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Re: No I'm not. aerocontrols Send a noteboard - 17/07/2017 02:55:54 PM

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I mean, okay, if you want to take my statement in a pretty obvious context and extrapolate into a universal principle, yes, we can discuss that,

I thought we could, but it appears we cannot. Why did you think I was doing anything else?


View original postIn any event, I still think you're wrong. There are plenty of various moral laws which everyone breaks-lying, for instance, or lust. Most people raised in a Christian culture believe these to be immoral acts, but virtually everyone engages in them. The fact that people believe these to be bad acts while engaging in them doesn't reveal any preference about the abolition of these moral imperatives; it reveals a general human difficulty in adhering to them.

Here is where we part ways, I guess. I think the true statement "Everyone lies" exposes the rule "Lying is wrong" as a gross oversimplification. The kind of rule we should stop believing in once we reach a level of maturity that can handle nuance. People lie all the time for the greater good and will continue to do so. Some lies do far more good than they will ever do harm.



View original postSo no, it's not that partisanship is blinding me to your argument--it's that your argument depends on an uncharitable interpretation on what I said and isn't even a very good principle in any case.



View original postEDIT: This came out grouchier than I intended, for which I apologize. I am irritated at the accusation of partisanship, which I think gets thrown about far too freely and is rarely a relevant talking point. Most of the people here are deeply partisan, but the fact that Tom is firmly on the other side of the aisle from me doesn't have any bearing on the merit of his arguments.

Well, I apologize for upsetting you - that wasn't intended. I really did just want to discuss the principle and it appears you thought I was arguing for a side...?

As per your original question, I recall being asked on another site whether Snowden was a hero or a traitor and answering that he was probably both.

Hollywood has the best moral compass, because it has compassion.
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The truly amusing thing about all this. - 13/07/2017 02:32:33 PM 1017 Views
that's the thing with muddying the waters - 13/07/2017 03:20:24 PM 392 Views
The media lost the respect they commanded back then. - 13/07/2017 10:42:27 PM 312 Views
The other thing I was thinking.... - 13/07/2017 07:05:27 PM 462 Views
We know how they would react because it happened. - 13/07/2017 10:37:43 PM 365 Views
So imprison Clinton and Trump both. Just put Kasich in. I don't mind. - 14/07/2017 03:40:02 AM 384 Views
No thanks. We don't need Mr. Magoo as President. - 14/07/2017 08:46:14 PM 425 Views
And why would we imprison Trump, counselor? - 14/07/2017 08:47:34 PM 374 Views
This is your defense? "Other people would do it too?" *NM* - 14/07/2017 03:36:26 AM 187 Views
I don't need a defense.... - 14/07/2017 08:31:12 PM 314 Views
Actually it is illegal in several ways - 15/07/2017 01:55:02 AM 461 Views
dirt on an opponent is equivilent to a monetary disbursment? *NM* - 15/07/2017 03:43:28 AM 287 Views
I don't have an opinion on whether the law was broken here. - 15/07/2017 05:12:08 AM 479 Views
Yes - 15/07/2017 02:34:53 PM 351 Views
Bah - 15/07/2017 04:56:08 PM 344 Views
I very well could be wrong, but I don't think that I am. - 17/07/2017 04:50:24 PM 379 Views
I'm waiting for Little Marco to send me a subpoena. - 13/07/2017 10:40:25 PM 396 Views
That's a very good point that needs further exploration - 13/07/2017 11:54:56 PM 393 Views
The New York Times still has a fold? - 14/07/2017 02:28:48 PM 360 Views
What are your opinions on Manning and Snowden? I honestly don't remember. - 14/07/2017 03:42:09 AM 354 Views
Well, the Russian government did not swear oaths as members of the US military or public servants - 14/07/2017 04:58:18 AM 430 Views
Extend the query to Wikileaks publishing the documents, then. - 14/07/2017 10:34:53 AM 426 Views
Are you sure? - 14/07/2017 02:29:51 PM 283 Views
That only works if you can claim with a straight face the GOP wouldn't care - 14/07/2017 03:32:43 PM 414 Views
You've misunderstood me - 14/07/2017 06:22:21 PM 419 Views
I don't think I have. - 15/07/2017 02:34:27 AM 360 Views
No I'm not. - 15/07/2017 03:09:04 AM 434 Views
Re: No I'm not. - 15/07/2017 05:07:42 AM 380 Views
Re: No I'm not. - 17/07/2017 02:55:54 PM 426 Views
Re: No I'm not. - 18/07/2017 01:27:06 AM 326 Views
Yes you are. - 18/07/2017 06:40:45 AM 299 Views
You made the right choice, then. *NM* - 18/07/2017 03:37:40 PM 234 Views
It's really the only way I can get into cool threads - 18/07/2017 04:03:05 PM 299 Views
The other amusing thing is the GOP voters' sudden love for Russia. - 14/07/2017 06:43:12 PM 449 Views
There was a great article in the NYT about that - 14/07/2017 08:29:29 PM 474 Views
There's nothing "sudden" about it for me. *NM* - 14/07/2017 08:49:38 PM 230 Views
I know. I was going to add a comment about how you must love that. - 14/07/2017 11:08:41 PM 1013 Views
I'm considering pitching to go on Fox or something. - 18/07/2017 05:41:56 AM 346 Views
Murray Gell-Mann Amnesia - 18/07/2017 04:10:01 PM 514 Views
Good idea. - 23/07/2017 05:50:33 PM 415 Views
You are the fly in every republican cake - 15/07/2017 01:56:24 AM 412 Views
I really don't understand 99% of your responses - 18/07/2017 06:42:09 AM 454 Views
Yes Tom, Yes Exactly *NM* - 18/07/2017 03:46:22 PM 216 Views
It was and still just the isolationist wing of the party that feels that way - 19/07/2017 01:27:41 PM 395 Views

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