filtherton

No, it isn't a matter of opinion. You were practically hysterical and calling my statements ridiculous because you misunderstood what i was saying. Perhaps in the future you should examine a statement from all angles to see if maybe you were wrong at first glance before you try to jump down somebody's throat with both feet.

Quote:

I said your debating bludgeon, or weapon, or tool, looked similar to the act of someone with particular negative motivations.

I was just stating an observation. I'm sorry if you felt "bludgeoned".

Quote:

And this is a true statement. Much like "in general, philosophical debate is dumb". True for some definition of the words used, but not very clear in the meaning, and has a significant negative feel to it. Actually I mean, "in general, _fill_in_your_occupation_ is full of ignorant people". Almost everyone is ignorant, relative to other people. "You are ignorant". Another such statement. Full of insulting sounding words, but under some specific literal meaning a nearly tautologically true statement. Nobody knows everything, thus everyone is ignorant. If I throw it out in the middle of a random debate, it doesn't sound like a null-statement: people assume when you say something that you are saying something.

You can pick apart my diction till your fingernails bleed. It won't change the fact that every statement in the english language leaves room for interpretation. You assumed when i was saying one thing that i was saying another. You're the one who went on the offensive without having a clear idea of what i was actually saying. Perhaps you should take into account some of the clarification that i have provided throughout this thread.

Quote:

I never ascribed you those motivations. In fact, in my entire post, I can only see one time that I actually ascribed a feature to you:

You said that my statement was idiotic, when it was actually your interpretation of said statement that lacked clarity. Also you mentioned my "shock and dismay" which, if it even existed anywhere outside your head, was a reaction to the tone of the discussion.

Quote:

Every other statement was "like X" or "possibly X". Using your own standards for the use of language and the term "general", they really assert nothing about you.

They assert plenty about me. In fact, you may be able to conclude that my desire to stray away from the language of absolutes was a reflection of the idea that there are only absolutes because the statement "there are no absolutes" is absolute. i.e. with few exceptions there is no such thing as a statement that is true all of the time, especially in philosophical reasoning. Maybe someone else can provide you with their opinion of what is true and what is not true.

Quote:

That last sentace was, however, over the top. I apologize for it. The rest stand, as far as I can tell, because they are all qualified sufficiently to mean, under very specific definitions of the words used, basically nothing. "90% of everything is crud" is a very useful statement. If all you meant by statement about philosophy in general was that 90% of everything is crud, then can you at least understand how people would take offence, misinterpriting your statement to mean something about Philosophy in specific instead of things in general?

I'm not sure where a simple majority became 90%. Perhaps you are still thinking of another definition for "general".

I'd hate to see your reaction to somebody claiming that the hypothetical glass is less than half full.

You:"Almost empty?!?!? Why, that is a ridiculous statement!"

Guy:"Why, i was just stating that the glass is nearing emptiness"

You:"That's preposterous. The glass is obviously nowhere near almost empty. What does that even mean, 'almost'?"


Besides, if everything i said basically means nothing, as you claim, i might like to ask: Why the hell are you making such an effort to prove me wrong when, in fact, i said nothing at all?

I think i've read you. You may not use a bludgeon, but your motivations are definitely equivalent to those that you would ascribe me.

If you want definite statements of absolute truth go pick up a math book.