tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18375173.post115049107183246231..comments2024-03-28T03:15:55.088-04:00Comments on Fetch me my axe: Some fleeting thoughts on "civil" discourseUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18375173.post-1152978696967749772006-07-15T11:51:00.000-04:002006-07-15T11:51:00.000-04:00My own current strategy, still subject to revision...My own current strategy, still subject to revision:<BR/><BR/>Learn to separate the wheat from the chaff (i.e. the ideologues/bullies/narcissists from the large majority of people who can actually be talked to in at least some context some of the time). Find ways to talk to "people who can actually be talked to" in contexts away from hot-button issues and away from ideologue/bully/narcissist who belledame222https://www.blogger.com/profile/13947289856453172848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18375173.post-1150738068295600952006-06-19T13:27:00.000-04:002006-06-19T13:27:00.000-04:00Are you capable of grasping nuance, even a little ...<I>Are you capable of grasping nuance, even a little bit?</I><BR/><BR/>And with that, you have encapsulated the biggest problem in modern political discourse. Nuance is avoided at all costs and to the detriment of everyone involved. This is how complex situations are reduced to the depth of a nursery rhyme title. <BR/><BR/>John Kerry's evolved stance on the War in Iraq? Flip-flopping.<BR/><BRFearless Leaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03867756713804083325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18375173.post-1150565622832763062006-06-17T13:33:00.000-04:002006-06-17T13:33:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.belledame222https://www.blogger.com/profile/13947289856453172848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18375173.post-1150561784373478062006-06-17T12:29:00.000-04:002006-06-17T12:29:00.000-04:00This is a very good point, and one I have fallen s...This is a very good point, and one I have fallen short on myself. I have expressed opinion as "This is like this" even when I have genuinely meant "<I>I think</I> this is like this."<BR/><BR/>Part of my problem is that in the (at least British) education system, you <I>never</I> say <I>I think</I> and you'd get an F if anyone found <I>I feel</I> in your essay. A good argument, I learnt, is The Goldfishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15213378454070776331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18375173.post-1150552681699052682006-06-17T09:58:00.000-04:002006-06-17T09:58:00.000-04:00Yup. And I've reacted in not-helpful ways toward ...Yup. And I've reacted in not-helpful ways toward potential allies too, I'm sure, when my buttons are pushed.<BR/><BR/>Someone had a good point about arguing from the gut versus arguing from the head; I think the gist was, both are perfectly valid; just, know how to tell the difference. and sure, it can be both at once; thing is, the language is different, the...rules of engagement? something..belledame222https://www.blogger.com/profile/13947289856453172848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18375173.post-1150542807787129542006-06-17T07:13:00.000-04:002006-06-17T07:13:00.000-04:00To be honest, it is my experience that this is not...To be honest, it is my experience that this is not all that common. And if you are not being listened to treated with due respect yourself, then it becomes very difficult to do the same for others. Then again, that's probably the moment to walk away, whatever.<BR/><BR/>I have had some really informative discussions with those who have very different views to my own. But I have had a hell of a The Goldfishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15213378454070776331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18375173.post-1150540308910321942006-06-17T06:31:00.000-04:002006-06-17T06:31:00.000-04:00you would never last more than 10 minutes talking ...you would never last more than 10 minutes talking to a politician then!! and thats simply because they would never give up having the last word..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18375173.post-1150503214276726112006-06-16T20:13:00.000-04:002006-06-16T20:13:00.000-04:00I have similar views. There tends to be a fetisht...I have similar views. There tends to be a fetishtic embrace of metaphysical "reasoning" at time -- you know, from long dead philosophers who thought they could create a stable spiritual realm with their metaphysical postulates. But the real world is more of a practical affair than that. And most of us are not monks or those who can merely walk around and meditate, "above it all" -- even the Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15364161667997825733noreply@blogger.com