Re: Way Off Topic--Education

[Bill Troop billtroop@xxxxxxxx]

> In the end, arrogance isn't about standards at all
Aren't we talking about two quite different things? An editor working
directly with a writer is one thing; that's a difficult relationship in
which tactful nurturing is of the essence. Quite another thing is an editor
talking about standards in the language. Arrogance is of the essence there,
as it must always be when someone is saying, "You are right, and _you_ are
wrong." Whenever anyone makes such a judgment, there is an assumption upon
the judge's part of knowledge and authority. When that assumption is
"undue", it becomes "arrogance". Naturally, the losing party will usually
feel that the assumption is "undue" and unmerited.