Which is most evil: Circumcision, Abortion, Gay Marriage, Americans, filosofers

[Asher]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
More sophisticated and intelligent posters usually try not to argue something false even when sniping.

But it's not false, you just disagree because you are either:
1) An idiot
2) Upset you missed the point of the post (see 1)
3) Religious (see 1)
4) French (see 1)
5) Contrary to me (see 1)

[Asher]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
The other posters should have ignored your post like it deserved, but given that they attacked it and you defended it (squirming away as best you could), in the balance you've lost.

Yes, I defended it because it is correct.

Meanwhile, you've essentially argued that dictionaries have no real bearing on words' definitions and then called me an idiot.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Asher

The general consensus is a consensus is reached in a majority situation, see: political systems.

You're cute when you squirm

[Asher]

Originally posted by Spiffor


You're cute when you squirm

Squirm? It was a joke of using circular logic.

I need to find an audience on my level to understand what's going on.

[Kuciwalker]

Meanwhile, you've essentially argued that dictionaries have no real bearing on words' definitions and then called me an idiot.

Yup.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Asher
Squirm? It was a joke of using circular logic.

I need to find an audience on my level to understand what's going on.

Go post in a MOBIUS thread then.

[Kidlicious]

The French know about language

[Asher]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Yup.

Talk to me again when you've taken Linguistics 101.

[Kidlicious]

Asher,

What if two people alone are talking and use the same definition of a word but the definition is different from the dictionary? Does the definition they are using exist?

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Asher
I need to find an audience on my level to understand what's going on.

Actually, I fully understand your little trolls.

I took the time to write at length about this (instead of sleeping, but that's because I love you ), because I think your faith in dictionaries is a waste. I think it is an obstacle to you developing your own personal thought about the world. Which is sad, considering that you have enough brains to do such a thinking.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Kidicious
Asher,

What if two people alone are talking and use the same definition of a word but the definition is different from the dictionary? Does the definition they are using exist?

Of course their definition exists, it's just not the correct one.

You cannot have any reasonable discussion unless you standardize your language, which is the purpose of a dictionary. It's really one of the fundamental pillars of communication.

This is why philosophy and similar liberal arts are at such a disadvantage. In the sciences, we have a standardized definition of everything. In philosophy and liberal arts, they're not bright enough to be capable to standardize what they're talking about -- in fact, most philosophers make a career out of arguing about definitions and semantics rather than doing something productive.

This ties into my original post -- the problem is the word "person", as it is defined today and as it is accepted by the majority of the population, does not mean the same as fetus. In reality, we've got a word for the fetus -- it's called the fetus.

Spiffor -- I'm merely arguing that people use the correct words rather than using incorrect words to give a bias to the conversation. A fetus is a fetus, not a person. The fact that pro-Life people call it a person is merely to reinforce their position. It's a not-so-subtle mind-game that I dislike. If you want to argue that fetus' should not be aborted, be my guest, but it's certainly not a person.

Redefining words is a pet peve of mine.

[Kuciwalker]

You cannot have any reasonable discussion unless you standardize your language

Go live in Quebec, or France.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Go live in Quebec, or France.

Typical American -- you think the only way to standardize something is by government intervention?

[Drake Tungsten]

Dude, this thread is totally gay now...

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Asher
Spiffor -- I'm merely arguing that people use the correct words rather than using incorrect words to give a bias to the conversation. A fetus is a fetus, not a person. The fact that pro-Life people call it a person is merely to reinforce their position. It's a not-so-subtle mind-game that I dislike. If you want to argue that fetus' should not be aborted, be my guest, but it's certainly not a person.

A baby is a person
A child is a person.
A teenager is a person.
An adult is a person.
An old timer is a person.
A comatose is a person.

There is nothing objective to say that other stages of human development can't attain personhood. Ozzy actually believes a fetus is a person. BK actually believes an embryo is a person. They don't use the word just to score cheap points (one can't possibly score points at 'Poly). They use the word because it represents their actual perception, their actual definition.

disclaimer: I am strongly pro choice, and I make absolutely no bones about terminating embrioes.