From: Hal Finney (hal@finney.org)
Date: Sat Jul 19 2003 - 13:19:10 MDT
It's unfortunate that we find it so difficult to discuss controversial
subjects without resorting to flaming. These are issues that people
have strong feelings about, but rationality demands that the discussion
occur in objective and intellectual terms, without resorting to emotion
and personal attacks. Only in that way can we acquire the best quality
information to guide our own views, which should be our main goal here.
I have mostly been able to stay out of these arguments, not really because
I am above such things, but in most cases because I don't have the strong
opinions on the matter that others do. These controversial issues have
very strong arguments on both sides, which forces me to adopt a middle or
"undecided" role.
From my perspective, those who hold strong opinions on these issues are
mistaken. They don't really have sufficient grounds to hold the strong
opinions that they do. If things were really as clear as the partisans
think, why would so many intelligent people hold the opposite views?
That point alone essentially proves to me that the only rational viewpoint
is to be undecided.
However, I understand that people do have arguments to justify the claim
that they are right and so many people are wrong. Some will claim that
few truly intelligent people hold the other view. Others will say that
those on the other side are simply irrational, affected by emotion,
prejudice, close-mindedness or wishful thinking, while those on their
own side are thinking clearly and rationally.
Ironically, in rejecting such arguments, I am forced to adopt an
even more radical view, which is that the partisans on both sides are
behaving irrationally! In effect, I claim that those in the "undecided"
middle are the only rational ones, with people on both the right and left
behaving irrationally. Then, of course, those on the right will claim
that the leftists and undecideds are irrational, while those on the left
will say that it is the rightists and undecideds who are irrational.
So really, my position is no stronger logically than anyone else's.
I guess that means I have to doubt my own commitment to the middle.
Maybe the partisans are right!
Hal
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