[MD] Barbarian attack

[Platt Holden]

Mike,

> To answer your question: no it isn't OK, and I don't condone it. But
> calling someone's mother a fat dirty whore is also somewhat barbaric.
> The insulter should certainly not be trumpeted as a champion of any
> intellectual value, although many have done so in the cartoon situation
> (I realise that you may not).

I agree that to deliberately set about to offend someone is not nice, 
but I reserve the term "barbaric" for those actions that actually 
inflict physical harm for the purpose of gaining unearned rewards. For 
example, pirates are barbaric. At times, as Pirsig explains, it is 
sometimes necessary to use barbaric tactics to defeat barbarians to 
preserve social and intellectual values. 

Be that as it may, the issue at hand is whether offensive speech 
justifies killing and pillaging. For those dedicated to the 
intellectual value of free speech, the answer of course is a resounding 
"No." I'm sure you agree.

Regards,
Platt