Comments on: The Civil Debater’s Creed http://deanesmay.com/2008/04/24/the-civil-debaters-creed/ Defending the liberal tradition in history, science, and philosophy. Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:02:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sigivald http://deanesmay.com/2008/04/24/the-civil-debaters-creed/comment-page-1/#comment-154848 Sigivald Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:49:29 +0000 http://deanesmay.com/2008/04/24/the-civil-debaters-creed/#comment-154848 <em>I may disagree with you, but I do so starting with the presumption that your position is sincere and well thought out. </em>I'm willing to grant <em>sincerity </em>in almost all cases. Unfortunately, experience has shown me that many positions are, in fact, not only not well thought out, but indeed often not thought out <em>at all</em>. (And a pox on this edit box for not defaulting to html.) I may disagree with you, but I do so starting with the presumption that your position is sincere and well thought out.

I’m willing to grant sincerity in almost all cases.

Unfortunately, experience has shown me that many positions are, in fact, not only not well thought out, but indeed often not thought out at all.

(And a pox on this edit box for not defaulting to html.)

]]> By: Maniakes http://deanesmay.com/2008/04/24/the-civil-debaters-creed/comment-page-1/#comment-154847 Maniakes Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:48:46 +0000 http://deanesmay.com/2008/04/24/the-civil-debaters-creed/#comment-154847 The key word is "presume". It's a rebuttable presumption, of course, but I start out by treating you as if you've thought your position out properly unless and until you provide me with clear evidence to the contrary. The key word is "presume". It’s a rebuttable presumption, of course, but I start out by treating you as if you’ve thought your position out properly unless and until you provide me with clear evidence to the contrary.

]]> By: Sigivald http://deanesmay.com/2008/04/24/the-civil-debaters-creed/comment-page-1/#comment-154846 Sigivald Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:46:50 +0000 http://deanesmay.com/2008/04/24/the-civil-debaters-creed/#comment-154846 <I>I may disagree with you, but I do so starting with the presumption that your position is sincere and well thought out.</i> I'm willing to grant sincerity in almost all cases. Unfortunately, experience has shown me that many positions are, in fact, not only not well thought out, but indeed often not thought out <I>at all</i>. <I>I may disagree with you, but I do so starting with the presumption that your position is sincere and well thought out.</i>

I’m willing to grant sincerity in almost all cases. Unfortunately, experience has shown me that many positions are, in fact, not only not well thought out, but indeed often not thought out <I>at all</i>.

]]> By: Phelps http://deanesmay.com/2008/04/24/the-civil-debaters-creed/comment-page-1/#comment-154843 Phelps Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:06:53 +0000 http://deanesmay.com/2008/04/24/the-civil-debaters-creed/#comment-154843 I usually shorten it to "just because someone disagrees with you does not make them stupid, ignorant or evil." <em>Phelps's last blog post..<a href='http://phelps.donotremove.net/?p=1214' rel="nofollow">Biased Much?</a></em> I usually shorten it to "just because someone disagrees with you does not make them stupid, ignorant or evil."

Phelps’s last blog post..Biased Much?

]]> By: Dave Justus http://deanesmay.com/2008/04/24/the-civil-debaters-creed/comment-page-1/#comment-154827 Dave Justus Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:26:19 +0000 http://deanesmay.com/2008/04/24/the-civil-debaters-creed/#comment-154827 Usually I argue just to be contrary without bothering to think anything out at all.  However I will agree with you that it is possible you are mistaken. :) <em>Dave Justus's last blog post..<a href='http://www.davejustus.com/2008/04/24/reader-questions/' rel="nofollow">Reader Questions</a></em> Usually I argue just to be contrary without bothering to think anything out at all. 

However I will agree with you that it is possible you are mistaken. :)

Dave Justus’s last blog post..Reader Questions

]]> By: makellan http://deanesmay.com/2008/04/24/the-civil-debaters-creed/comment-page-1/#comment-154825 makellan Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:19:02 +0000 http://deanesmay.com/2008/04/24/the-civil-debaters-creed/#comment-154825 Nicely said. Nicely said.

]]> By: Kevin D. http://deanesmay.com/2008/04/24/the-civil-debaters-creed/comment-page-1/#comment-154819 Kevin D. Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:00:03 +0000 http://deanesmay.com/2008/04/24/the-civil-debaters-creed/#comment-154819 I got Danica waiting for me at the finish line so I'm just a <em>little</em> motivated. I got Danica waiting for me at the finish line so I’m just a little motivated.

]]> By: Maniakes http://deanesmay.com/2008/04/24/the-civil-debaters-creed/comment-page-1/#comment-154815 Maniakes Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:51:26 +0000 http://deanesmay.com/2008/04/24/the-civil-debaters-creed/#comment-154815 Scott, that was a strong try right out of the gate, but I'm afraid Kevin has taken the lead. Scott, that was a strong try right out of the gate, but I’m afraid Kevin has taken the lead.

]]> By: Kevin D. http://deanesmay.com/2008/04/24/the-civil-debaters-creed/comment-page-1/#comment-154812 Kevin D. Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:46:36 +0000 http://deanesmay.com/2008/04/24/the-civil-debaters-creed/#comment-154812 Maniakes, I humbly must disagree as well. And your mom dresses you funny. Maniakes,

I humbly must disagree as well.

And your mom dresses you funny.

]]> By: Scott Kirwin http://deanesmay.com/2008/04/24/the-civil-debaters-creed/comment-page-1/#comment-154810 Scott Kirwin Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:37:46 +0000 http://deanesmay.com/2008/04/24/the-civil-debaters-creed/#comment-154810 Maniakes Sorry but I disagree. ... There was a joke there somewhere but due to my ADHD it sailed straight out the window. Maniakes
Sorry but I disagree.

…

There was a joke there somewhere but due to my ADHD it sailed straight out the window.

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