[MD] Who are the MOQ's best friends?

[david buchanan]

Dan said to dmb:
Let me ask you: do you think Bodvar and Platt were laughing when they read what RMP wrote? Is it a knee-slapper for you when RMP sends a little praise your way?


dmb says:

I am shocked (SHOCKED!) to learn that gambling goes on in this casino.

More seriously, I just think criticism is an unavoidable part of exchanging views. It's supposed to hurt a little bit, unless you're just stroking yourself. Taking criticism personally is unrealistic and more than a little bit childish. What's the proper response to criticism? Do you defend your claims? Or is it more fruitful to make a big fuss about the critic's motives and table manners? If we don't worry so much about pride and such, criticism can make you stronger or sharper or whatever. Criticisms are supposed to answered, not wept over or turned into a sore spot. Anything other than an actual answer is worthless, if you ask me. 

It is an honor to be corrected by Pirsig and he was very gracious about it too. But what concerns me far more than whether or not that correction hurt their pride or bruised their feelings. Isn't  that just stuff that grown-ups have to deal with? What concerns me is both of them totally ignored the actual content of Pirsig's correct and they have both tenaciously held onto that defiance to this day. I still get hostile posts from Bodvar telling me that Pirsig and I do not "get" the MOQ. Sorry, but I am not going to pretend like that's okay. There is something very wrong with that kind of tenacity of belief. That whole attitude defies intellectual values in a very big way and I think it's more than worthy of condemnation.