What we have here is a failure to communicate

[andie nachgeborenen]

No one here has a  problem with debate, Bill. Carrol
and I go after each other hammer and tongs all the
time.  The problem is with debating _you_. As long as
it was just me, maybe you could write it off to my
being hypersensitive. But it's not just me. Perhaps
you might reflect on your approach. We've all had to
revise ours here to get along, me included. Or not, as
you see fit, but then you might find yourself ignored
by more and more "interlocutors." And btw, as to
"failure to communicate," I _have_ seen Cool Hand
Luke. So who you intend to smash in the head? jks

--- billbartlett at dodo.com.au wrote:
> At 7:36 PM -0600 3/12/02, Carrol Cox wrote:
> 
> >In reference to your specific interlocutor here,
> 
> Your WHAT? You crack me up sometimes. You wouldn't
> be trying to talk above me would you Carrol?
> 
> > I have never met
> >anyone, personally or in cyberspace, with whom I
> shared so many ideas
> >_witout_ being able to carry on a conversation with
> him. He can take
> >fundamental ideas of the left and so twist them
> around that they simply
> >can't be discussed. I don't understand quite why it
> is.
> 
> I find it helps to debate things I don't understand.
> Maybe you could give an example of an idea that you
> feel you share, but are unable to discuss because it
> appears "twisted"?
> 
> Often the problem is simply that people find it
> impossible to discuss concepts which are based on a
> premise they don't accept. You often need to search
> for these hidden premises though, they can be so
> familiar/unfamiliar (to the respective parties) that
> neither party is even conscious of them. I daresay
> this is your problem in this instance. We could
> isolate the problem if you were prepared to put your
> premises out in the open, but that is hard to do
> since you have to take the risk that they will be
> challenged.
> 
> If you can't bear the idea of these premises being
> challenged it is best to stick to the strategy of
> not carrying on a conversation with someone who
> refuses to accept them. But that isn't the same as
> being unable to carry on a conversation with that
> person, that is being unwilling to.
> 
> Bill Bartlett
> Bracknell Tas

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