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Originally posted by Libra
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Originally posted by BB22
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Originally posted by LibraTo put the blame entirely on one person or the other just shows a bias.
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Putting aside everything else you have written, as I am quite prepared to accept your right to disagree, I would take issue with this last line. I think it is factually incorrect and also kind of does a disservice to some excellent discussions in this very thread. I think the people discussing this issue have done it in a thoughtful way.
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It's not factually incorrect, it's just an opinion, as are most things written on internet forums. Perhaps I should have added "in my opinion?"
What is a fact though, is that very very rarely is one person to blame in an argument.
To come down on one side or the other depends upon which person you favour.
There have been some good points made on this thread.
In my post I did not come down on one side or the other, I pointed out where there was fault on both sides, to demonstrate that it is hard to say for certain that one person or the other was entirely to blame.
I also accept your right to disagree, and it's still just my opinion.
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Absolutely it is an opinion, I do not dispute that. But opinions are beliefs and conceptually beliefs aim at truth. It is quite possible for something to be an opinion and be factually incorrect. Opinions are not excused from evaluation in terms of truth and falsity. There is no contradiction there at all, so your first point is not well formed.
Your second point is absolutely right. Rarely is one person to blame in an argument. But of course it is possible.
When you say "To come down on one side or the other depends upon which person you favour": well yes in a way. Obviously to come down on one side implies that you favour them in some specific circumstance, the point at issue. But it does not mean that who you favour determines which side you come down on, which is a quite different thing and is what you would need to sustain your idea about "bias". So for instance, quite generally I despise Lisa and dislike Bea rather less but in this case I believe Bea was in the wrong and have more sympathy for Lisa. I am not sure where the "bias" is supposed to be operating in such a situation. In fact, I would say quite generally that the word "bias" is vastly overused in debates. I try never to use it, myself.
When you say "In my post I did not come down on one side or the other, I pointed out where there was fault on both sides", I am not particularly in disagreement with you. Nor was I from your original post. But of course it does not preclude a determination of of where the weight of responsibility lies.
I know I am being irritatingly exact and pedantic about terminology and small aspects of the debate. Years in academic philosophy has that effect on one's brain.
08-08-2009, 12:58 PM
Totally agree! 
Linear Mode
