summary from WAPF leaders list about derogatory language, etc... (was: spring 2004 blah blah and sex)

[Guest guest]

hey all...

well, we've been discussing the use of the word " whiny " and other things on

the WAPF chapter leaders list (with permission, i'd crossposted erica's

post to let sally and other people know the concerns)

one person is quite belligerently in favor of " calling a spade a spade " ,

regardless of whether it's offensive or not. everyone else, however, has

pretty much agreed that although passion is a critical part of a convincing

argument, insult need not be. sally herself didn't comment on this thread,

and in general, i don't really expect to see much change in the tone of the

literature, since that sort of thing generally goes part and parcel in

writing styles, but at least people are talking about it. i feel pretty

strongly that if we are truly mandated to teach, then we must *teach*, so

i'll likely keep prodding people about this from time to time over there.

anyway. so there ya go, for whatever it's worth.

-katja