There have always been poorly crafted arguments on web forums and before that on usenet and before that going back millennia of written and oral traditions...(the real jiggery probably began around the time you started to see priests but that's whole 'nother discussion). I gotta tell ya though that after a four and a half year hiatus from Talkbass reading through some current threads is more than ever like a masterclass in fuzzy thinking and logical fallacy.
So stop typing for a few minutes and have a look at the websites linked below. I'm not expecting everyone to start razor edged Jesuitical thinking overnight but damn people it's like playing music; if you don't care enough to develop some basic skills you'll never be much fun to hang with. Not only are good arguments the most enlightening and convincing they observe the respect and decorum this forum expressly stipulates.
The Nizkor Project
List of fallacies - Wikipedia
It's important to consider that you cannot not always be right. Accept this as a manifest truth because it is. As you get better at spotting fallacies in other people's arguments an uncomfortable result of that increased insight is that you start to see the fallacies in your own. And at the point your thinking starts to actually change don't fight it, examine it.
Stop giving yourself credit for seeing the big picture. You don't. If you're really observant you may see a part of one of the little pictures but that's your best hope. I always wonder at seeing people from Wazooberg who have never been to Fjallabyggð telling someone in Fjallabyggð how it is (or worse should be) in Fjallabyggð based only on what they see in Wazooberg. This kinda bull**** happens constantly! The reality is you may not really know how it is for the guy down the street let alone for someone from another culture halfway around the globe. Be ready to learn something where you believed you didn't have nuthin' left to learn.
Separate your beliefs from knowledge. If you have the courage to try and honestly assess this it's one of the hardest, and as you advance most painful things you'll do in this life. Here's a page that makes the differentiation briefly but to the point.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Whose ideas are you arguing? A question everyone should give very serious consideration is "Have I ever had an original thought?"
Lastly why draw blood over anything on Talkbass? Is it really that important? I'm not saying not to vigorously pursue your point....gawd knows I won't be giving that up any time soon. Just park your self-righteousness and anger at the door when you tip into Talkbass.
So stop typing for a few minutes and have a look at the websites linked below. I'm not expecting everyone to start razor edged Jesuitical thinking overnight but damn people it's like playing music; if you don't care enough to develop some basic skills you'll never be much fun to hang with. Not only are good arguments the most enlightening and convincing they observe the respect and decorum this forum expressly stipulates.
The Nizkor Project
List of fallacies - Wikipedia
It's important to consider that you cannot not always be right. Accept this as a manifest truth because it is. As you get better at spotting fallacies in other people's arguments an uncomfortable result of that increased insight is that you start to see the fallacies in your own. And at the point your thinking starts to actually change don't fight it, examine it.
Stop giving yourself credit for seeing the big picture. You don't. If you're really observant you may see a part of one of the little pictures but that's your best hope. I always wonder at seeing people from Wazooberg who have never been to Fjallabyggð telling someone in Fjallabyggð how it is (or worse should be) in Fjallabyggð based only on what they see in Wazooberg. This kinda bull**** happens constantly! The reality is you may not really know how it is for the guy down the street let alone for someone from another culture halfway around the globe. Be ready to learn something where you believed you didn't have nuthin' left to learn.
Separate your beliefs from knowledge. If you have the courage to try and honestly assess this it's one of the hardest, and as you advance most painful things you'll do in this life. Here's a page that makes the differentiation briefly but to the point.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Whose ideas are you arguing? A question everyone should give very serious consideration is "Have I ever had an original thought?"
Lastly why draw blood over anything on Talkbass? Is it really that important? I'm not saying not to vigorously pursue your point....gawd knows I won't be giving that up any time soon. Just park your self-righteousness and anger at the door when you tip into Talkbass.
