Thread: Why Do You..

Its because I am right and the rest of you need to straighten up! This is meant to be to funny though true. Enjoy it for what its worth (not much sometimes), you never know when you might learn something.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Stubear:
Myself I really don't have many people where I live in the first place, and most everyone here is pretty much the same when it comes to politics and religion... So this forum let's me debate with intelligent gentlemen that have sometimes very different views than my own....

I will have to say there is a pretty eclectic mix of intelligent gentlemen here. But let's face it. People who will take a very sharp piece of steel with no training wheels on it, and hold it against areas that would be very bad to cut, are probably more alike someplace than different.

I live in Michigan, and politics here is pretty volital. It separates families from one another. So maybe I'm sensitive to it from that point of view.

But working for GM, I have to work even harder to find a happy place every day. This is that place. So, for me, I like to keep it that way.

Originally Posted by MistressNomad

I'm kinda with you. I'll jump in here with philosophical quandaries, general ethics, and what have you, but I avoid the hard politics and religion.

It's not that I find that aspect of the discussion on SRP unfriendly. In fact, I think it is far more friendly than most places.

It's not that I can't "man up." Politics was my thing for years.

But I have plenty of other places to discuss those things, and the simple fact of the matter is this:

There are certain beliefs that if I know someone holds them, I cannot respect them. It's only a couple things in particular, so it's not like I want everyone to think like I do. I'm open to diverse beliefs, but these couple things really, really bother me.

However my own life and mind has brought me to these conclusions, there are some things we still debate that I think are so archaic in terms of ethics that I just can't like someone who argues the point, and I don't understand how anyone can believe things like that. To me, people who argue these things are like people who argue in favor of bringing back public stoning for trimming your beard, or selling off your daughter for marriage in exchange for a cow.

Once I know, my opinion of that person is forever tainted.

I know that sounds immature. It probably is. But on some of these issues, we're all immature. That's why it gets so heated.

So I just stay the hell out of a lot of the political discourse here. I like you all too much to let something like that taint my thinking to the point where I don't want to talk to someone.

I really respect the fact that you did not disclose what those things are. This thread would have taken a decidely different turn.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Its because I am right and the rest of you need to straighten up! This is meant to be to funny though true. Enjoy it for what its worth (not much sometimes), you never know when you might learn something.

I am really starting to like this thread.

John Stuart Mill comments on this very topic in "On Liberty," Chap. 2 Of the Liberty of Thought and Discussion:

"In the case of any person whose judgment is really deserving of confidence, how has it become so? Because he has kept his mind open to criticism of his opinions and conduct. Because it has been his practice to listen to all that could be said against him; to profit by as much of it as was just, and expound to himself, and upon occasion to others, the fallacy of what was fallacious. Because he has felt, that the only way in which a human being can make some approach to knowing the whole of a subject, is by hearing what can be said about it by persons of every variety of opinion, and studying all modes in which it can be looked at by every character of mind. No wise man ever acquired his wisdom in any mode but this; nor is it in the nature of human intellect to become wise in any other manner."

There is more at this link: II. Of the Liberty of Thought and Discussion. Mill, John Stuart. 1869. On Liberty

Besides that, who else do you want to talk with besides a bunch of straight razor goof balls?

Originally Posted by Alembic

I really respect the fact that you did not disclose what those things are. This thread would have taken a decidely different turn.

Well, in the interest of full disclosure, I just can't like someone who doesn't like sharp shinies.

I post here because it is interesting. I don't, particularly use forums to get away from the world, if anything I use them to get involved with the world. I think this forum has a great many insightful people, and I take a great deal of pleasure in having my views challenged and also in challenging other peoples. I would like to think I've made a few people stop and think for a second, or at least presented a counter argument in a way that makes them see the other side of the coin. Certainly I have experienced that.

I think my posts in the conversation are perhaps some of the only posts that I've ever made that get thanks, not via the button, but via PM.

I also know that when I post a thread in here, I will get balanced replies, and that the folks here will actually understand what the hell I'm talking about. You could look to my thread on discrimination as an example.

I think it is friendlier than your perceive it. For me, discussion is almost a drug, perhaps it is not for you.

Incidentally, there are a many people who I have disagreed with on here. I couldn't tell you who they are though. They are a great many people on here who's opinions I respect, and I fully imagine the list is quite similar. Even though I have no idea who would be on the first one, I forgot a long time a go.

This thread, in many ways, optimizes this section.

Originally Posted by honedright

John Stuart Mill comments on this very topic in "On Liberty," Chap. 2 Of the Liberty of Thought and Discussion:

"In the case of any person whose judgment is really deserving of confidence, how has it become so? Because he has kept his mind open to criticism of his opinions and conduct. Because it has been his practice to listen to all that could be said against him; to profit by as much of it as was just, and expound to himself, and upon occasion to others, the fallacy of what was fallacious. Because he has felt, that the only way in which a human being can make some approach to knowing the whole of a subject, is by hearing what can be said about it by persons of every variety of opinion, and studying all modes in which it can be looked at by every character of mind. No wise man ever acquired his wisdom in any mode but this; nor is it in the nature of human intellect to become wise in any other manner."

There is more at this link: II. Of the Liberty of Thought and Discussion. Mill, John Stuart. 1869. On Liberty

Besides that, who else do you want to talk with besides a bunch of straight razor goof balls?

Oh, I have no problem with the criticism and discussion of ideas. I like to scrap an I like to get clarity on my beliefs. I was just wondering why people would want to spoil their relaxation with scrapping here. I think I'm getting it.

Originally Posted by Alembic

In 30 years, I have never had my mind changed on my religious or political beliefs. Neither have I changed anybody's mind. And it gets downright hostile here.

You haven't been a member of many online communities, have you?
I have, and I can say without a doubt that the conversation is the most polite and well behaved 'general' discussion forum I've been a part of.

While threads can sometimes be heated, generally there will be no name calling, insults, threats, or other things that spoil the mood.

Even 'the study' on martialtalk.com is a much more hostile environment despite being moderate fairly strictly and it is one of the more friendly ones I've seen. The worst one was a private place where I am a member. Insults were the order of the day, and I've even seen death threats posted in public.

I hope everyone understands that I have no problem with the discussions. And, I am not trying to bury my own head in the sand. I just niavely did not expect this at a forum where people shave with straight razors.

Maybe I should have expected it. I think maybe straight razor shavers could have an opinionated independent streak. : )