How do you argue? What ticks you off?

Flint · 06-15-2008, 10:37 AM

I try to go beyond the obvious, first-look analysis, and delve into possible deeper concepts at play, different interpretations, or deconstructing a possible bias in order to reveal a more clear view of things. Sometimes this is just playing Devil's Advocate, because I don't like it when there is a huge, assumed agreement on something, to the point that no discussion is devoted to exploration of the actual subject (when the first step has actually been skipped). Sometimes I do it because something bothers me that I can't put my finger on. Sometimes I do it because I know EXACTLY what's wrong with what is being espoused, and I can demonstrate a set of logical steps to that effect.

Almost invariably what happens, though, is that people are doggedly devoted to NOT taking a deeper look at things. I will get people "explaining" to me, ad nauseum, the same, obvious facts of the subject; or repeating the same, obvious method of analysis. Now, I'm taking these thaings as a given -- it isn't that I don't understand what you're saying. But let's just try to look at things in a DIFFERENT way and see what we get. Anyone, with very litte effort, can reach the OBVIOUS conclusion, but, isn't it the case that things are not always what they seem?

How do we ever get closer to what things really are if we refuse to look any further than our first impressions?

06-15-2008, 10:37 AM	#2
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	I try to go beyond the obvious, first-look analysis, and delve into possible deeper concepts at play, different interpretations, or deconstructing a possible bias in order to reveal a more clear view of things. Sometimes this is just playing Devil's Advocate, because I don't like it when there is a huge, assumed agreement on something, to the point that no discussion is devoted to exploration of the actual subject (when the first step has actually been skipped). Sometimes I do it because something bothers me that I can't put my finger on. Sometimes I do it because I know EXACTLY what's wrong with what is being espoused, and I can demonstrate a set of logical steps to that effect. Almost invariably what happens, though, is that people are doggedly devoted to NOT taking a deeper look at things. I will get people "explaining" to me, ad nauseum, the same, obvious facts of the subject; or repeating the same, obvious method of analysis. Now, I'm taking these thaings as a given -- it isn't that I don't understand what you're saying. But let's just try to look at things in a DIFFERENT way and see what we get. Anyone, with very litte effort, can reach the OBVIOUS conclusion, but, isn't it the case that things are not always what they seem? How do we ever get closer to what things really are if we refuse to look any further than our first impressions? __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio** Last edited by Flint; 06-15-2008 at 10:44 AM. Reason: shpieling

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