Really Celestrian.... why? Maybe you haven't been paying attention.
Ecolitan. I understand that things are a bit heated at the moment, but I'll be more than happy to answer your question:
It's been about a year and since I was last on the BBS with any measure of consistency. Rillion happens to be one of the few names that's still present and unchanged. I have reason to believe Drifter is Brasky, but if that's mistaken - he's an individual I already miss hearing from.
My parting statement was not intended either as an endorsement or condemnation of either of your positions.
Why would anyone give a damn what she has to say when she herself doesn't care if it's truthful.
My experiences with Rillion have in the past been to the contrary; generally in our exchanges she has been as far as I'm aware, honest and up-front. In fact, she has made it clear to me in the past the at times my posts got on the far side of ridiculous to the point of requiring a level of focus to maintain reading.
She gets a lot mileage 'round here for being female. Is that what it is Celestrian?
<smiles> Insinuating that I'm not exercising the proper level of chastisement because she is in possession of a
vagina?
If so: clever.
However, I will also chalk this up to me incorrectly interpreting your honest question for an implied insult, for reasons I will delineate further later.As I mentioned before, it's been a while since I've posted on here with any regularity, so I understand why my motivations/reservations could potentially be suspect, and in regards to that I will endeavor to clarify:
- Not all experiences with an individual are the same - I can only form my judgments based upon my experience or the empirical facts as they are presented to me. As I've mentioned before, my direct correspondence with Rillion in the past has not been consistent with what you allege. It doesn't necessarily make me right and you wrong, or vice versa. It just means that pending something more substantive, it's difficult to in good conscience make a summary judgment contrary to that evidence and experience.
- Misunderstandings, particularly on a BBS or IM, are commonplace: Simple reason: most communication between human beings is non-verbal. It's not just what is said - it's the body language, the tone of voice, that look she give you when she says, "everything's fine." On a BBS or IM - gone. All that nuance, that subtle information that gives you better clues as to whether or not the person posting simply misunderstands or is being genuinely pernicious is not present. My own experience has often taught me that when ever there is doubt - give the other person the benefit of yours. (Just ask Brasky - if he's still here)
In this case, I can understand how anyone could potentially mis-interpret "for the neighborhood." What neighborhood are you exactly referring to? The BBS? Libertarians? North Americans? The message is clear to you, but there is plenty of room for misinterpretation.
Similarly, I can also understand you could take the quotations to have been a implied slight - but again giving the person the benefit of the doubt on either side could very easily deferred the issue.
As a further illustration, I could very easily interpret your question, “Is that what it is, Celestrian,” as an implied insult, but because I have only the text - a very poor conveyance for all the things I mentioned above - it would be improper for me to do so, and begrudge you that without some further clarification.
- Who ran to my old friend, Ad Hominem first: This is probably where I'm going to be entangled in this argument despite how much I wish to remain neutral. I've re-read the entire string since Anarchir asked his first question, the very first clear-cut ad hominem was here:
My apologies if I over estimated you but since you decided to mock me while I'm having my coffee I'll tell you straight that while emotionally you seem healthier than some here so your brain functions relatively clearly I don't think it does so at great capacity.
The only place I can even potentially see the slight you refer to here was Rillion's comment here:
HAHAhahahaha......good one.
In response to blackie’s comment of “All Libertarians are geniuses.” The quote that you seem to be taking exception to is what Rillion said after (likely in response to the quote above):
I have found that, without exception, people who throw their IQ around tend to be assholes who are most likely liars as well.
Interestingly enough, I don't think I read you ever mention your IQ, so when taken to the truest sense of the ad hominem, this statement would not apply to you since you did not fulfill the assumption:
- Ecolitan throws his IQ around
to support the conclusion that you inferred:
- Ecolitan is an asshole, and likely a liar as well
So regardless of whether or not Rillion thought that 132 you mentioned was your IQ or not, it would not apply. Upon clarification, Rillion made the counter supposition that it would not fundamentally change the issue because of this statement:
You are a 120.
Which is very clearly a reinforcement of the first Ad Hominem that you laid out. So, were we to get technical: Per Rillion’s statement, the respondent Ad Hominem changed to this:
I have found that, without exception, people who throw their other people’s IQ around tend to be slightly lesser assholes who are most likely liars as well.
At this point, however, the issue is moot. You were the initiator of the Ad Hominems in this instance, regardless. Now perhaps there some deeper history between the two of you floating out there in the BBS ether, but as of the moment of this reply, I am unaware of it - though regardless I would not use that as a pretext for the justification of insulting someone's intelligence unprovoked in a particular conversation. Sure, one could also make the argument that both you and Rillion are equally guilty of using attacks to the man, but I would like to posit one more interesting observation:
The insult you levied was explicit and categorical.
Rillion’s insult was one of implication and couched in the qualifier of personal experience.
I would just encourage you to take a moment and think about that as it relates to your estimation of her intelligence quota.
- Since this *is* the a BBS, holding hard feelings only makes yourself feel bad at the end of the day: Let's just say, for the sake of discussion - 100% of your accusations are completely, unequivocally true. How much, outside of this BBS, does Rillion affect your life, or vice versa? My guess: infinitesimal at best.
Also, looking at it from a "debate club" kind of standpoint - getting upset, hurling good 'ol insults really only work to make yourself momentarily feel better and present your position, regardless of what it is, in a negative light. Perhaps you don't care - and that's perfectly fine and understandable. Just keep in mind that how one comports himself in certain situations tends to speak very loudly of his/her character, and how likely I would be willing to congress with that individual in matters intellectual, social or otherwise.
Cuz she's not a particularly truthful person and that's OK with her,
Again, I would need to see evidence where she was unilaterally caught in a lie beyond all shadow of a doubt/misinterpretation, for her to acknowledge that it was a deliberately false statement, and her actions or comments to show an indication of the indifference.
Should Rillion make the same accusation of you, I would also require the same of her.
people who don't care that they say true things are not worth listening to.
I am assuming you meant
untrue things, and even then I'm reminded of the Axiom,
Even a stopped clock tells the right time twice a day. While I understand that one must always wiegh a pathological liar's statements with a fair amount of skepticism and caution, simply and categorically disregarding everything one says as 'all lies' may sometimes prevent you from hearing that one bit of truth that could be very informative.
Again, I think given the circumstances, I understand that some things probably were misread all around. It's just unfortunate that the tenor had to turn so sour.
oh. One last thing: Calling anybody, but a woman in particular, a cunt: never classy. :/
-----
edit: cleaned up some typos and grammar, but I'm sure there will be more as I re(re)read.
edit: yep, cleaned up a little more garbage. : /