Morgan Deters, an old friend from college, responds to an assertion Brian made regarding the role people's mistrust of Bush has in their opposition to his policy on Iraq. An excerpt:
Further (and to swing back on topic), I, for one, would not automatically trust a Gore or Buchanan or Nader (or any other) Administration. Indeed, my training in science would forbid it; the presentation of some sort of evidence is crucial to support the claims this administration has made. The person making such a presentation (and whether or not they are "trusted") is largely irrelevant.
Of course, Brian has relied on a great many logical fallacies to support his position. It's nice that he's added an argument from authority. I think that leaves him with 9 more to go. :P
Posted by danisaacs at March 14, 2003 03:12 PM | TrackBackI've given up trying to educate Brian, I think. On this topic, at least, he appears to be a Standard Issue American Sheep, completely incapable of seeing what's staring him in the face.
I won't say he's as ineducable as a guy I was IMing with yesterday, who is firmly entrenched in the belief that Islam is a cult bent on brainwashing the world, but they're in the same league.
Posted by: Derek on March 14, 2003 03:42 PMHmm...and you know what. I do read Dan's site on occasion. Should I leave a "bleat" here?
Dan, for someone who hasn't even READ "The Demon Haunted World", you sure quote from it alot.
Posted by: Brian on March 15, 2003 12:07 AM"who is firmly entrenched in the belief that Islam is a cult bent on brainwashing the world, but they're in the same league."
Oh yeah, I'm apparently on the "Islam is Evil" express. Right...
Let's jump off here. Growing up, I had at least three muslim neighbors. They all fasted for Ramadan, they all read the Koran, and they were some of the nicest people I knew growing up. Sure, Khoosaan's brother was a dick, her dad was a bit goofy, and mom always wore the scarf. But they made lemonade for all of us when it got really hot in August and they made sure their kids played with the other Greek, Albanian, Macedonian, and American kids on the block.
So yeah, I'm really sure that all Islam is evil... (/ sarcasm)
Posted by: Brian on March 15, 2003 12:55 AM"Oh yeah, I'm apparently on the "Islam is Evil" express. Right..."
Go back and re-read what I wrote... I said tht your position and that other guy's position are just about equally ill-informed.
All Aboard!
Posted by: Bob Roberts on March 15, 2003 10:39 AMBrian, I'm up to chapter 4, but find it to be filled with ideas that I'm based my reasoning on for well over a decade. Regardless, I have read the part I refer to, and therefore am immune for your ad hominum attack on me. Be mindful, though, that you've used that one already, so it doesn't count towards the 9 remaining logical fallacies.
And while Sagan does have a nice collection of logical fallicies, he does not invent them. They existed well before he was born, let alone wrote a book in the mid 90s.
For someone that HAS read it, you sure don't seem to have understood it.
Posted by: Dan Isaacs on March 15, 2003 10:31 PM