Comments on: A Rant on Winning Arguments

By: Fayyaz khan

Fayyaz khan — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 17:06:02 +0000

Perhaps the warning should read something like this:

“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you!”

By: Irving Karchmar

Irving Karchmar — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 04:03:52 +0000

An old Sufi tradition advises us to speak only after our words have managed to pass through four gates. At the first gate, we ask ourselves, “Are these words true?” If so, we let them pass on; if not, back they go. At the second gate we ask; “Are they necessary?” At the third gate we ask; “Are they beneficial?” and at the fourth gate, we ask, “Are they kind?” If the answer to any of these is no, then what you are about to say should be left unsaid.

By: Nidal

Nidal — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 10:58:01 +0000

God dame it, it turns out you cantâ??t use the smaller than sign!

I make a point of never questioning anyoneâ??s belief or ideas unless they have an apparent negative impact on his/her surroundings, or if he/she in the first place was looking to question them, cause then you can question together otherwise its moo point.

One very interesting reality is that:
# People who call others closed minded (smaller than smaller than smaller than) # People who are open minded

Or maybe that makes me closed minded about people being open minded! Who knows

PS. Arguing could be an enjoyable past time, as long as you do not forget that there was no great objective behind it in the first place.

By: ohoud

ohoud — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 16:03:46 +0000

Hmmm, can smell the pessimism associated with the exam disease?:p

I thought about it a while ago, when someone just didnt want to get my point of view, and to tell you the truth: I was truelly annoyed. It was so crystal clear to me, how can it be to him?

And then I rethought it a bit, and said what if it was the other way around: would I reconsider my convictions?

We spend out lifetime building our selves up, including those beliefs and convictions that we grew up with. It simply becomes our daily reality, or maybe our taught reality?

Thats why I’m so impressed by people who change their mind and give themselves time to re-evalutate their way of thinking and giving that other self some of their time and “listen” ;as u said; and not just hear them out.

Its not an easy process though, to re-evaluate all the time, you dont want to be a cameleon at the end. So we’re back to finding a half way, which is the hardest of all

By: Bashar

Bashar — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 11:58:00 +0000

Well said Nas, well said…

I liked your above explanation of why people tend to argue and react the way they do â?like an immune system to a virus.â?

Last night I was complaining to a friend and asking:

Why..Just Why do some people make it a full time job researching and looking for some questions in other people believes, not for the sake of knowledge but just for the sake of mocking or questioning it?

I didnâ??t find the answer until I read your post today, and actually I am feeling better now

Just today I read three posts arguing this fact or that research or this teaching.

I can understand if they want to ask or share their thoughts about it. But this is not the case, what I read was like “Oh, please, can you believe this” or “Come on this is not true” orâ? this is too much and no one can prove its true !!”.

I hope this will stop soon and people start asking for the sake of listing to the questions and to prepare their defense.

Thanks again Nas and good luck in your exams.

By: fad

fad — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 10:46:30 +0000

you need to add the following to the warning:

You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile!

lol i think that Socrates actually coined the term ass whooping didnt he?