From: "Margaret" <marschball@wanadoo.fr>
Newsgroups: soc.genealogy.medieval
To: <gen-medieval@rootsweb.com>
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 6:49 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: Maud Fitzalan
Hello Leo
Yes I've seen there used to be a lot more discussion as opposed to mud
slinging in the past - before I joined, I'm sorry to say.
snip>.
Dealing with mistakes is a different matter. But maybe the same thing
applies but the other way round. Mistakes must be challenged and
discussed. Refusal to answer honestly, using stubborn and sullen 'I am
right' retorts speaks for itself. I see that some people repeat the
challenge reminding us it hasn't been answered.
I think Douglas Richardson's inability to keep an open mind and accept
discussion of his work is his own undoing.
Dear Margaret,
Many thanks for your thoughtful message. The most important subject, to me,
is mistakes even perceived mistakes. Their mention can only improve
information. There is no skin of anyone's nose, people should be grateful
when attention is paid to their messages. Richardson sees "criticism" as a
negative, I see it as a positive. With my data base many people tell me
something is wrong, and I check out what I have and where it came
from---typos are always a possibility. When I find I was right, you will not
see me gloat, I will be glad that by double checking, yet another piece
information has been accepted by someone else. If I am wrong then I am no
longer wrong because I will correct the information.
The quicker a mistake is admitted, especially by Richardson, the quicker we
can get on with whatever we do, lingering on questions wastes so much time.
And when too many questions remain unanswered, you can only wonder what else
is wrong? Why does he rush from one error/question to the next?
The answer to all this, of course, lies with Richardson, either he
acknowledges that "critiscims" can only improve his date or else we remain
in this rediculous circle of having to remind him of his failing to reply to
questions, questions he caused in the first place.
With best wishes
Leo van de Pas
Canberra, Australia