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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 1091 Views
that's the thing with muddying the waters - 13/07/2017 03:20:24 PM 489 Views
The media lost the respect they commanded back then. - 13/07/2017 10:42:27 PM 396 Views
The other thing I was thinking.... - 13/07/2017 07:05:27 PM 548 Views
We know how they would react because it happened. - 13/07/2017 10:37:43 PM 453 Views
So imprison Clinton and Trump both. Just put Kasich in. I don't mind. - 14/07/2017 03:40:02 AM 481 Views
No thanks. We don't need Mr. Magoo as President. - 14/07/2017 08:46:14 PM 511 Views
And why would we imprison Trump, counselor? - 14/07/2017 08:47:34 PM 460 Views
This is your defense? "Other people would do it too?" *NM* - 14/07/2017 03:36:26 AM 225 Views
I don't need a defense.... - 14/07/2017 08:31:12 PM 409 Views
Actually it is illegal in several ways - 15/07/2017 01:55:02 AM 546 Views
dirt on an opponent is equivilent to a monetary disbursment? *NM* - 15/07/2017 03:43:28 AM 340 Views
I don't have an opinion on whether the law was broken here. - 15/07/2017 05:12:08 AM 569 Views
Yes - 15/07/2017 02:34:53 PM 441 Views
Bah - 15/07/2017 04:56:08 PM 428 Views
I very well could be wrong, but I don't think that I am. - 17/07/2017 04:50:24 PM 466 Views
I'm waiting for Little Marco to send me a subpoena. - 13/07/2017 10:40:25 PM 475 Views
That's a very good point that needs further exploration - 13/07/2017 11:54:56 PM 477 Views
The New York Times still has a fold? - 14/07/2017 02:28:48 PM 440 Views
What are your opinions on Manning and Snowden? I honestly don't remember. - 14/07/2017 03:42:09 AM 437 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 525 Views
Extend the query to Wikileaks publishing the documents, then. - 14/07/2017 10:34:53 AM 509 Views
Are you sure? - 14/07/2017 02:29:51 PM 364 Views
That only works if you can claim with a straight face the GOP wouldn't care - 14/07/2017 03:32:43 PM 505 Views
You've misunderstood me - 14/07/2017 06:22:21 PM 509 Views
I don't think I have. - 15/07/2017 02:34:27 AM 442 Views
No I'm not. - 15/07/2017 03:09:04 AM 515 Views
Re: No I'm not. - 15/07/2017 05:07:42 AM 469 Views
Re: No I'm not. - 17/07/2017 02:55:54 PM 510 Views
Re: No I'm not. - 18/07/2017 01:27:06 AM 407 Views
Yes you are. - 18/07/2017 06:40:45 AM 383 Views
You made the right choice, then. *NM* - 18/07/2017 03:37:40 PM 272 Views
It's really the only way I can get into cool threads - 18/07/2017 04:03:05 PM 388 Views
The other amusing thing is the GOP voters' sudden love for Russia. - 14/07/2017 06:43:12 PM 535 Views
There was a great article in the NYT about that - 14/07/2017 08:29:29 PM 584 Views
There's nothing "sudden" about it for me. *NM* - 14/07/2017 08:49:38 PM 285 Views
I know. I was going to add a comment about how you must love that. - 14/07/2017 11:08:41 PM 1103 Views
I'm considering pitching to go on Fox or something. - 18/07/2017 05:41:56 AM 447 Views
Murray Gell-Mann Amnesia - 18/07/2017 04:10:01 PM 607 Views
Good idea. - 23/07/2017 05:50:33 PM 495 Views
You are the fly in every republican cake - 15/07/2017 01:56:24 AM 514 Views
I really don't understand 99% of your responses - 18/07/2017 06:42:09 AM 541 Views
Yes Tom, Yes Exactly *NM* - 18/07/2017 03:46:22 PM 253 Views
It was and still just the isolationist wing of the party that feels that way - 19/07/2017 01:27:41 PM 470 Views

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