2008-07-11 - Rider Down, NW11

Tynan - one of the original points made in this thread was if offence was caused by the statement 'Jesus was a cock', you baulk at the example of your chid being bought into the argument but to many people the 'relationship' they feel they have with Jesus is as real and tangible [however delusional and misguided you feel this is] as the relationship you have with your son

What I said was:

"No need for pointless ad hominem, if you don't agree with what I have posted then challenge what I have posted, no me as a person, but please don't drag my chid into this to attack my argument."

Notice I am defending my argument not my child.

Jesus is the subject here, my child is not the subject here.

What I am saying is that if we are discussing something then we should stick to that subject as much as possible (within reason) and not turn to ad hominem.

It turns out I misunderstood Pajamamamamamas intention, but the point remains.

Let me put it like this, I see argument as valid when it goes like this:

a) I think XXXX is a load of shit
b) why is that then
a) XXXX has caused so much financial trouble it should have never been used.
b) but without XXXX we would have no banking system
a) that's true but there are alternatives to XXXX that would have been better
b) Go on then name one that would have worked
a) YYYY might have worked if it was given enough time
b) YYYY faied when it was used in France
a) The UK and France have very differing financial markets

etc etc

Argument and counter-argument.

But when argument goes like this, it becomes largely pointless:

a) I think XXXX is a load of shit
b) why is that then
a) XXXX has caused so much financial trouble it should have never been used.
b) oh, so you know all about banking now do you
a) I know more than you
b) Well if you do know more than me, why was your wife made bankrupt last year
a) maybe we didn't want to play the 9 -5 game like you

etc etc

I am not saying that this thread has come anywhere near the second example, but I am always weary of it, when the subject drifts from what is being discussed to the personalities and lives of those discussing it - it is going in the wrong direction in my opinion, I thought (mistakenly) that was were we were headed.

'Jesus is a cock' is my opening gambit, it is the subject I started with, it is something I am willing to expand on.

P.S. (I would have gone for YYYY, much better for long term investors and the elderly)