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Topic: Beliefs< Next Oldest | Next Newest >
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DeadAnztac Search for posts by this member.
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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 10 2001,03:49  Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE

You know what? I think Kevin Smith actually had a good point in Dogma when he (well Chris Rock actually) said that beliefs are a stupid concept. You really can't change a belief 'cause it's just that: a belief. Why not just have ideas? Ideas can be changed, but people die over beliefs. Beliefs are most regularly absorbed from society, and perpetuated by people. Beliefs are about the only thing that keeps this "democracy" called America going. Think about it.

Of course I'm a hypocrite. I of course have beliefs, but that doesn't mean I don't try and question them, and I don't allow myself (well I should say I try not to let myself) get all emotional when someone questions my beliefs.

I think the whole concept of beliefs is based on an absurd assumption anyways, that being universal affirmatives. They are very few (if any) universal affirmatives. So if you "believe" something that means you think that your view can be applied to everyone/everything. I think that is truly absurd. Think about the gun control debate: One person thinks guns should be restricted because they got shot in the leg and if gun control had been around that person wouldn't of had a gun in the first place; another person thinks guns shouldn't be restricted because if that person had had a gun they never would have been shot in the first place. Who's right? Both and neither. You see you can't apply either situation in all cases. Am I even right for saying that? I don’t know, someone give me a logical reason why I'm not. Please. I really enjoy refining my views with logic.

(Now here’s the part where I might get in trouble)
The only reason I decided I would post this was because I read the abortion thread (well no I read the "Are women as horny as men?" thread), and all parties kept accusing the others of being ignorant, or insensitive for various reasons, and then they would proceed to explain why their belief was correct. While I’m not accusing anyone of being an asshole, or anything like that, I’m just asking people to be more open minded when someone posts an opinion. Remember it is my opinion that no one is completely right on anything, so take what someone says, if it sounds idiotic tell them why, and then the other person then can refute. I mean these boards are for communication, and what is the point of communication if you can’t transmit ideas? I mean if your going to read these boards (or communicate in general) and only listen to what you personally think then what’s the point of listening at all?

Now hopefully this will be taken as an interesting idea that some of you will take in, and some of you will point at and cry “bullshit!” I hope some of you will at least, for a second think about my words before taking a stance. This is how I think all things should be taken from anyone, teachers, friends, politicians, clergymen, etc. I don’t think that you should believe anything anyone tells you unless you can back it up with proof or at least a logical argument.

P.S. I’m not trying to flame anyone, I’m just transmit my opinion and ideas. Maybe (and hopefully) someone can give me some intelligent feedback. (And please don’t defend yourself here; I wasn’t accusing anyone here of anything, seriously)

This message has been edited by DeadAnztac on February 10, 2001 at 10:54 PM

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DeadAnztac Search for posts by this member.
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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 10 2001,03:57 Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE

I reread that post and it sounded like I was targeting this thread directly at the previously named thread. I was not. I was trying to put forth a general idea, I just used the other thread as an example of where opinions can completly differ due to completly different realities.
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CatKnight Search for posts by this member.
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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 10 2001,06:24 Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE

you are wrong. everything i say is always the objective truth, and anything anyone else says is subjective, and relative to my truth. but this only applies to me, because only in my reality is everything i say correct. but, if my reality is not the true reality, then everything i say is not the real truth. therefore, everything i say is wrong. but this can't be true either, because of my first statement that everything i say is always the objective truth. we now have a logical circle that can only be concluded with the fact that you are wrong! hahaha.

but yes i agree with you people should be more open minded.

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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 10 2001,07:25 Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE

Problems never get resolved on a forum, they just lead to arguments and eventually some kind of war of words that results in a lot of people getting either pissed off or really excited. It's a bit like a fight in real life. If it happens in the middle of town beween two guys you don't know over some ugly girl then you cheer them on, maybe throw in some cheap shots but if the fight's going on in your pub or something, you might want to stop it.

Most people want to see the fight conclude to it's bitter end though, and who can blame them?

My favourite quote from that film? "I swear I didn't come on you, Pete."
cheers

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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 10 2001,13:46 Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE

quote:
Originally posted by LazyGit:
Problems never get resolved on a forum

I STILL say I won in the hot bowl thread by submittion move! kuru STILL never answered my question, even after I've brought it up in 4 other threads! Oh wait... mabey that makes YOU right LazyGit...

Anyway, I always thought "beliefs" were something that you WEREN'T sure of! EXAMPLE: "I BELIVE you're standing on my toe." I expect them to look down and confirm my belives, because of the uncertainty of them...

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kai Search for posts by this member.
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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 11 2001,04:10 Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE

isn't belief just a label for a thought?

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What if there were no hypothetical questions?

This message has been edited by kai on February 11, 2001 at 11:10 PM

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DeadAnztac Search for posts by this member.
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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 11 2001,04:15 Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE

It can be, but it is often defined as one's world view. Often a static and biased view of things. Like believing that there is a god. It's a way you look at the world, and live your life acordingly... in other words: it's not something you can just change whenever you reach a new understanding. That's the kind of beliefs I'm talking about.
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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 11 2001,04:52 Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE

and why can't you just change your beliefs when you reach a new understanding or whatever. they are your's aren't they? my 'beliefs' are modified probably everyday. my take on god was heavily modified by something someone said here.

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What if there were no hypothetical questions?

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damien_s_lucifer Search for posts by this member.
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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 11 2001,08:17 Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE

you're right on when you say that nobody is completely right.

but don't be fooled (as many people have) into thinking all beliefs/value systems/opinions/ideas are equal. Some opinions etc. are MUCH, MUCH better than others.

I actually wrote an essay last year for my website that covers this topic :

quote:
COMBAT.

WHOOPING ASS, although solidly criticized by politicians and overprotective mothers everywhere, is a good thing. If the cavemen had used their unique talents to foster a nurturing and non-competitive environment the planet would be run by leopards.

Fortunately for us, the first caveman- who was profoundly in touch with his inner child, not knowing or caring what "maturity" meant- used his genius to crack skulls. Now that he was relatively safe from leopard attack, Early Man could go on to discover fire, and humanity was ensured a long and fruitful existence.

We can see from this that the combative instinct can be a good thing, despite the posturing of those who should know better. It's not a matter of if you fight, but how, what, and why you fight. Kicking someone's ass for the hell of it is definitely Bad. Kicking someone's ass because they're executing Jews is a Good thing. And so it goes.

Then there's fighting for practice, which is necessary in order to protect yourself. And it's good excercise t'boot. [This forum] is for a particular part of that particular need- the part of you that needs practice debating.

Debating?

Yes, debating. The art of linguistic combat. The art of showing (that's showing, not telling) someone else that they're wrong and you're right.

At the moment those of you who imagine yourself to be peaceful, compassionate, and objective are now thinking that proving that you're right doesn't matter.

You are wrong.

Although it's often said that their are no "right" or "wrong" opinions, I would like to offer my dissent: Opinions can be right or wrong, because they are emotional- and emotions lead to action. The opinions of some eighteenth century French philosophers led the American colonies to revolt against the English. Hitler's opinions led to genocide. The opinions of racists turn into discrimination and worse; the opinions of caring people turn into acts of kindness; the opinions of the apathetic turn into more apathy. And so on.

So opinions do matter, because they affect the lives of you and everyone else. Given that, if we wish to enrich the world around us- even a small fragment of it- it is imperative that we are capable of discerning between good opinions and bad ones, and imperative to know how to show others your way of thinking.

And to do that, you need practice. Just as an accomplished warrior is a lot more likely to slay his enemies than a gawky adolescent is, someone with experience in debate is a lot more likely to prove he's right than someone who's always been "non-confrontational."

So that's what the Combat Arena is all about- debate. Here you get to throw out ideas in hope of convincing someone else you're right, and possibly get trashed for it. It's not always pleasant, but being wrong is integral to learning.

And I can't think of a better way to make the world a little less crappy than having a lot more people that know how to think.

-T. Prometheus Finn
26 June, 2000


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DeadAnztac Search for posts by this member.
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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 11 2001,09:26 Skip to the previous post in this topic.  Ignore posts   QUOTE

hmm, very interesting read man.
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