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Hopefully we are done with the inquest into figurative and other
meanings of 'walkout', though we all know it was never really about
it. Before I come to what it really is or was about, let me too
indulge a bit on the meaning and context of 'walking out'.....<br>
<br>
1. When countries declare their disassociation from a ongoing treaty
etc process, it is very often called out as a walkout. Walking out
of trade talks, climate negotiations, doha round of WTO.... Such is
a regular use of the phrase.<br>
<br>
2. WCIT was an event with the sole objective of negotiating a
treaty. Declaring the intention not to sign the treaty as the
process is still on is called as walking out on or of the
process..... That is what the US did, and that is a walkout. (By the
way, the head of US delegation was reported to use the term 'waking
out of WCIT' is a figurative manner mid way during the conference.
Although he later denied he said what was attibuted to him, the
concerned reporter, I think from CommDay, later confirmed that he
had indeed said so.)<br>
<br>
3. Being from a poor Southern background, I am forced to take the
cover of what an American said. Well, a regular columnist of the New
York Times, Eric Pfanner wrote that US "refused to sign the
document and <b>left in a huff</b>"... Did anyone see the US
huffing.. Were the members of the US delegation huffing or the whole
country.... Those on the ground can please let me know. I am really
very eager. Avri, Adam, McTim, Rony..... any one of you know the
'facts' in this case....<br>
<br>
4. I knew the vulnerabilities of a poor Southie writing what would
get forwarded to the mighty in the IG space... I knew that the
wolves are out there..... and so, I actually quoted Eric Pfanner in
my article. And it was from his expression that I built the 'walking
out' thing..... Hope, a day will come when we from the post-colonial
South would not need to do such kinds of things to earn legitimacy
for simple facts that otherwise are there for anyone to see..... I
must have read 40-50 articles and statements and postings before I
wrote what I wrote, because, as I said, I knew the wolves will come
pouncing. And they did come in any case, if for nothing else, to
interrogate the use of English language by me....<br>
<br>
5. I am sure Terry Kramer himself must have read the NYT article...
I did not see him or anyone else issue angry disclaimers for factual
inaccuracy which they definitely would have if there indeed would
have been one (I mean about 'leaving in a huff'). So, this is a case
of the above mentioned wolves being more loyal then the emperor.
Very worrying tendency for civil society indeed. <br>
<br>
6. And of course, all of you too read the referred NYT article,
which was forwarded by me with the subject like 'NYT expresses
surprise at US <b>walkout</b>'.<br>
<br>
7. There continues to be many articles in the Northern press using
the term 'US walkout' for what happened, most of them though
agreeing with what the US did, which is not the point here. It is
just about the use of that term and the kind of vicious reaction
that it attracted.<br>
<br>
The vicious reaction was of course to forcefully shut up anyone who
but dare give a view or analysis which does not meekly accept the
dominant discourse on the subject - which, in my view is guided and
led by the global political an economic elites, who unfortunately
have been able to build a very loyal following in what is being
called as civil society. As said, I see this as a very disturbing
trend. Therefore the issue is beyond just the uncivility of the
response, it is about what and who do they represent to become so
vicious just on reading an opinion piece that says that US walked
out of the treaty process, and may have made a diplomatic blunder in
doing so. <br>
<br>
parminder <br>
<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On Saturday 22 December 2012 09:28 AM,
Tracey Naughton wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:4DDC5AF2-5051-4A05-A098-6D653C4869A6@traceynaughton.com"
type="cite">
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
<div>Arguing about English is an excluding distraction not
conducive to the basis of multi-stakeholder dialogue. Sad to see
on a CS list. The article was an opinion piece.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>That said, as someone who remains very interested in the post
WSIS goings on, I have appreciated the diversity of opinions
that have emerged to assist me with understanding what actually
happened at WCIT, so thanks for your enthusiastic discussions.<br>
<br>
Tracey Naughton
<div>
<div>Australia</div>
<div><br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div><br>
On 22 Dec 2012, at 12:22 PM, "michael gurstein" <<a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:gurstein@gmail.com">gurstein@gmail.com</a>>
wrote:<br>
<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">All
of this phony outrage is a bit much…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Being
outraged about a zillion dollar corporation not wanting to
pay its fair share of taxes… that's something to be
outraged about…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Being
outraged at countries in the North turning their backs on
agreements to extend broadband access to countries in the
South… that's something to be outraged about…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Being
outraged at countries not willing to sign agreements
re-interating already agreed to commitments in the area of
Human Rights… that's something to be outraged about…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">But
whether the US walked out, tromped out, slid out, or flew
out of the meeting on gossamer wings (after refusing to
sign an agreement accepted by 2/3rds of the countries
attending) … that seems to me to be a matter of the utmost
triviality … of interest, dare I say, only to those who
don't have anything more substantial to argue against…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">M<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:governance-request@lists.igcaucus.org">governance-request@lists.igcaucus.org</a>
[<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:governance-request@lists.igcaucus.org">mailto:governance-request@lists.igcaucus.org</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Koven Ronald<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, December 21, 2012 4:27 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:governance@lists.igcaucus.org">governance@lists.igcaucus.org</a>;
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:lehto.paul@gmail.com">lehto.paul@gmail.com</a>;
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:avri@acm.org">avri@acm.org</a><br>
<b>Cc:</b> <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:gurstein@gmail.com">gurstein@gmail.com</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [governance] A false consensus is
broken<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">What
the devil is a "figurative walkout" ? There was
misrepresentation or factual error. Period. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">No
reputable media outlet would or should accept that. A
correction would be in order.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Orwellian
language is not in order.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">If
we can't count on basic intellectual honesty, there is
no sense in these discussions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Bests,
Rony Koven<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black">-----Original
Message-----<br>
From: Paul Lehto <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:lehto.paul@gmail.com">lehto.paul@gmail.com</a>><br>
To: governance <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:governance@lists.igcaucus.org">governance@lists.igcaucus.org</a>>;
Avri Doria <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:avri@acm.org">avri@acm.org</a>><br>
Cc: michael gurstein <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:gurstein@gmail.com">gurstein@gmail.com</a>><br>
Sent: Fri, Dec 21, 2012 9:02 pm<br>
Subject: Re: [governance] A false consensus is
broken<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div
id="AOLMsgPart_2_2a10f422-fe87-4930-9d40-52e6c7058ec7">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black"><br>
But what is truly at issue is not a "fact" like
whether someone physically locomoted using their
legs in order to leave a meeting. "Walked out"
has both literal and figurative meaning, and
Parminder - as was obvious to me at least -
intended the phrase in a figurative way. This
should be especially obvious because it was a
country (having no legs) that walked out, not a
specific person. <br>
<br>
Since it appears some have appointed themselves
inquisitors and made a charge of inaccuracy
against Parminder, I assert my neutrality (not
even sure why people are so hot on this), and <b>appoint
myself judge and dismiss this claim, </b>on
the grounds that "walked out" has clearly
figurative meaning and the actual facts, even as
alleged by the inquisitors, fit without the
broad meaning of "walked out". :) <br>
<br>
The key word in Michael's question was
"pre-occupation." Why the <u>pre-occupation</u>
with this? It appears that question is unlikely
to be answered. And I won't rule on it either,
since I don't have enough facts before me to do
so. :) <br>
<br>
Paul Lehto, J.D.<br>
<br>
PS If anyone has a problem with me being the
self-appointed judge here, then they should have
a very similar problem with those who have
accused and also called this an open and shut
case of "you can't have your own facts" - which
is just judgment in a different form, and a
self-appointed judgment at that. In order to
reach my "judgment" I've looked at the facts in
the light most favorable to the accused, given
the rights of free expression at stake. <br>
<br>
All we really have here is what could be a
valuable discussion about the extent to which
there was or wasn't a <i>figurative</i> walk
out, and that could be enlightening given the
personal observations of some on the list but
which devolved into something more <i>ad
hominem</i> in the nature of a game of gotcha.<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black">On
Fri, Dec 21, 2012 at 2:08 PM, Avri Doria <<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:avri@acm.org">avri@acm.org</a>>
wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black"><br>
<br>
<br>
On 21 Dec 2012, at 10:13, michael gurstein
wrote:<br>
<br>
> Or Parminder used/quoted colourful
journalistic language in a journalistic
medium...<br>
><br>
> Anyway, why this pre-occupation with
one perhaps infelicitous turn of
(journalistic/diplomatic?) phrase ... Is
this the US Congress/Fox News where a fairly
comprehensible mispeak can lead to a total
"gothcha" pre-occupation (the Benghazi
"discussions") for purely political purposes
to the exclusion of substantive debate...<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black">It
is simple:<br>
<br>
Because you are not permitted to have your own
facts.<br>
</span><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#888888"><br>
<span class="hoenzb">avri</span><br>
<br>
<br>
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