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From: Winslow Yerxa <76450.32~ompuserve.com>
Date: Sun, 24 Oct 1999 13:26:52 -0400
Subject: Apology

I apologize to Glenn Weiser for communicating my final remark in public.

I knew I was going out on a limb saying it, but I felt it needed to be
said.

But however logically argued it was, however true it might have been to
point out that reputations can suffer when standards are disregarded, and
however much I may have felt that this was both a "tough love" message to
Glenn and a warning to the community that basic standards of verifications
have a real and fundamental value to knowledge and discourse, it was
nonetheless indiscreet to communicate the final part of this argument in
public. It should have been stated privately.

I really do value Glenn's work and am glad to hear that he has worked so
hard to verify the accuracy of the notes in his transcriptions. (I've even
tried to help him find a publisher for the Little Walter book after Hal
Leonard cut it.) It's when he veers off and starts making unsupported
statements for which he refuses to offer any proof, which he's done on a
variety of topics over time on this list, that he diminished himself in the
eyes of thinking people. I hope that someday he comes to understand this.

While I cannot honestly retract anything I have said, I can apologize for
any embarassment I may have caused Glenn - and any anger I may have
provoked in others - by voicing the full force of my remarks in a public
forum.

As to what constitutes a flame war, I'm not sure that I agree with JR Ross
that it did't come close.

Fire burns and spreads. A flame is an inflammatory remark, intended to
provoke angry responses. It usually contains provocations which include
things like character attacks, name calling, and intentionally
controversial remarks. The tone may be bullying, belligerent, sarcastic but
it is generally unfair.

Name calling and character attacks? Those came from Glenn. Controversial
remarks? Well, Bill Price innocently asked what those actual laws might be
that all the retailers cite, and could anyone produce one? Might be good to
actually see them. Matter of curiosity. The response that came from Glenn
was authoritarian - it may be paraphrased as " I have already stated that
they exist - why are you bothering to ask for proof? Only weirdos have done
that." All Bill was asking for was to see them, which is entirely fair.
Several people went to work, and to date have produced a few leads, but no
smoking gun. Glenn's remarks were entirely unhelpful, and contained
character attacks and a bullying tone, provoking a series of exchanges that
have produced more heat that light. If there has been any flame war at all,
I'm afraid it can be traced to Glenn's original reponse to Bill. If there
has been a flame war, I apologize for allowing myself to be sucked into it.

If anyone wants to respond further to my remarks, I suggest it be done
privately. Two days ago, the listowner asked that we cool this thread.
While I applaud further efforts to bring actual laws to light, this will be
my last public word on the controversy generated by Glenn.

Winslow Yerxa
Harmonica Information Press