[MD] Decision

[Matt Kundert]

Was I holier than thou?  Yikes, I am sorry Ian.  I was trying 
to give both a very perspectivized opinion, rather than 
God's (I am, after all, a target for "you're distorting the 
MoQ"), and a very practical justification for thinking that 
administratively this is not the best move (and not an 
end-of-the-world move either) and a justification for 
thinking that Horse's rationale for the move cuts into a lot 
of other ships.

I thought I was fairly even-keeled, and terribly un-moralistic 
(in comparison to Platt).  In fact, while Platt's moralisms 
might best be responded to by opposing moralisms, I 
actually put forward an argument (or, at least an outline for 
one) for thinking that Horse's rationale--singling out the 
differentiating criterion for "what Pirsig thinks" to be 
between "what he says" and "suppositions, implications, and 
inferences" from what he says--is actually untenable (and 
therefore not a good way to cut the chaff from the wheat).

It is Horse's job, he is doing it, I've never wanted it, I've 
never thought anybody else would be able to do it better, 
I've always played by Horse's rules and defended Horse's 
right to make those rules, but Horse also--in a very 
democratic move (which is the right move)--errs on the 
side of letting the public know his reasonings and his rulings: 
Horse runs a transparent ship, and is the direct opposite of 
the opacity of the Bush administration and everything that 
happens in 1984.  And the _reason_ you let the sunshine in 
on the decision-making process is so that it can be publicly 
thought about.  I've never seen Horse _just_ send a 
warning.  I've always assumed that Horse puts a lot of 
thought into his actions as administrator (which his 
well-written justification/rationale displays), and that--even 
if rolling back a decision is out of the question--he actually 
wants to hear what people think.

Again: the best _administrative_ way, I contend, to tell Bo 
to "give it a rest" is to do nothing (to him), and put the 
onus on individual participants (by writing a post to the 
group saying something like, "uh--then stop egging him on 
by talking to him...duh").  _Y'all_ are the ones doing this to 
Horse, making him stay up at nights, wondering if there's 
something he can do because so many people are so 
annoyed with Bo.  I've been ignoring Bo for some time, so 
at least my conscience is clear in thinking that I haven't 
applied invisible but felt pressure on Horse to _do_ 
something.

_Bo_ didn't do this to Horse.  The _community_ did this to 
Horse by making it _seem_ like a parent had to step in 
because the children couldn't control themselves.  It is 
perfectly legitimate to think that Bo is being childishly 
ignorant of simple distinctions between "my thoughts" and 
"Pirsig's thoughts," but how are adults supposed to treat 
children who continue to act like children after you try 
treating them like adults?  I say not banishment, but that's 
because I'm tall enough where the children are down by my 
feet and I've learned how to ignore chatter.  It can be 
annoying, but if everyone's made as honest an effort as 
they can to treat someone like an adult, and they refuse, 
then _you_ have to be the friggin' adult.  And I tell Horse 
how I feel about his decision as the adult at the levers of 
power because I think of myself as an adult, too.  And that 
that's what adults do.  And that when other children start 
chirping about how we shouldn't chirp about what the Adult 
in Charge does, I kinda' smile, and think it's funny how 
children see all talk as chirping, when adults know the 
difference.

Now _that's_ holier than thou.  (Though, as always, in my 
own eccentric way.)

Matt

p.s.  And, as always, I think Horse is doing as good a job as 
anyone I know would do.  I'm not saying I could do better.
 		 	   		  
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