Censorship - double edged blunt object

Matt Tomaso (TOMASO@UTXVMS.CC.UTEXAS.EDU)
Tue, 3 Jan 1995 14:26:14 -0600

I do not advocate discursive censorship of any kind.
I dislike it. In fact, I deeply dislike it.

As this list has had to learn before however...
_Accusations of censorship are a tricky matter_.
One could, for instance, claim that the expression of distaste
or terms like 'MANkind' 'MAN', the generic 'he'etc. is
a form of censure. Of course one could just as easily argue
that an attempt to discredit such an expression of personal
opinion would be a form of censure. As an example of censor-
ship, I think the latter circumstance is more appropriate.

The present thread on gendered language has received a great
deal of criticism from many sides, and deservedly so. It seems
to me that many of us claim to be simply sick of the whole discussion
and feel that we are getting exactly nowhere. My question is
WHY CAN'T WE JUST STOP?

After all, there is no better way to legitimate an argument
than to argue against it.

Cheers,
MT