd say Pirsig focused our cultural light on a new 
> way of thinking about values. Do you consider that "propaganda"?
> 
> [Platt]
> No, but I don't see Pirsig going around thumping his views from college 
> lecterns to captured audiences at every opportunity.
> 
> [Arlo]
> Really, I thought you wanted more conservative professors to thump their 
> views from college lecturns? I thought the problem was not the thumping, 
> but that their was a conspiracy to keep conservatives from thumping? At any
> rate, are you saying now that the MOQ should not be thumped from college
> lecturns? Can one teach the MOQ without thumping it?

Sure. One can read ZMM and Lila then decide for herself what to take and what 
to leave.

> And, should we not be promoting the MOQ? Aren't we in effect thumping it? 
> Should I not give copies of ZMM as presents? Should I not argue Pirsig's 
> insights when I am in a position to do so?

I can't stop you from preaching the good word.  But I prefer to follow Pirsig's 
lead in letting people discover his work on their own. You did not see him on 
Oprah trumpeting his books, nor do you see him touring colleges to collect 
handsome lecture fees.  

> [Arlo previously]
> As for "staying out of the way of Walmart", nonsense. While I won't 
> advocated government shutting it down, I remain vocal and active in getting the
> facts out about Walmart.
> 
> [Platt]
> Why? So you can get government to prevent Walmart from opening a store in a
> particular locality?  You call that "staying out of the way?"
> 
> [Arlo]
> So people can make informed decisions about what effects their consumer 
> choices have.
 
You mean you want to convince them to pay a local store $1.25 for a can of 
Campbell's soup  when they can get the same can at Walmart for 89 cents. Lotsa 
luck. 

Platt