[MD] Decision

[Horse]

Hi Folks

I've taken the weekend to think about the recent posts and conversations 
with regard to Bo's continued misrepresentation of Pirsig's position re: 
SOL.

I think Arlo has summed up the position correctly when he said:

#############################
Arlo:
Bo's MOQ = the intellectual level IS SOM.
Pirsig's MOQ = the intellectual level is NOT SOM.

Arguing one over the other is valid. Attempting to equate them, at the 
expense of suggesting the author is too stupid to understand what he 
himself "meant", is not.
##############################

To my mind (and that of the majority of others who have expressed their 
views on MD) Pirsig has stated quite clearly that he does not see 
SOM/SOL as the Intellectual level. This has been backed up by direct 
quotes from Lila's Child and, in the absence of further evidence, it is 
reasonable to assume that this is how Pirsig continues to see his position.

As far as I'm aware, there are no corresponding quotes to show that 
Pirsig does support SOM/SOL as the Intellectual level. This would mean 
that in order to arrive at the position that he does support SOM/SOL = 
Intellectual level one must use supposition, implication, inference etc.
Arguing this position in this way is valid but to say that it is Pirsigs 
position that SOM/SOL = Intellectual level is not valid.
If direct quotes can be found to show that Pirsig supports SOM/SOL = 
Intellectual level then I am quite prepared to change my position. By 
this I do not mean that it is good enough to say that Pirsig implies it 
or that it can be inferred that Pirsig supports it etc. I want actual 
quotes from Pirsig to say that he supports SOM/SOL = Intellectual level.

Bo, and those that support Bo's position that SOM/SOL = Intellectual 
level, must make it quite clear that it is not Pirsigs position that 
SOM/SOL = Intellectual level when arguing for this position. To do 
otherwise is dishonest and misleading.

Should Bo continue, as has done over the weekend, to insist and declare 
that Pirsig supports the SOL, is the originator of the SOL etc. then he 
will be removed from MD. Anyone else who maliciously, mischievously or 
otherwise does the same will be similarly removed.
As far as I'm concerned this is an issue of honesty and integrity and if 
this isn't understood by those purporting to understand an issue that is 
at the heart of moral behaviour then some time may be needed to 
contemplate their reasons for being here in the first place. I think it 
is very unfortunate that it has come to this.

I have said repeatedly that I do not want this to happen, but apparently 
it is not understood by some and is instead misrepresented by trying to 
turn this into a censorship issue. This is unfortunate but expected 
considering that the majority of those claiming censorship are the very 
ones to whom this position is of importance.
I believe that I have tried very hard to avoid this over the last few 
weeks and,as such, will have absolutely no qualms about removing Bo or 
anyone else should he/they continue to misrepresent Pirsigs position and 
will do so with a clear conscience should this situation persist.


Horse




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"Without music to decorate it, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines or dates by which bills must be paid."
— Frank Zappa