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| Subject: Re: P.S. | |
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Author: Kylopod |
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Date Posted: 11:41:59 10/06/07 Sat Author Host/IP: pool-71-246-76-93.bltmmd.east.verizon.net/71.246.76.93 In reply to: Jimmy 's message, "Re: P.S." on 06:44:35 10/03/07 Wed >"And while civil libertarians are more common on the >left than on the right," > >Define civil libertarian then. The ones I know are far >to the right on everything except for social issues; >so to suggest they can be found in greater numbers on >the left seems like specter. Ever listened to right-wing tirades against the ACLU? >"Of course, even civil libertarians do not necessarily >argue that the people whose constitutional rights are >being trampled deserve to be given a platform." > >What people are you referring to? People advocating extreme ideas that others want censored. >>Who is going to take a Holocaust denier seriously? > >Ask your buddy, Mel. > >Again, that is his dad. Has Mel ever denied the >Holocaust? NO! He got drunk one night and said some >shit he regretted and more than likely did not mean. We've been through this before. You know as well as I do that Mel gave far from a straight answer on the Holocaust question. Your explanation was that he doesn't want to insult his dad. That's a reasonable explanation, one I've flirted with myself, but by now I just don't think so. >"Even the Ancient Greeks knew that the earth was a >sphere." > >Who told them? Zeus? Where do modern scientists get their theories? Jesus? >You cannot prove it. You can only >point to science. There were many ways in which the ancients knew that the earth was round, long before the advent of science. They could see a ship's mast in the distance without seeing the ship's body (which was below the horizon). Or they could notice the earth's curved shadow on the moon during a lunar eclipse. A Greek philosopher named Eratosthenes calculated Earth's circumference and diameter to an astonishing level of accuracy (compared to modern measurements). But why are you arguing "no one will take it seriously" for Holocaust denial, then playing Devil's Advocate when it comes to flat earth? The only real difference between the two claims is that the first is a thousand times more offensive. But if you're going to start saying we're all indoctrinated in science, you could make the same argument with the study of history. You're right in the sense that much of the populace does not think for themselves. Everyone uses "flat earth" as the emblem of irrational belief even though most people probably don't have a clue how scientists actually know the earth is round, other than that we have the pictures from NASA. It just goes to show that most people believe what they've been taught to believe, even when they're talking about the importance of independent thinking. There are two basic problems with giving marginalized extremists a platform. The first is that there are so many extremist ideas out there we literally wouldn't have the time to cover them all. The second is that it would serve no good purpose. If there were televised debates between flat earth theorists and mainstream geologists, I guarantee you that the membership of the Flat Earth Society would increase. Not because they have any good arguments, but because there will always be people out there drawn to such things as long as they are aware of them. Most people would probably be unaffected, but it wouldn't really help them either. People interested in hearing such views can seek them out--and that's why we have the Internet, libraries, and so on. There's no point in going out of our way to give them exposure. It's a little more complicated with Ahmadinejad. (Didn't look the spelling up, that's just a guess.) He already has some exposure, and power. Still, I'm not sure what they hope to accomplish by giving him a platform. >">Sure you didn't. You have two hetero parents. > >What's that supposed to mean?" > >It means that since you grow up in a traditional home >that you don't care about the kids who get raised by >creeps. I will encourage my kids to pick on these >adoptees. You are way off. I care plenty about kids having good homes, and I have seen nothing to convince me that being raised by two gay people creates a terrible childhood. Other things being equal, it's almost certainly healthier than a single parent home. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
| Subject | Author | Date |
| Sex!? He's a man...we wrestled! | Jimmy | 19:43:32 10/06/07 Sat |
| Re: P.S. | Jimmy | 20:28:49 10/06/07 Sat |
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