Disastermined wrote:
Endnote: I understand that most of these things are implications, which is probably why this debate has raged for so long. If written word were taken for denotation instead of connotation, this thread wouldn't have happened. Yet our society has placed a high value on connotation, this has entered the debate world, and the world of speeches. Be ever wary of connotation. It's the debater in me coming out.
I don't honestly want to take either side in this, I just strive for clarity, which leads me to ask questions, poke at holes I perceive (even if they are purely from connotation), and hope that both sides can understand one another.
No, no, no....you are cool.
I do try very hard to ONLY take things on denotation....then when several people start taking what I say on connotation, it leads me to start having to take what THEY say on connotation because I have to believe that connotation has entered into the discussion.
Which is damn confusing.
*chuckles* I only understand the very basics of debate....which is why I am so terrible at it, as you can tell from this thread. The main thing I keep, though, is to not allow myself to be effected by emotions when discussing a topic. If I start getting angry, or if I start thinking the other person is an absolute, screaming dickhead for holding the position he or she does...or if I am tempted to type in large or huge font, it's time to get the heck out of the discussion.
You've been terrific in this.
Oh, and UTMCers are more intelligent than Blue Collar, White Collar OR Knowledge workers. That's my opinion, but I'll need a couple more years to correlate the data for a proper conclusion. Just letting you know that so far, the findings are shaping up to a conclusion that matches my hypothesis.
(Oh, to MeanChuck, who has been attempting to debate that he is NOT living up to his name, the above includes you, too.)
"There is a time and a place for ruthlessness. You and I and many others on this board were trained by the government to kill, maim and terrorize people and destroy their property. However, we must always keep in mind that the only appropriate time to do so is when it will benefit multi-national corporations."--Yogi Kuddha