Originally posted by Dan Halberstein:
"On RJ Clawson's Non-Jumping-Ugly on Stephen Foot:
My actual post says:
You guys jumped ugly on...
My post says this several {two, Sir} paragraphs after the point where I mentioned you, Kevin, myself, and Lo specifically, in regards to the entirely different subject of pending discussions.
Where I learned to speak and write English, beginning a new thought or case is a function of paragraph breaks.
To clarify, since we did not all learn the same rule:
You guys means anybody who personally went after Foot. "by extention we guys" means that I personally did not do so, but included myself because I know I've been seen as uncivil, which, if true, lowered the level of debate. I stipulate to this being true, so we can all become more civil and move on. This is, in fact, just what it purports to be -- a general urging not to attack Foot on sight, and a plea for general civility,
not a personal slight against R.J. Clawson.
Any who are able to read the post urging civility, as a personal urging to RJ Clawson in particular, are way, way off the mark in that reading."
Here's the context, Dan.
"As I understand it, I have both Bob and yourself to talk to about recent history, and Lo has Free Will versus Predestination to tackle in the side argument. We'll all have our hands full (and, it being football season's first night, my part might be somewhat delayed.)"
Bob is named and "all" includes "Bob."
"But here's one random scattered thought to add: I know Mr. Foote just joined in, and happens to be biased toward Israel. I know too some here feel I favor the Israeli side of this conflict . I know that could mean I'm just throwing support to the guy who threw his support my way."
"But" connects the two paragraphs. "Add" also connects to the previous paragraph, adding to the discussion of "recent history" between Kevin, Bob, and Dan the "random scattered thought." This is not a separation of "entirely different" thoughts. They're clearly connected by "but" and "add." The author tries to mask the connections with "random scattered."
Also, note the "some here," the Reganesque use of the "understood" pronoun. It's similar to Bush rhetoric, "there are those who...yada yada."
"But: you guys (and we guys, more generally) have totally jumped ugly on him, to use the technical term. Come on -- look back at the first few posts responding to him!"
Once again, "But" connects the paragraphs. Who can "you guys" refer to if not to Kevin and Bob who are included in the "all"? Who else (exceptiing Lo) to this point (aside from the "we guys" who are parenthetical) has been mentioned in these connecting paragraphs? AND, as "all" included Bob, so does "totally."
These are not independent paragraphs, they're progressive parts of a plea.
"Come on?" Bob looked back at the posts addressed to Foot and found none from Bob.
Respectfully, for your consideration, from Bob, who, incidentally, also went to school.
PS: You write, "Where I learned to speak and write English...." Where was that? You write cleverly.
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