On 12/11/06, Ken Arromdee <arromdee(a)rahul.net> wrote:
That may be
consistent with your view of the "ordinary person", but
others may see it differently. Avoidance is a restriction that one
applies on one's own self. It does not depend on the imposition of
external authority. It favours the exercise of judgement and the
ability to know one's own limits.
My point is that anyone who reads that will interpret the *intentions of the
writer* to be that the act is not allowed. It doesn't matter what he thinks
avoidance is, but what he thinks the policy-maker meant by it.
Really, whenever we say "avoid doing X", what we're trying to say
something like "don't do X without a damn good reason, and by that we
mean something which we would consider a damn good reason, not
something which happens to be important to you."
It's just kind of hard to put it snappily. Suggestions appreciated.
--
- Andrew Gray
andrew.gray(a)dunelm.org.uk