In itself, there is nothing wrong with being extreme

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: Stunt
"Fox is partisan, but that doesn't make them bad. "
Fox being partisan isn't bad?!...wow, that's worth saving for the next biased media thread, I bet some Republicans would like it for sig material.

I didn't say "Fox being partisan" isn't bad. Read closer. I'm saying them being partisan doesn't make Fox bad or somehow invalidate what they say on the news. Is it good to have news outlets that pretend to be presenting all sides of the issue be partisan? No. That's dishonest on their part and misleading. If they are going to have partisan views, they should be honest about it. That's what is bad. There are also plenty of other problems with Fox. However, being partisan is not, in itself bad.

"Who cares what most people think? What is your deal with ad populum arguments?"
Apparently you do...you think since everyone groups and labels people, you are justified in doing so.

There is a big difference. In one case you are using poplarity to reflect on truthfulness of the statement. In the other, people use generalizations to group ideas, but not to judge the ideas as right or wrong.

 

[Stunt]

Being partisan is misleading and spining to carry the party line.

I think i'm done making my point about partisan...maybe others can address it.

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: Stunt
Being partisan is misleading and spining to carry the party line.

Wow, where is the argument? You don't just state something and not provide evidence if you want to be taken seriously. My meaning of partisan is backed up by the dictionary and is logically sound. Yours is just a belief with no support for it.

I think i'm done making my point about partisan...maybe others can address it.

'OMG you are misrepresenting reality by hiding from the truth.' :roll:

 

[Stunt]

I think I'm taken very seriously, do you have evidence that they do not? Your definition coinsides nicely with what i have said and how people see partisans.

I try to leave the discussion when my views are heard and i've made my points; also when people are too stubborn to understand flaws in their arguments.

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: Stunt
I think I'm taken very seriously, do you have evidence that they do not?

Why are you talking about whether you are taken seriously or not exactly?

Your definition coinsides nicely with what i have said and how people see partisans.

It coincides, the problem is you wrongly add to it. You wrongly extend the definition to include people that don't listen. There is no rational reason for this extension.

I try to leave the discussion when my views are heard and i've made my points; also when people are too stubborn to understand flaws in their arguments.

Stubborn? I'm open to persuasion. Again you are focusing on emotions instead of the actual arguments. I respond to just about all your arguments. That is a lot more than I can say for you.

 

[Stunt]

So tell me the difference between a partisan and someone who is not partisan then?
I am honestly not in the least emotional about this discussion, it's actually pretty boring.

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: Stunt
So tell me the difference between a partisan and someone who is not partisan then?

A partisan is devoted to a cause or party. A non-partisan isn't.

A partisan is a fervent and even militant proponent of something. A partisan isn't.

I am honestly not in the least emotional about this discussion

Good.

 

[ntdz]

Originally posted by: Infohawk
I see people on both sides of the aisle say that extremists are bad. Well, being an extremist in itself is not bad. To suggest it is is to appeal to popularity by suggesting that people with more common beliefs are right.

There is no doubt that many extremists, like religious ones, are horrible. But they are not bad because they are extremists, but because of their beliefs, values, and actions.

There have been many "extremists" throughout history who have been right. American abolitionists were extremists in a time when many northerners were simply happy to let slavery be limited to the South. I'm sure we could find rhetoric describing Martin Luther King as an extremist. Jesus was an extremist. Let's face it, many societal shifts are commenced by extremists who become the status quo.

Extremists can be wrong or right.

Edit: the flip side of this is people who take pride in being moderate. It is simply pride in having a common position, which history shows can be quite silly.

OK...then it's ok to be an "extremist" Christian since Christians aren't commiting crimes in the name of their religion...right?

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: ntdz
OK...then it's ok to be an "extremist" Christian since Christians aren't commiting crimes in the name of their religion...right?

The fact that the Christian is extreme is not the problem. The fact that I believe their positions to be unreasonable is.