Current debates
Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 1:21 pm
Greetings All,I have not been on this Forum much lately but I would like to comment on recent postings.First, one of the things that has kept Pothos going for many years has been an unspoken, but almost always acted upon, agreement for civility, even in disagreement. Though the years have seen some serious debates occur on this board, we have managed to keep the discussion unbiased, civil, fact-based (even when emotions were involved) and for the most part, based on the belief that members could "agree to disagree". This was, in part, why the ban on inappropriate language was instituted- to remind us that civil discourse, even in disagreement, is possible. It has been understood that members consist of both
impassioned *and* dispassionate persons interested in the history, psychology, impact of (both negative and positive)and life of Alexander as well as the lives of the people of his time. This site boasts members of all ages, occupations, ethnicities, classes, nationalities, genders, religions etc. The study of history *must* include the views and perspectives of all sides, triumphs as well as defeats, errors of judgement and justice as well as the correct actions and behaviours by historical persons, else it is not history- it is propaganda. This does not mean that we have to accept as truth a particular view- only that, unless the view espoused is an *obvious* attempt to revise history to *hide* a truth (such as re-writing history to obliterate an entire ethnic group from existence, or diminish a particular group or gender)- we should try to listen to other views without allowing our initial emotions to deafen us to the argument. Nor does it mean that a person need lessen his/her admiration for Alexander on a personal level if an opposing side presents information contradicting personal views. Pothos has never been about a singular view of Alexander. It was and should remain a Forum for discussion. And there is no reason discussion should not be civil. With a few exceptions, we have always managed to debate all sides of Alexander and his life and times, to argue from logic, emotion and facts (as currently known and subject to change as discoveries require), without creating division. It may be old-fashioned to expect people to be able to continue in this manner, but I would ask it, even at the risk of disapproval. If this cannot be possible, I would hope that the moderators (those much maligned and abused good souls) wi
impassioned *and* dispassionate persons interested in the history, psychology, impact of (both negative and positive)and life of Alexander as well as the lives of the people of his time. This site boasts members of all ages, occupations, ethnicities, classes, nationalities, genders, religions etc. The study of history *must* include the views and perspectives of all sides, triumphs as well as defeats, errors of judgement and justice as well as the correct actions and behaviours by historical persons, else it is not history- it is propaganda. This does not mean that we have to accept as truth a particular view- only that, unless the view espoused is an *obvious* attempt to revise history to *hide* a truth (such as re-writing history to obliterate an entire ethnic group from existence, or diminish a particular group or gender)- we should try to listen to other views without allowing our initial emotions to deafen us to the argument. Nor does it mean that a person need lessen his/her admiration for Alexander on a personal level if an opposing side presents information contradicting personal views. Pothos has never been about a singular view of Alexander. It was and should remain a Forum for discussion. And there is no reason discussion should not be civil. With a few exceptions, we have always managed to debate all sides of Alexander and his life and times, to argue from logic, emotion and facts (as currently known and subject to change as discoveries require), without creating division. It may be old-fashioned to expect people to be able to continue in this manner, but I would ask it, even at the risk of disapproval. If this cannot be possible, I would hope that the moderators (those much maligned and abused good souls) wi