Re: OT-CHAT-TBIS-Quibbling and Quarreling

From: HIPSource@aol.com

In a message dated 3/15/99 12:12:20 PM Eastern Standard Time,
StorYlade@aol.com writes:

<<  In today's society, it is easy to 'drop out.'  Most people garden for its
 relaxing qualities.  It is also fun to 'share' your favorite flowers with
 others.  Fighting is not relaxing.  Wouldn't we rather people 'drop in' to
the
 beauty of irises? >>

I'm sure we would. But there is surely no ignominy in removing oneself from
any  group whose values one does not share. My suggestion was simply that she
ignore anyone trying to curtail her enthusiasm, to join whatever she felt
like, and bail if she did not like it. I stand by this advice.   

<< I have an insatiable appetite for information about irises.  I've joined
 everything that speaks to my love for TB's and that includes TBIS.  I just
 happen, as do many others, to prefer tall-bearded irises.  I didn't choose to
 fall in love with TB's.  It just happened. >>

Delighted you gain so much enjoyment from your irises. That what they are for.
 
 << Please  explain to me why anyone's love for the tall bearded iris causes
harm to those  that prefer another type of iris!  While I'm at it, why should
those that
 prefer other types of irises feel or be superior to those that like TB's? Or
 the opposite?>>

It doesn't. And they shouldn't, obviously. People who think like this are
really not very smart. There are no hierachies of inherent worth, beauty, or
sophistication within the genus Iris, there is only personal preference, which
may be wide or narrow. Just because something doesn't interest one doesn't
make it bad or the people interested in it fools. Denegrating someone else's
preferences as a means of reaffirming one's own is not real enlightened. While
specialization is always one's prerogative, the same prerogative must be
extended to others, and toleration begins at home.

Anner Whitehead 
HIPSource@aol.com
 

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