Re: MD Personal Report on MoQ Conference

From: ian glendinning (psybertron@gmail.com)
Date: Wed Jul 20 2005 - 04:00:56 BST

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    On a lighter note (!)

    Did anyone spot this picture in the conference set I posted.
    Made it to the "were not afraid" web site.

    http://www.werenotafraid.com/images/119/index.php
    (Ian G Australia)

    Tee hee.

    Ian

    On 7/20/05, Erin <macavity11@yahoo.com> wrote:
    >
    >
    >
    > If you find value in attacking and disrpescting other people that is your
    > choice. I don't find your analogy of boxing at all persuasive and choose
    > not to use it. All this just further confirms by belief that the coercive
    > force seen in the attacks on the list are the same type that you see in the
    > attacks in religion. I do choose to stay because I find a lot of the
    > posts very interesting. Chuck already gave me leave talking to philosophy
    > to the men speech and I am not interested in that kind of advice so just
    > save it. Despite all your boxing-tough-guy speech this is the wimpiest
    > post I have seen in awhile.
    >
    > A lot of heat and no light.
    >
    > Erin
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > dmb says:
    > I suppose civility and sarcasm both have their places. I think real the
    > danger lurking behind either extreme is censorship. Too much heat will tend
    > to shut people up, but so will too much restraint. Take the exchange between
    > Mark and Erin, for example. As I see it, Mark knows how to make a case and
    > he knows how to criticize those who can't or won't make a case in return.
    > "Arrogant" is just what you call a guy that makes you feel stupid and I
    > think Erin just wants to stop feeling stupid.
    >
    > ERIN: Mark doesn't make feel stupid at all...if anything the exact
    > opposite.
    >
    > DMB: She wants the criticism to
    > stop so she pretends its Mark's fault that Platt can't make a case, as if
    > this were some character flaw on Mark's part.
    >
    > ERIN: I don't like disrespectful criticism.
    >
    > DMB: That's ridiculous. Erin acts
    > as if the MOQ had nothing to say about politics or religion and all views
    > are equally valid within it. That view is simply incorrect. And if you think
    > otherwise, then make your case. I haven't seen one yet, but that's probably
    > because it CAN'T be made.
    >
    >
    > ERIN: Just more wrong assumptions. I just know some topics people can't
    > seem to talk about in a civil manner and until they can don't want to
    > participate in the discussions. Of course MoQ has stuff to say about them.
    >
    >
    > DMB: One can't avoid criticism in a philosophical forum such as this by
    > simply
    > insulting the critic or making emotional appeals about hurt feelings. One
    > can make a case or not. You put up or shut up. You can actually address and
    > answer the criticism or simply whine about it. Which do you think is gonna
    > fly around here? Duh! That's all we can do. I think its that simple. I also
    > think its completely unreasonable to expect that heated debate and
    > passionate arguments can be avoided here. And what a bore it would be even
    > if we could.
    >
    >
    > ERIN: I can see you are more interested in heat than light...that doesn't
    > suprise me.
    >
    >
    > DMB: Show me a guy who steps into a boxing ring and then complains when the
    > otherguy takes a swing at him and I'll show you a guy who has no idea what
    > he's
    > gotten himself into. If you can't take a punch, take up another sport. Don't
    > get in the ring. But for god's sake don't ruin the game for the rest of us.
    >
    >
    > ERIN: Yeah that is one approach but I don't see it as being of high
    > quality.
    >
    > DMB: And no, I'm not suggesting that anyone be asked to leave. I'm just
    > saying
    > that it has to be accepted or rejected for what it is. This is an
    > intellectual forum and as such anything or anyone that interferes with our
    > ability to be open, honest and direct in our exchanges is our enemy.
    > Sometimes that is going to mean that people get upset. So what? We're all
    > adults here and metaphysics ain't for children. Can we agree on that?
    > Personally, I have loads of respect for my enemies. If I'm on your back
    > constantly, its a good bet that I take you quite seriously. (Isn't that so,
    > Matt?) If I only attacked those who seemed philosophically weak and
    > unpersuasive, then I would merely be a cowardly bully and not a boxer in a
    > real fight. Right?
    >
    > Oddly perhaps, I think the calls for politeness and civility are usually a
    > call for self-censorship. I think its a way of asking your opponent to throw
    > the fight, take a dive or otherwise corrupt the! game. Not always. I'm not
    > saying that nobody has ever crossed the line or that there's anything wrong
    > with being nice, but usually calls for civility just looks like emotionally
    > manipulative bullshit. Usually it comes from those who are far too concerned
    > with their own hurt feelings and who wants to put that concern over and
    > above the substance of the matter.
    >
    > Oooops. Gotta go.
    >
    > dmb
    >
    >
    >

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