Single Comment

Paul E. Newton wrote on Thu, Apr 17, 2003 04:13 PM UTC:

I would also like to address a comment under this very appropriate heading
to Mr. Nicholas Kuschinski.  

Dear Sir, 

I am the father of Timothy Newton, and I felt that I must respond to the
uncivil tone of your comments on his entry in the 43 Spaces Contest.  Not
every person who enjoys playing (or creating) chess variants is a
mathematician, nor should they be.  My son is barely eleven years old, and
I try to encourage him to pursue his interests.  Your comments were
unecessarily harsh if they had been addressed to an adult, but were quite
beyond the pale when you consider the age of the person to whom they were
addressed.  You could have easily expressed your views or given advice
without being so abrasive and condescending.  I am not saying that you
should not express your opinion, merely that you could, and out of common
courtesy should, do so in a polite manner.  Put yourself in the shoes of
the person to whom you are directing your comments and see if you would
like to be spoken to in such a manner.  

Sincerely, 
Paul E. Newton