[PEN-L:2418] Re: pen-l and censorship

[Michael Perelman <michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

A. S. Fatemi wrote:

> Since so many important
> world issues are being discussed on this list, wouldn't it be more useful
> and rational to sometimes allow different perspectives which are not
> fundamentally the same as the majority of those on the list? Of course it
> is always more comfortable and reassuring to hear from those who agree
> with us, but is that consistent with intelectual honesty?
>

There is some merit to this.  If someone who disagreed with the progressive
view came on board and gave us new information that we have not heard before
and if the signal to noise ratio of that communication were high, it would
not be a problem.  It would also be unlikely.  A far more likely outcome
would be comparable to be going on a neo-classical list, exclaiming, "But the
workers are exploited!"  My intervention would not be taken as a crucial bit
of information.

We are all exposed to the conservative ideas already.  We need this space
to explore our own in order to make ourselves more useful to the rest of
society.

--
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA 95929

Tel. 916-898-5321
E-Mail michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx