Re: OT: Wildepad

On Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:47:06 GMT, Bryan Derksen
<bryan.derksen@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

>Wildepad wrote:
>> Because of that, questioning the assumptions is an unwelcome and
>> unnecessary distraction.
>
>It's going to happen anyway because this is rec.arts.sf.science and not 
>your own personal focus group that you can set the rules for.

Absolutely true, but that doesn't make it pleasant. It's like going to
have your teeth cleaned and ending up having a root canal.

Among my (many?) shortcomings is a low tolerance for people who attack
for the sake of attack and my revulsion at the idea of posting a
lengthy treatise on the research I did on an 'assumption' before
including it in a scenario.


>> In other cases, I am interested in continuing the conversation for as
>> long as it takes to get a productive answer.
>
>Frankly, I think you mean "as long as it takes to get the answer I 
>want." This is not a productive use of debate.

Productive, to me, is an answer which shows that the responder
understood the premise and is willing to apply a bit of suspension of
disbelief to place themselves in the protag's position.

Whether they agree, disagree, or violently disagree with what I had in
mind doesn't matter. In fact, those who are diametrically opposed are
more valuable because they cause me to step back and think about what
should be included in the story to show why the protag isn't acting
that way.
--