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quote:
ORIGINAL: philosophy quote:
ORIGINAL: DesFIP Having stated where we stood and why, we then let the subject drop because to continue would only have been an excuse to harangue the other, which is never good manners. (my italics)...... i think good manners are a large part of a rational response to opposing viewpoints. As stated in the other thread, it depends on the goals. If the goal is to score points in a high school debate contest, then some judges may be favorable to good manners and polite rebutttals. If the goal is to negotiate with, or persuade someone to change their ideological point of view, or share ideas ( the so called 'civil discourse') then the classic 'I/You' rules seem to work pretty well. If the goal is to expose deceit, superstition, chicanery, bigotry, or agit-prop, then sarcasm, debunking, and aggressive confrontation will edify some people who might otherwise be persuaded by the sophistry that supports or hides the bogus ideas. And those who are 'offended' by such tactics may either have a vested interest in the BS, or they are just not going to think critically on that issue at that time. If the goal is to change or stand in firm opposition to behavior that is rooted in racism, sexism, elitism, or other forms of intolerance, then a careful reading of history will reveal that while pleasant speeches and fine words have some effect...so does direct and unvarnished offensive confrontation. What history rarely shows is that polite and obsequious silence and tacit inoffensivness does anything but encourage the status quo... particularly intolerance. The maxim says that respect has to be earned. Nowhere does it say that there is only one way to earn it, and that is the logical fallacy being plied in the other thread, and in the OP.
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