Termyn8or
Posts: 18681
Joined: 11/12/2005
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We now have a post about Japan and whaling, and many good points have been brought up on the subject, and I have responded to some of them.
But there are a couple of people on there who seem to relish the idea of discussing the meaning of one word. This is almost the same subject as the "Bitch here" thread.
Now people want to argue the definition of one word. In the case of the thread that provided the impetus for this post was generalisation.
I dunno if it is competely appropriate to address someone specifically in a post of this nature, but to my knowledge it is not a violation.
CL, I find that you are intelligent, but I bet you are young. I will iterate this (well type it) even though you have probably heard or read it before ;
A wise Man chooses his battles carefully.
You decided to engage someone about the definition of the word 'generalization'. You are intelligent CL, but you still live for the struggle, the element. I know you because I used to be like that. The element, that is the part of life that (seemingly) makes it worth living. The challenge, and the overcoming of that challenge. The problem comes when you bring this attitude into an intellectual discussion.
My friend, and I don't know you personally but from the boards I know you have a pretty good brain in functioning condition, I will call you that here. I am not against you in any way, but I want to point something out. It has been said that a Man is judged by the caliber of his enemies, and though that is a cool play on words let's just say it is not.
Your sparring partner in the other thread about the meaning of a word, he is no dummy, he made some valid points, you responded, I am not saying anyone got out of line, what I am saying is to persue the argument so is a waste of time.
To say "Fuck the details, they're alll the same", to ignore details and group together a number of any things, be they thoughts, words, cars, whatever, that is to generalize, to me.
Somebody used the wrong word. When that happens I usually try to find a better word. Words have different connotations. Like motor and engine. I can describe the subtle differences of each meaning. It also explains why Google is not called a search motor.[available upon request]
For example there is a subtle difference between the words 'accuse' and 'allege'. And it does not stop there, if you can grasp this I will try to reach you. To accuse is allegational, but to allege is not necessarily accusational. Are you getting it ? The choice of a proper word has more to it than just what Webster's says.
And the tone, just the form of the words as you put them together, as you write, it is you writing. Your personality shows. You are good but you are a bit insecure. I am not saying you are paranoid or anything like that but you have doubts about your intellect because school has challenged you.
You want to precipitate an aura of strength when it comes to things intellectual, and you do have considerable strength in that area.
The thing is right now you enjoy the challenge of conflict. You need that to survive in school, you are not studying basket weaving.
And the person you were arguing with it no slouch either. That argument was beneath both of you.
You will find out my friend(s) that time is the most valuable thing in the world.
Perhaps y'all are some sort of super authors or something that can churn out a novel in a week, but no matter how fast you can type, you still need to figure out what to type.
Time doing that is valuable as well, you need to direct your mind. This is a diversion and until and unless we get something going in RL, it will remain a diversion. We are here for a learning experience, and with most of us being already literate it is not productive Arguments about the definitions of words are counterproductive in a thread about issues such as the Japan thread.
I offer a heads up about this. I will not engage in that type of banter anymore. My time is valuable, and I have no problem sitting here composing posts, sometimes it takes hours, but really I am doing other stuff sometimes. But I am willing to do it because others are willing to do it.
So why are we here ? Even if we think we know everything we want to find out what others know and think. I don't think I know everything. Maybe I sound like it sometimes but I know I don't. How many members are here ? Well that is how many brains ? There is no way I could have had all the life experiences of all these others. There is no way I could know what they know, oh wait, I could if they told me.
THAT is why you choose words carefully.
AND battles.
"You said I generalized and I never generalized but then you generalized", "No you generalized I never generalized but you accused me of it".
Accused ?
See where I am going with this ?
I am not saying anyone is stupid, but that argument was stupid. Like I said in "Bitch here" it kills threads, is that what you fucking want ?
Sometimes you get caught up in it and it happened to me last year on SER. Now realize that there are no rules there. This discourse had to do with me asking a question that someone did not understand properly and thought my answer would be on Google. I was called an idiot and a moron I think, I could look back to see but screw it.
I wrote on the open forum that I would like to see him call me that in person. He took it as a threat almost and replied by emailing me "I bet this email gets bounced", which I read. It had his home address and phone number and his real name. Also in the body of the text was something like "You want to take me on one on one ?"
I replied that first of all I generally do not block email, except on a couple of accounts, and I was not looking for a fight. That really after we sit and have a discussion over a few beers and who knows, does he think I am a moron then ?
Actually there is a little part of me that thinks that anyone who thinks that I am a moron, is a moron. But it would be a fine experiment.
So the guy actually emails me and gives me his address. What kind of mentality is that ? And what kind of mentality thinks about a definition of a word in the English language ad nauseum which is obviously subject to interpretation at any time ? (because it is in the English language)
Think about it.
T
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Stick to the fucking point ! dammit ! - 
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