Gray Southon asks: "How do we change this from a slinging match to a
learning process? Any ideas?" This comment and question interprets a
self-styled "disagreement" expressed by quotations from well-known people
as a "slinging match".
In my view, people use quotations because they think they succinctly
express something the quoter has in mind. Although I change it from time
to time, my internet signature always quotes a question from a popular
song. I like to think I'm provoking people to think about everyday things
in a new way... but I have no idea what people actually do think about
when they see my sig, even when they occasionally draw a wry comment.
Unless the quotation is used in a larger, clearer context or framework (as
when M. L. King Jr. quotes "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land...etc.")
its meaning to the quoter remains unknown. Thus, the exchange that
prompted Gray Southon's remarks, although fun, was open to any
interpretation, and therefore inherently meaningless. If, as a
consequence of David Burmaster's response with a quote from Piet Hein,
Gray were to explain which of his views he believes his quote expresses
and were to seek understanding of David's "disagreement", learning would
undoubtedly ensue, certainly for Gray, probably for David, and possibly
for the rest of us if we observed and more likely for the rest of us if we
entered into the dialogue...
--Jack Hirschfeld What do you see when you turn out the lights? jack@his.com