posted February 22, 2011 06:13 PM            

Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. ~ Proverbs 17.28

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I can fiercely defend your position if I choose to do so. Can you say the same?

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You can't even articulate your own position, so why am I to believe you can do a better job of mine? You believe a lot about yourself that you don't illustrate.

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I have seen Jwhop present incredibly rational arguments to you that you simply cannot comprehend.

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I have no basis for believing that you have any understanding of what's rational. I wish you'd channel some of that intellectual superiority into actually debating something instead of circumventing debate every time you're challenged to produce some reason for your thinking.

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That's why I said for you to do a simple search instead of me just posting links and such that you wouldn't read anyway.

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Why wouldn't I read them? Would they be Conservative editorials, or something like that? Yes, I'm less likely to take editorials from pundits as wisdom.

If you presented something from an expert in the field, or someone else that could be considered a commentator with integrity on the subject matter, I'd totally read it.

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I don't have to prove my open-mindedness by showing what I read on the net that supports your position.

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You have to prove your open-mindedness somehow. It's certainly not being served by your lack of argument for either side.

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You prove your close-mindedness with your every post--or else you would already know why net neutrality is oppressive by having read up on viewpoints that are in opposition to your world schema.

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I have read up on the opposition argument. Adopting a policy of net neutrality isn't oppressive. Until you can provide reason for why you think it is, I'll consider your attempt at argument moot.

I'm only asking that you live up to my standard of debate. Why are you so quick to avoid stating your reasons for virtually anything you decide to discuss with me? Is it insecurity, or are you really that deluded that you're intellectually superior?

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I know it's difficult and uncomfortable when we explore things that don't jibe with our world view, but that is what open-minded people are willing to do.

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You're not in a position to speak of what open-minded people do. It's neither difficult nor uncomfortable to explore ideas. Ideas are ideas. Some warrant consideration, and some don't. I don't know why you would attempt to assign emotions to the process.

What's uncomfortable for me is dealing with someone who thinks he knows what he's talking about, but who can't articulate the thought behind his belief. There's something wrong in that picture. If you hold a belief, especially with a Mercury chart ruler, you SHOULD be able to give sound reason for your thought. It shouldn't even be an issue.

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I have no problem with agreeing with Jwhop when he's right.

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You haven't established that either of you are right. I have no problem pointing that out.

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There are some truly great political writers who will enlighten you if you truly want to know the other side--just search and read.

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Post them. Let's see what they've got. You wouldn't have had to bow out of the debate if you had done this earlier. If they stand up to scrutiny, it makes you look good. If they fail under scrutiny, you can always disown them as having their own opinions.

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posted February 23, 2011 11:05 AM            

"You always do this. First the decision to debate me. Then, when you start to lose face, you back out feigning graciousness. I get it:"...acoustic

Hahahaha

You get it acoustic? Really? I suppose there must be a 1st time for everything...but this isn't it.

posted February 23, 2011 11:12 AM            

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What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world is immortal"~