Interesting value judgment

[rhu]

From today's fascinating NYT obituary of the chairman of the committee that standardized the UPC:

Mr. Haberman’s committee comprised more than half a dozen type-A businessmen, and discussion could be fractious. At one meeting, in San Francisco in the early 1970s, as Mr. Brown’s book reports, Mr. Haberman found a spectacularly good way to smooth dissent. First he organized a dinner at one of the city’s finest restaurants. Then he took everyone to a local movie theater to see “Deep Throat.”

"Spectacularly good way" is an interesting choice of words. It may well have been effective, but to call it "good" implies that the author and publisher of the obituary acknowledge that Mr. Haberman's tactic was controversial -- especially given the history of that particular film -- and are endorsing it.

Comments

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

Is it possible that Fox used the word "good" in an "ends justifying the means" sort of way? That is, his method worked; ergo, it was good.

[sethg]

According to some primatologists, bonobos (Pan paniscus) use sexual activity for both conflict resolution and post-conflict reconciliation. However, these primate cousins smooth over their social differences by having sex with each other.

[rpipuzzleguy.livejournal.com]

I find "spectacularly good" odd in general. Reminds me of George Carlin's coining of the phrase "extremely not bad."

[530nm330hz.livejournal.com]

I sent Ms. Fox an email and have received a reply; I have requested her permission to share it here.

[530nm330hz.livejournal.com]

And she replies that NYT policy prevents me from sharing her reply.

I do feel free to say that she didn't intend the meaning that I read into it.