In article
,
"Dan L." wrote:

In article ,
"J. Clarke" wrote:

Dan L. wrote:
In article , Persephone
wrote:

snip...

It is not OK to attack people personally, but it is very much OK to
attack IDEAS! Of course if it's done thoughtfully, that helps.
But going back over the history of humankind, especially the
last few thousand years, it is ridiculously easy to make a list of
ideas which were once accepted, but now have been shown to be
flawed.
So, logically, in another thousand years, our perception of reality may
appear to be a crazy quilt of superstitions as well.

Today's assignment:

I feel
Do you have an objective basis for your feelings or are these just
unbridled manifestations of your id?
that statement "It is not OK to attack people personally"

is wrong!!!!! To restrict ones' speech in any way is bad. One should
have the right to call another: stupid, idiot, fat, ugly or any
other
derogative or negative term.

These are value judgements, (aren't they?) and don't have any objective
basis in fact (do they?). If I say that you are a stupid idiot, does
that make it true? No matter how strongly I may believe it?

Most insulting words are defined by the
person stating it. Restricting free speech in my book - will do more
harm in any society than good.

Other actions are restrained, why not speech?

Teachers should have right to say,
"You
stupid idiot - go back and do it right!" I believe

Ah, so your attack IS based on beliefs and not facts. Very interesting.

insults help
build
mental calluses for a stronger mind.

Would that mean that whipping people would make for stronger bodies?

People who are offended by
statements are just simply weak minded. Free speech should include
cussing in public as well.

I believe it already is, unless you are inciting the violent overthrow
of "our" government. Having said that, I notice a distinct paucity of
scatological words coming from you. Do you feel constrained? Why?

In my book,

In the Navy, they have an old saying about "opinions" being like "anal
sphincters". Everybody has one, but no body wants to hear it. Why should
your's be different?

people do not have the right to state lies about a
person

In Texas, a radio station was found to have lied in a news cast but the
court said that there was no law against it ("The Corporation" on DVD).

or in which people are directly physically harmed by speech (Like
FIRE when there is no fire).

If one does run into a week minded person, one should learn to
"duck"
or "run like a rabbit" when insulting them. If it is being suggested
that "It is not OK to attack people personally" in physical way ...
I
agree

Then there are unintended consequences: Girl Commits Suicide Over
Internet Prank by ADULTS--Who is Responsible?
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/fea...007/11/girl-co
mmits-su.html


Just for the record, I am attacking the stupid chick's IDEA about
free
speech, not the stupid chick herself

Objectively, this is called an "ad hominem" attack because you haven't
established that there is a chick or that the chick is stupid, unless
you are stating that to disagree with you is stupid on the face of it.
This would be a very difficult position to try to defend, logically or
empirically.


Enjoy Life ... Dan

A person who cannot defend his ideas without resorting to insults and
"cussing" is far more weak minded than any individual who takes
exception to being insulted.


"Weak minded" doesn't seem to have an objective definition. I think that
in some circumstances, a visceral response may overwhelm a person's
intellectual response e.g. a Palestinian being lectured on the triumphs
of Zionism, or a Jew being lectured on the triumphs of National
Socialism. It may not be PC but is understandable.


--

If a person only uses insults without reasoning, I would agree.
One can use both reason and insults to defend their idea. Using reason
alone is not always that effective. The stronger mind will pick out the
difference. What am I defending is the right to say what one wants in
any format they choose.

What you want? When you want it? The way you want it? What kind of
personality does this remind you of?

Bending to others on want they think is right
may not be right.

This suggests that there is no truth, only debating skills, and exhibits
a deep psychological investment in personally held beliefs to the point
of a xenophobic inflexibility in learning from others.


Enjoy Life ... Dan

Good luck
--

Billy
Bush and Pelosi Behind Bars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KVTf...ef=patrick.net
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0aEo...eature=related