[MD] Harris and Steve

[John Carl]

Adopting an intolerant nazi-like attitude in attacking  so called republican
nazis is contributing to the problem rather than helping, as my post some
months ago on homotheism was supposed to illustrate.

DMB said ...
> "Arguments only ever persuade people who are persuadable by arguments."
>
> Ian continues ..
> Who needs hypothetical Nazi's when we have our very own Platt ? Anyway
> ... recognizing the validity of "facts" in such an argument are part
> of this community agreement.
>


First, if there's anyone on this list who's an expert on people
unpersuadable by argument its definitely dmb, so I'll take his word on that.

Second, lefties need Platt to rail against since Glen Beck is too busy to
take their calls.  So be grateful rather than scornful.


Third, Ian's emphasis on "community agreement" is vital to any debate or
social endeavor.  It's why humility is an irreplacable aspect of wisdom.
Armored antagonists tossing conversational bombs at each other from hardened
academic fortresses will never produce anything but rubble.

And to illustrate how it should be done, I'm starting a new thread in my
head.  I'll be thinking about it at work and posting it at lunch - the great
bikini burkha debate has captured my imagination.

Till then,

John



> When DMB says he thinks Harris is wanting to get us beyond the
> cultural relativism, clearly he is ... but it is by recognizing the
> cultural basis of the acceptance of "facts" that we do so.
>
> So where two communities bump up against such burkha / bikini
> disagreements they need to find common adjustments to form the
> agreement of the larger community - both ought to stand-up and
> participate in the argument. Choosing to simply accomodate / tolerate
> the status quo is the recipe for either total voluntary isolation or
> total war / enforcement. In our globalized world - total isolation is
> not an option.
>
> Regards