Sad

[SPEEDKILLAR]

Originally Posted by stradale Originally Posted by FerrariFerrari Originally Posted by stradale @ FerrariFerrari. I know it's easy to feel that way, when you're convinced your own arguments are right and believe other people's arguments are BS, but calling everyone that doesn't share your way of looking at it a mule and regarding yourself as the only intelligent person in the discussion, you're in complete denial of how the world works. People in the opoosition feel exactly the same way and if you don't take that into account, you'll never be able to convince someone. You are completely correct, and I am not being sarcastic when I say that, I really mean it. The people I am calling mules are the people who have had the truth laid out plainly before them and backed up completely with facts and yet they still do not admit that it is the truth even if they can't give any evidence to prove otherwise. I believe that the best way to show what I mean is to give two, in my mind, splendid examples. Just read these two threads(if you have a lot of time ) and I think you will see what I mean. Day of Terror Iraqi Constitution & Bill of Rights... I don't think you quite got it yet. 'Fact' is a term that hardly exists. Certainly not in politics and media. One needs 'facts' presented by others to have as beacons, but at the same time question every 'fact'. Often the truth (also a hazard) is so much more complicated. And the information that "we, the public" receive is always selective and never complete. I'm not even suggesting conspiracies here or anything, it's just the only way to make media and politics work. But at the same time, always be aware that the 'facts' presented might turn out to not be facts after all. Certainly not, and this is my main point, to people who receive other 'facts'. I know for instance that we Europeans receive different information and opinions than you guys across the pond. Add to that that general consensus and culture are also different and you can understand where the difference in opnion comes from (and that's just the difference between US and Europe - one can imagine how big the difference is between Europe or US compared to other cultures). So that's why you might think I'm a mule (I usually don't agree with RC45's points on the subject of Iraq or terrorism), but you have to realize that I could be thinking exactly the same. Simply because what is 'fact' to one person is nonsense to another. That has nothing to do with intelligence. The hardest part is that both parties have to see this process and, while discussing in an open minded fashion, should be honest in constantly reconsidering earlier points of view. Not a lot of people can do that and therefore not a lot of people can come to understandings.

Excellent explanation, really very well said.