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.ce ((Editor's comments in double parenthesis - Homer))
 
.ce ADR - 115
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.ce Copyright (C) Homer Wilson Smith
.ce Redistribution rights granted for non commercial purposes
 
======================================================================== 63
Date:         Mon, 27 Mar 89 02:58:01 EST
From:         "Homer W. Smith" 
Subject:      Re: there we go, kids!
To:           Adore-l list 
In-Reply-To:  Message of Fri, 24 Mar 89 13:15:00 CST from 

>
>>homer says:
>     When you ring a bell, does it say 'I believe...', or
>'In my opinion...'?
>No.  It rings.
>     Just so it should be with words that have the ring of truth.
>     You don't have to accept them, you don't have to believe them.
>     LISTEN to them.  See if they Ring True.
>     If they don't then send them back to the Bell Maker.
>     That is all I ask.
>
>>this is somewhat unclear to me.  if we are indeed to speak with
>>words that are as true as we understand them to be, should we not
>>in fact speak exactly what we think?  this does sometimes include
>>prefacing comments with "i believe" or "in my opinion"...if for no other
>>reason than to allow for an expansion or deletion of the statement from
>>other sources.  that gives us a nice contrast to work off of so that when
>>someone says this IS this, we know they are asserting what they claim to be
>>IT....as in they are CERTAIN this is the truth.
>>i think people sometimes cut off those "in my opinion" flags in their
>>sentences for the sake of a more strong or true-sounding assertion,
>>when in fact that is not their honest sense.....yes? no?
>>thomas more beaudoin

     Yes, and no.

     When I want to emphasize certainty, I usually say I am certain of...

     When in light conversation I often preface with 'I think...' or
'I suspect...'

     I almost never use 'I believe...' because I don't.  Either I know
I know, or I know I don't know.

     However when exspousing on a long winded theory, I go into
'statement of view' mode, wherein ALL statements are meant to be
taken only as elucidation of a theory and not even as inference that
the theory is true or believed in.

     Then statements that are meant to be taken as TRUE are prefaced
with 'It is certain that..' or some such drivel.

     I know my mode of concourse gets on peoples nerves, but those that
tell me 'Homer, you are Pontificating!' are Pontificating.

     So the idea is to listen to WHAT is being said and not HOW.

     There is reason for diplomacy in this area.  But I am as I am.
And if I am not diplomatic enough, at least people will get used
to my mode of operation and will accept it.

     I would die if I had to type 'I suspect' in front of
every sentence.  I take it for granted.

     So should y'all when reading my stuff.

 Homer W. Smith      Adore-l list         3/27/89*there we go, kids!