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Subject: 
Re: Lets keep politics out of Lego
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.off-topic.debate
Date: 
Mon, 27 Nov 2000 09:54:57 GMT
Viewed: 
1201 times
  
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Tom Stangl writes:
I'm at the near point of avoiding this group altogether.  I personally wish Scott
and Larry would just killfile each other and be done with it.

While I side mostly with Larry, the way this "discussion" is being handled is
useless and pointless.  Larry will never get Scott to actually RESEARCH arguments
previously beaten to death,

Arguments are never won here Tom, they just end. Often weight of numbers,
produces and end. However, just because a debate ends it does not follow
that is has been won/lost. I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure the US
membership of LUGNET does not represent a weighted cross section of the US
public. In such an environment, how can all the perspectives be heard? It is
left to a guy in Scotland to fight for a better education and health
provision for you _all_ in the USA.

The fact is the LP did not win the last election. Around 0.20% (a
guestimate) of your electorate voted for them. Of that meagre vote, I’d love
to know how many were voting only for derestricting drug use or were protest
voting. Personally, I think their level of support is surprising low as they
are essentially standing on a single issue in a time where political apathy
is widespread.

Scott A


and Scott will never get Larry to spent countless hours
tracking down background for each and every (geometrically growing) snipe.

I wish they would just ignore each other and get back to debating with OTHER
people.


Christopher Weeks wrote:

In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Scott and Larry write:

Go back. Read my posts. Answer my points.... as I have asked repeatedly.

Sorry, I am not going to answer each and every one of your snipes in detail.

[snip]

Pick one point, one thought, one item that you'd like to have a
debate about

Nope. I've done it already... go back and read my posts.

This is great!

   "You say something and I'll pay attention and we'll talk about it."
   "No, you"
   "No, you"
etc...

The basic fact is that you're both right.  Since I largely agree with Larry's
beliefs it makes if easier for me to empathize with his side, but he pretty
clearly does squirm instead of answering when it suits him.  But Scott, for
_you_ of all people to call him on it is ridiculous.

Since you both know that neither of you is willing to engage in productive
discourse (with each other, at least), why not just shut the heck up?

Unless this is productive.

As I see it, you both basically (and most of the rest of us for that matter)
spout our ideas and opinions that seem obviously true.  (e.g. I am at a loss as
to how to show that centrally planned economy delivers worse and less efficient
services to the stakeholders than does a free market, because it is so
obvious.)  So whether I'm telling John that he ought to lighten up on his kids,
or I'm telling Scott that government ought to lighten up on us, I am equally
certain, and in neither case will I make a dent.  But we keep it up anyway.
Why?

And why does the bickering between Scott the mindless liberal and Larry the
mindless libertarian seem different than the rest of this possibly pointless
discussion?  Maybe because we generally refrain from personal attacks and this
pair seems to be edging in that direction?  I'm really not sure.

But at least I got to blabber,

Chris

--
Tom Stangl
***http://www.vfaq.com/
***DSM Visual FAQ home
***http://ba.dsm.org/
***SF Bay Area DSMs



Message has 2 Replies:
  Re: Lets keep politics out of Lego
 
(...) I (mostly) disagree. Of course part of my agreement is that in a way you are right, very few arguments are ever "won". But this group can and has been the catalyst for changes in opinion. I have certainly changed my opinions (and you can go (...) (24 years ago, 27-Nov-00, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
  Re: Lets keep politics out of Lego
 
(...) Not admitting defeat doesn't mean a debate hasn't been lost (or won). Sometimes the debate provokes further thought on the subject - and that's the place that people change their minds. Admit it, how many of you are second-guessing eating (...) (24 years ago, 27-Nov-00, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: Lets keep politics out of Lego
 
I'm at the near point of avoiding this group altogether. I personally wish Scott and Larry would just killfile each other and be done with it. While I side mostly with Larry, the way this "discussion" is being handled is useless and pointless. Larry (...) (24 years ago, 26-Nov-00, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)

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