Comments on: George Q. Cannon Speaks Out Against Internet Snark

By: Bookslinger

Bookslinger — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:08:35 +0000

There are times when a kindly and just criticism of another’s actions or words, may do good, but in most cases volunteered criticism has anything but a soothing and happy effect.

I hope for the wisdom to know the difference.

By: kevinf

kevinf — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:00:59 +0000

All things considered, I hope those folks who exhibit less than celestial intelligence when inputting spurious or implausible information into New Family Search, get to spend a little extra time waiting in spirit paradise for their efforts. As they say, whatever intelligence, or lack thereof, we obtain (or fail to exercise properly) will rise with us in the resurrection. Their motives are good, but that’s all I’ve got to say about that.

By: Hunter

Hunter — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:10:44 +0000

Wow — thanks for this. I especially loved the ingenious wisdom of this line:

“A person has no business to become so familiar with another as to forget the courtesy that is due from him.”

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:55:10 +0000

Is that why I don’t get status updates from you, queuno? I didn’t mean to offend you, only to “counsel my inferior.”

By: queuno

queuno — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:35:22 +0000

Ah, when people get too critical on FB, I just de-friend them.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:32:51 +0000

Yeah. The contributor *was* a moron, no question there, but at least you’re not on permanent record (there) as saying so!

By: Mark B.

Mark B. — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:23:15 +0000

It was all I could do to stop myself from using that exact word about someone who entered some completely implausible information (birth date after death date, and a half-century after the purported mother’s death) in New Family Search.

When I saw the next day that the comments are shown there–for all time, I suppose–I was glad that I had shown some restraint.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:15:56 +0000

Ha! I wondered if that would be caught! I think, though, that he was actually trying to be tactful, that the “inferior” didn’t mean social inferiors, but one “inferior in wisdom” (i.e., “in that respect”). Better than calling someone a moron or whatever it is that they’re saying on the Tribune comment boards these days.

By: kevinf

kevinf — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:02:32 +0000

I was about to name names, but then caught myself in a moment of uncommon clarity. Timely advice, even 138 years later.

This last paragraph, though, still smacks of 19th century class consciousness:

Criticism, however, administered in a kindly spirit and in mild words from a person of wisdom to an inferior in that respect often has a good effect, but even then it is more acceptable in the form of counsel or advice.

When dispensing my invaluable opinions to my social inferiors, I always do try to frame it in terms of “counsel or advice”.