I've been getting into a lot of discussions with a lot of people...

[conuly]

And I have a nice list of things I never want to deal with again, mostly because they're blatantly illogical.

1. Anecdotal evidence being used to disregard anything. "Oh, my dad smoked like a chimney from the time he was two, and he lived to be a hundred!" Do I care? So your dad did something dangerous and stupid and lived a long time, he had good genes. Most people don't. Some people study hard and fail, other people never study and get A's, neither person is a good reason for you to not study.

2. People who attempt to prove whatever belief they have by quoting the source of that belief. Generally, this is with "christians" who think the only proof the Bible needs to be accepted as true is a Biblical quote. Oh yes. Now that you've told me that the Bible says God exists, I'm a believer! Praaaaaise-ah Jaaaaaaysussss! Or maybe I can quote similar passages from similar, non-Christian books. I have nothing against Christians. I have nothing against reasonable religious discussion, heck, I love it. But everybody over the age of six should understand why we can't take the Bible as proof that the Bible is true.

3. People who star out dirty words or says "the *letter*-word" instead of just using them, especially when they're quoting somebody: "And then he said 'you d*mn n-word!' and I was soooo upset!" Not only do we all know what those words are, even starred out, but we know whether or not you're the one saying it. If I say "please, just say nigger instead of 'the n-word'", you know I'm not seriously advocating you use racial slurs, just asking you to not skirt around quotes. I will not go blind. Your hands will not fall off.

4. The expression "I could care less". Unless you really mean that you could care less, you're wrong. Say "couldn't". It's more accurate and it saves me from smacking you and asking how much less you could care... I've said this before today.

5. Ad hominems. Of all the illogical arguments in the world, you have to use that one. The most offensive one. Second most, the most is falsely emotive language.

I'd go on, but now I'm getting pissed. Sorry. I'll finish this later, or not.

Comments

[meteorie.livejournal.com]

I hate it when my parents say "b-word" or whatever. I'm old enough to know what they mean, so the word gets in my mind one way or another. Plus, it just sounds dumb when they use cuss word replacements. I think they're trying to be role models, but I've already decided years back to do exactly.. the opposite of everything they've done. Since they're poor and generally unhappy, maybe if I don't make the same mistakes I'll be well off ^^; so, I say the words.