Comments on: Intellectual Honesty and Facebook

By: shekenne

shekenne — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 02:01:48 +0000

Thanks! I appreciate it.

By: Joe Shoemaker

Joe Shoemaker — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:58:25 +0000

If you don’t piss off a few people now and then, you’re not doing it right.

Keep up the great work.

By: Don Sherfick

Don Sherfick — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:40:26 +0000

Sheila: While I agree almost totally with your last commment, I think any number of people may take ubrage at the stated” “AND your mother wears combat boots”.

Really?

Where is any semblence of scientific data to support that sweeping assertion? Don’t get me wrong here. I don’t make the equally sweeping assertion that such an assertion is a perjorative slam…..to the contrary, I suspect that there are any number of mothers who take extreme pride in having such rugged footwear in their walk-in clothes closets. (Rumors that Imelda Marcos’ collection including at least one pair continue to circulate……just don’t ask me where).

I know at least anecdotally that my own mother never wore anything remotely resembline combat boots, nor in her wildest dreams (or letters to Santa) ever wanting to.

So please, please, practive what you preach and stop this continued incivility. It’s not only unproven but also is utterly lacking in scientific support.

(And don’t bother telling me you’ve seen leaked E-mails from scientists trying to supress the above information concerning Imelda Marcos. It’s all a one-world socialist plot to put all mothers in combat boots and impose taxes on them……to boot.)

By: Sheila

Sheila — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 17:13:44 +0000

I think the trick here is to stand by one’s principles without descending to name-calling and other content-less modes of debate. I think one can be ardent, committed and even strident, and still be within the bounds of fair fighting–but I do try to avoid the gratuitous slam (your position is wrong because [insert reason] AND your mother wears combat boots. Unfortunately, some people don’t have anything other than anger and/or fear to fight with.

Lawyers all learn the old adage: if the facts are on your side, argue the facts. If the law is on your side, argue the law. If neither, argue the equities. To which I’d add, if you don’t have facts, law OR equity, yell louder.

By: Steph Mineart

Steph Mineart — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:58:16 +0000

Oh, you’re on facebook? Cool!

By: Doug

Doug — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 15:18:03 +0000

Much ado about nothing, in my opinion. Someone says something chippy on the Internet. Stop the presses. I’m not one for gratuitous flame wars, but I don’t have much sympathy for people who get the vapors when someone says something harsh about public officials with whom the people happen to agree. The feigned shock and bruised feelings is nothing more than an effort to chill the debate and force it into a blandness that won’t stir any emotions and will, therefore, presumably be less effective.

It’s perfectly legitimate to point out the incongruity of allowing the suffering of actual people ostensibly in order to protect fetuses.

Time to drag out my favorite William Lloyd Garrison quote:
“I am aware that many object to the severity of my language; but is there not cause for severity? I will be as harsh as truth, and as uncompromising as justice. On this subject, I do not wish to think, or to speak, or write, with moderation. No! no! Tell a man whose house is on fire to give a moderate alarm; tell him to moderately rescue his wife from the hands of the ravisher; tell the mother to gradually extricate her babe from the fire into which it has fallen; — but urge me not to use moderation in a cause like the present. I am in earnest — I will not equivocate — I will not excuse — I will not retreat a single inch — AND I WILL BE HEARD. The apathy of the people is enough to make every statue leap from its pedestal, and to hasten the resurrection of the dead.”

By: shekenne

shekenne — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:21:37 +0000

Scott–I did not realize that. (This is what happens when elderly people use technology they don’t really understand!) Thanks for letting me know.

DET–Actually, you are correct.

By: DET

DET — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:02:52 +0000

I would assume that if you believe in “choice” you don’t really believe in hell.

By: Scott Tibbs

Scott Tibbs — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:00:51 +0000

> That blog post–the accuracy of
> which could not be verified by
> anyone not on my Friends list

Actually, your profile is at least semi-open. I was able to see the post myself, and I’m not on your friends list.