Re: Gore film - court judgement.

On Sat, 13 Oct 2007 14:18:33 -0700, joblard@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

On 13 Oct, 21:41, aracari <SpamT...@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Sat, 13 Oct 2007 11:32:00 -0700 'jobl...@xxxxxxxxxxxx'
wrote this on uk.politics.misc:





On 13 Oct, 14:46, aracari <SpamT...@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Fri, 12 Oct 2007 19:49:08 +0200 'abelard'
wrote this on uk.politics.misc:

i don't think that is the way the future will be....
i think logic/science will steadily drive out 'opinion'...pipe that
in your put!!

I think we are already well on the road to totalitarianism (albeit
not of the same flavour that existed in former empires) and it
started a long time ago except that many people didn't notice it
because of communication issues which the Internet is now solving.

The War on Terror, climate change, ban on free speech, so-called
hate crimes and PC are all symptoms of an embryonic totalitarian
state, where dissent from the prescribed model is not permitted and
punished when found. The imposers call it a more civilised society.

My 'opinion' is that you are both talking (different varieties of)
nonsense.

And you're very welcome to it but since you have put forward no
coherent counter arguments, I can only say: bollix!


OK, I'll expand. I think that the argument that we're on the road to
totalitarianism is nonsense, precisely because of the communications
you mention. We are no longer dependent on state-controlled media for
our news; information is much more easily shared and thus much less
easy to censor. Cheap travel has meant that people are used to moving
with relative freedom and hearing other people's point of view. I
also think that governments, certainly in what was 'the free world',
are aware that there are limits to what they can get away with.
Despite the government's efforts during Blair's reign, we still have
an independent judiciary, and if Cameron becomes PM, I think the tide
will quickly turn away from government dictact and back to individual
freedom

I think abelard's view that science and logic will drive out opinion
is nonsense because opinion fits precisely where science and logic
cannot help. 'Is this a good book?' or 'Do you like cheese?' are
questions that can be resolved by science or logic.

you're trying too hard to quarrel....
i added this

the opinion of the sheep matters about as far as whether they prefer
latte or espresso :-)

that applies just as much to your bodice rippers and varieties of
cheese...


--
web site at www.abelard.org - news comment service, logic, economics
energy, education, politics, etc 1,552,396 document calls in year past
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
all that is necessary for [] walk quietly and carry
the triumph of evil is that [] a big stick.
good people do nothing [] trust actions not words
only when it's funny -- roger rabbit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: We have to respect the limits of human knowledge!
    ... There are different kinds of nonsense. ... Then you are so wholly ignorant of science that you should not be ... of the claims about ghosts violate well-established laws of physics. ... it is my opinion that both of those stances are absurd. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: We have to respect the limits of human knowledge!
    ... There are different kinds of nonsense. ... Then you are so wholly ignorant of science that you should not be ... it is my opinion that both of those stances are absurd. ... you have taken opinions of scientists and made them into ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Gore film - court judgement.
    ... totalitarianism is nonsense, ... with relative freedom and hearing other people's point of view. ... will quickly turn away from government dictact and back to individual ... I think abelard's view that science and logic will drive out opinion ...
    (uk.politics.misc)
  • Re: Evolution Deniers
    ... >>> You seem put out by the fact that I think modern science is crap. ... >> You may have a right to your opinion. ... >>> evolution are unscientific. ... What is your faith based on? ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Evolution Deniers
    ... If you are upset about the Theory of Evolution, ... > You seem put out by the fact that I think modern science is crap. ... You may have a right to your opinion. ... But the evidence for evolution itself is ...
    (talk.origins)