[MD] Julian Baggini interview

[david buchanan]

Mark and all:

Oh, good god, here we go again...

Glenn said to Mark:
...if you don't want DMB calling you a wanker this weekend, maybe you should 
explain what you are  on about.

dmb replied:
Hey Mark, you are "a wanker this weekend".

Mark replied:
...I think you've fallen into Glenn's little trap dmb. To be straight with 
you, i could see he was playing you like a fiddle and i'm sorry you're so 
easily manipulated.

Now dmb says:
It appears that my humor was not understood as such once again. Must be the 
medium. In any case, I was joking about the ambiguity of Glenn's comment. It 
was a language joke. You know, one guys says, "Call me a taxi" and the other 
guy says, "Okay, you're a taxi." Then they both laugh.

Besides, I thought you were a wanker last weekend too. Or whenever it was 
you started this thing.

Mark said to Glenn:
The issue if one of editorial control. ...There was no need for Anthony to 
edit it either. It's as simple as that Glenn. ...i'm happy to debate the 
philosophy of editorial control. The issue is an old one and is relevant to 
issues concerning freedom and openness in society. Those who seek to mediate 
information seek to control opinion and we all have experience of how that 
can be morally  reprehensible i should think. At the intellectual level the 
issue of openness becomes paramount, and i think the MoQ supports this view.

Mark asked dmb:
What is it in my above response to Glenn that you disagree with dmb?

dmb says:
Well, you seem to be all self-righteous about slandering Ant. You're talking 
about Ant's web site as if the free world depended on some imagined purity 
of Bagganininess. The implication is that you are some kind of watchdog for 
intellectual honesty and Ant is the rat that got in under the fence. Its 
outrageously arrogant and hopelessly goofy and the same time. Besides, 
neither Ant nor anybody else that I ever met has the power to control 
opinion or mediate information. Its just a web site man, somebody else's web 
site. Don't you think this whole thing is a bit paranoid and out of 
proportion? Can't you just start a blog or something? Why do you guys 
suppose you can tell Ant what to do? Does he tell you what to do. Have 
contracts been signed? Are you guys married? I really don't get it.

Mark said:
When i use the term, 'moral' i'm using it in the context of the MOQ as 
always. When i make what i feel to be a moral decision, i use the MOQ as a 
guide.

dmb says:
My problem is with morality or the MOQ, but I do find it odd that you claim 
moral sanction for this because I think you're trying to wound somebody for 
no good reason. I think its cruel and self-righteous and erroneous and not 
particularly moral at all.

Mark said:
...i DO have the right to ask questions. Do you disagree?

dmb says:
Sure, that's what its all about. I'm asking questions about your questions, 
aren't I? But you're not just asking questions. You are making accusations, 
but implication if not explicitly.

Mark said:
Editing is dishonest when the motives of the editor are dishonest. Editing 
is honest when the motives of the editor are honest. In an intellectual 
context, honesty is valued.

dmb says:
Yes, everybody is in favor of honesty. And honest editing depends on honest 
editors. That's a real solid theory. But you have been implying that Ant is 
the dishonest kind of editor for no good reason. I think your concern, that 
his presentation of the material constitutes some kind of deception, is 
entirely without merit. I'm not even sure if its honest. ;-)

Mark asked:
If it (the hoax) doesn't matter, why hide it?

dmb says:
What hoax? I don't know what you're talking about. There was no hoax. Shhhh. 
don't mention the hoax, whatever you do. But seriously, your question is a 
good example of you accusatory implicatons. Why "hide" it? The word implies 
a deception. But I guess you'd have to put it that way. Otherwise the 
question becomes, "If it doesn't matter, then why include it?" Its like the 
fact that I'm feeling like I might throw up right now. I'm not trying to 
cover up the feeling or hide my illness. It just doesn't seem to matter, so 
I didn't mention it.

Sorry about the puke on your shoes, by the way.

dmb said:
Apparently, the hoaxster himself is not bothered by this edit and can't even 
see what you're on about.

Mark replied:
The hoaxster hasn't given an opinion on that matter. If he has, show me 
where?

dmb says:
Glenn was the one who said he didn't see what you were going on about and I 
thought he was the hoaxster. He said so in the exchanges you posted. Out of 
nowhere like a bull in a china closet and all that. Top of this post, his 
quote warns you to "explain what you are on about". He says you better 
explain or else I'll insult you with names like "taxi" and "cab".

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