Posted by Jay Bertolet on September 30, 2000 at 17:42:24:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Manhattan School of Music ? posted by John Doe on September 30, 2000 at 16:15:54:
Dear John,
You make my point for me though I really don't know why I even respond to you either, yet another anonymous poster:
"This doesn't mean you can blast the professor in question, but there's nothing wrong in bringing up whether Mr. Hanks has time to teach at all these schools."
Do you think the original anonymous post in this thread, or the subsequent ones (other than yours), were cases of blasting the professor? What would you call it when somebody claims you can't play well anymore? My opinion is that these were cheap shots at an accomplished professional player. Or "pot shots" as I called them. Completely uncalled for.
You're exactly right, it is okay to disagree and it is what the list is for (the dissemination of differing viewpoints that enrich everybody). But we can disagree without being disagreeable! The appropriate way to handle this sort of thing would have been to answer privately, just as you said. I know that Toby is a sweetheart of a guy but let's "put the skunk on the table". If the anonymous posters did sign their names and Toby wasn't such a nice guy, there would be this thing called libel. Unless those making these inflammatory statements could actually prove they were true.
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Lately there has been a rash of posts on this BBS, predominately from anonymous posters, which contain either objectionable language or out and out personal attacks. I sincerely hope that this trend does not get to the point where meaningful dialogue is no longer possible. That would be a terrible loss to the tuba/euphonium community.
My opinion for what its worth...