Topic: Beliefs
started by: DeadAnztac
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
but yes i agree with you people should be more open minded.
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
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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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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What if there were no hypothetical questions?
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
)
quote:
Originally posted by LazyGit:
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
Where in virginia are you from lazyGit?
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I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.
For Sale: Parachute. Only used once, never opened, small stain.
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Leaving the trees was a bad idea.
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This message has been edited by DeadAnztac on February 12, 2001 at 12:29 AM
i am the center of the universe. i don't mean that in an egotistical way, it just means that i am the point from which i look out on the universe in all directions, therefore i percieve it in a unique way.
you are the center of the universe as you percieve it. we all are.
as for "religion" i don't have one, exactly. i refer to myself as a atheist druid buddhist. it's hard to explain what that is, since it depends entirely on how i see the universe, but for me it works better than anything else. and as usual, your mileage may vary.
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kuru
'dancing is the vertical expression of horizontal desire.'
-robert frost