Just a question about Freedom of speech on this list

[Rolland Miller]

Hello list,
I want to respond to the remark just below, which is a quote from Jim's complete
post, and in particular the word "jokingly".
Humor can be a very useful tool in avoiding confrontation.  It almost never hurts
any one unless it is hostile and it seems to have
the capacity to relieve stress.  A good "rule of thumb" that I have come to use
is; "Humor is our best friend and anger is our worst enemy".  I don't know that
this is true in absolute terms, but  is a useable "tool" when things get
irritating which they do at times for all of us.  Another "rule" might be;
"expect to be irritated every 5 minutes and you won't be disappointed".  If you
can accept that "rule" in a humorous manner then a lot of the irritations that we
deal with daily can be seen as  average.  That is it is average to have
differences of opinion, average to interpret rules differently, etc.  The test of
the above "rules" is not in whether or not  they are true, which I believe we
have no way of proving or disproving, but rather will they take some of the
stress out of our lives, leaving more time and energy available to further our
personal goals such as improving our business, etc.
Jim, thanks for bringing up the subject of  humor in the word "jokingly".  Humor
isn't silly.  It has a very valuable function and rarely distracts us from things
that are really important.
Rolland Miller, MPT/PTG
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jim's remark,
"When a group of professionals cannot jokingly discuss a bonafide subject on
a professional forum without being criticized, where is the "freedom of
speech"?"
***********************************************************************************

JIMRPT@AOL.COM wrote:

> In a message dated 4/16/1999 6:14:48 PM, you wrote:
>
> <<Hi list,
>  My only problem with freedom of speech on this list is that not all
> subscribers are Piano Technicians,>>
>
> Mike M.;
>  The only "problem" with freedom of speech is that it 'is' free and as such
> is open to abuse from all sides. Other than that there is  no "problem" with
> freedom of speech. While a reasonable person will put reasonable limitations
> on what they say, it is not reasonable to put limitations on what the
> majority say because of one person or a few persons.  Talking about a piano,
> or a PSO, should not involve anything but facts and opinion. That is all we
> have anyway, isn't it? Personal attacks, an entirely different matter, by a
> person, or persons, because of anothers conversational use of free speech is
> objectionable to be sure but as long as it is allowed it will continue.
>
>   The use of PSO in the extant example is certainly justified as both
> Kimball's LePetite and S&S grands are PSOs. So too are digital keyboards
> PSOs, if they looked like amplifiers sales would drop off huh? :-)
>
>   When a group of professionals cannot jokingly discuss a bonafide subject on
> a professional forum without being criticized, where is the "freedom of
> speech"?
>
>