[MD] Decision

[John Carl]

On Fri, Jul 9, 2010 at 5:21 AM, X Acto <xacto at rocketmail.com> wrote:

> Matt,
>  I respect your call to inquiry.
>

I agree Ron.  And well done, Matt.



> If there is a distinction I am missing please counter.
>
> -Ron
>


The only counter I can think of, is that there is high Quality in the
intellectual pattern known as "tenure".  True, MD isn't exactly an academic
enterprise.  Goodness knows.

But borrowing the pattern from the Academy seems a good idea, for it
produces the high ideal of intellectual freedom in the hearts and minds of
all participants - without which we cannot advance.

Furthermore, people are inherently dynamic and evolving.  Even tho Bo hasn't
really modified his stance in years, there's hope that he can be convinced.
Perhaps not directly, but indirectly by convincing Platt, Marsha and Mary.
And if we can't convince those three, then what?  Eject them all?

Not gonna happen.  Those three have tenure as well.  Mary took a hiatus, but
she was around in '98 and that's what I call longevity.

Come to think of it, so was I, so I guess I'm arguing for myself as well.

Violating this pattern by booting a tenured colleague is antithetical to the
spirit of the MoQ, and Pirsig, who's story is centered around his being a
lone voice struggling against the social majority.  Thus it shouldn't be
surprising that his story attracts iconoclasts and introverts from around
the world.  Getting them to harmonize is probably as much fun as herding
cats.  Put 'em in a bag and let 'em fight it out, I say.

Speaking of which, I notice, Horse, that this discussion is taking place in
Marsha's absence.

Chicken.

John