Topic: Social and Cultural Issues
The Fire Eater ad hominem Challenge In the spirit of Gandhi, I challenge you to help me to "be the change I want to see."by Jahfre Fire Eater
(Libertarian)
Monday, January 14, 2008
I, Jahfre Fire Eater, will be the first to admit that I am guilty of the occasional ad hominem. (argument against/to the man...that's man, not Man.) Beneath this impervious Fire Eater exterior there is an ordinary human; prone to the influence of passion and outrage, even self-righteousness. Yet, at the same time, I strive to remove this aspect from my communication and I actively promote civil discourse on highly charged topics because I believe good ideas can stand the test of fire. By the same principle, I believe bad ideas deserve to consumed in the heat of intellectual progress. Furthermore, I believe it is my duty to see that bad ideas stay in the furnace until they are consumed or until I have a change of heart on the idea.
So, should anyone try to dredge up comments from my past, I'll simply reply with a link to this disclaimer. Please save us both the time. My official position is that I advocate the elimination of ad hominem and other logical fallacies as common components of public discourse. Am I crazy? How can I eliminate nasty posts from infinite sources? I can't, and that isn't what I said. I said I advocate their elimination.
While I'm up here disclaiming, I have one more thing to move past, argumentum ad verecundiam, argument to authority. The only thing I, Jahfre Fire Eater have any authority on is my opinion. So, if it sounds to you like I'm asserting something which I have no authority to assert it is merely your incorrect assumption that I think I have authority that I do not, in fact have. I know what authority I have and I will stand by every opinion I espouse under that authority.
The best way to advance on this goal is to promote, enable and reward self-education. Each individual must choose to challenge the status quo, our cultural norms, our public school scars and programming and especially, our own prejudices.
As a Fire Eater, I am immune to any ad hominem against me. I look at them as Picasso may have regarded finger paint on the living room wall. They say everything about the painter and nothing about art. Ad hominems are a reflection of the person delivering them, not of the person they are delivered to.
When an ad hominem is delivered to me, I always have these choices: 1. ignore it. 2. react to it in kind. 3. react to it from some perceived personal high ground. 4. thank the deliverer for letting me know who they are with such alacrity.
I endeavor to choose #4 first because once I have received the ad hominem, the deliverer has nothing left to offer. I never have to deal with them again. Lucky me! The less time waste getting them to show themselves the more good discussions I'm likely to encounter along the way.
Like the C*O*D*E*W*O*R*D Naive article I published some time ago, ad hominems are intended to distract us from the point at hand by escalating a personal conflict that overrides the original topic.
Finally, my challenge. I have clearly stated both my goals and my fallibility. Please help me advance toward my goals by pointing out to me any ad hominems I may deliver from this point forward. There is no time like the present to step it up a notch, no matter what you are endeavoring to accomplish.
** Important note ** I do not suffer fools patiently. If you cannot tell the difference between an attack on your person and an attack on some idea to which you happen to subscribe; you may be publicly humiliated, with relish.
Your self-applied labels are of no concern to me. In fact, they are usually irrelevant to any point or at the very least, too much information. This means they are a hindrance to communication; a drag on our progress as species. I will toss them in the fire at every opportunity.
Regards, Jahfre Fire Eater
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2008 Jahfre Fire Eater, all rights reserved.
Published: Monday, January 14, 2008
Last modified: Monday, January 14, 2008
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Posted By: Mrs. Fire Eater
Date: 2008-01-14 12:36:06
I will testify that Mr. Fire Eater delivers to me regularly choices one, two and three. I don't believe I've had the pleasure of enjoying number four. Perhaps I need to work harder.
I accept your challenge in the spirit in which I believe it is presented! I will be happy to respond in a like spirit of constructive criticism should I ever notice you slipping outside of your stated intentions.
(Disclaimer: this is not a promise to read everything you write! However, I enjoy your writing and will respond if necessary on those I do read! :)
I agree that civil discourse on highly charged issues is essential to mutual understanding and learning, and I wish you the very best in your endeavors. :)
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2008 Jahfre Fire Eater, all rights reserved.