NationStates Jolt Archive

Everyone who speaks in absolutes is an idiot.

Discuss.

That would say much about George W. Bush.

Was the irony of the title intentional?

Only the Sith deal in absolutes.

That's why I'm with the Trade Federation!

I absolutely agree!

:D

Everyone who speaks in absolutes is an idiot.

Discuss.

That statement is idiotic.

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with, and certainly nothing idiotic about, talking about absolutes, such as "Jumping off the top of the Sears Tower is hazardous to your health".

Anyone who believes "Everyone who speaks in absolutes is an idiot" is an absolute idiot.

Oh, the irony.

Everyone who speaks in absolutes is an idiot.

Discuss.

Hmmm... maybe, maybe not.

everything is absolute.

I think you're an idiot.

Only the Sith deal in absolutes.

That's why I'm with the Trade Federation!

Since after all, "Only a sith deals in absolutes" is a absolute.

http://www.offworlddesigns.com/media/AbsolutSithIIcopyb.jpg

*is confused*

I disagree wholeheartedly. Those who refuse to entertain absolutes are simply unwilling to invest the time necessary to understand them. They would prefer their thoughts have no necessary relationship with the truth, and as such they flee any suggestion of consistency or verifiability.

Only the Sith deal in absolutes.

That's why I'm with the Trade Federation!

Irony bolded for those who didnt get the joke.

*is confused*

*joins Ruffy in confusedness*

I agree, here's a link that explains why;


http://mariaboomhower.blogspot.com/2006/07/speaking-in-absolutes.html

I believe in live and let live. Anyone who can't accept that should be executed.
-George Carlin

and you just spoke in absolutes! Oh, the ironing!

That statement is idiotic.

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with, and certainly nothing idiotic about, talking about absolutes, such as "Jumping off the top of the Sears Tower is hazardous to your health".

Anyone who believes "Everyone who speaks in absolutes is an idiot" is an absolute idiot.

What if you have a parachute? Ever heard of base jumping?

What if you have a parachute? Ever heard of base jumping?

Still, the shock of falling isn't good.

Nor is the adrenaline rush. Puts your fat right near the heart, that does. :cool:

Still, the shock of falling isn't good.

Nor is the adrenaline rush. Puts your fat right near the heart, that does. :cool:

Yes, but if you're going to say that, then practically anything can be construed as hazaroud to your health. Hell, breathing is hazardous to your health. The oxidization process contributes to the aging process, in small amounts that build up over the years.

Well maybe some of them are just inebriated.

Perhaps this would be a good time to admit that I sold my soul to satan.

Yes, but if you're going to say that, then practically anything can be construed as hazaroud to your health. Hell, breathing is hazardous to your health. The oxidization process contributes to the aging process, in small amounts that build up over the years.

But breathing is vital.

Jumping off a building? Not so much.

Perhaps this would be a good time to admit that I sold my soul to satan.

:looks at location: Well obviously.

But breathing is vital.

Jumping off a building? Not so much.

Yes, but the point isn't whether or not you should do it. The post I quoted was attempting to make the point that, because one could generalize that "Jumping off of the Sear's Tower is hazaroud to your health" is a universally true statement, that it proves that universally true statements aren't inherently idiotic. The problem is that he used a gross generality, in which one could easily insert situations within the constraints he had placed (jumping from the sear's tower) and end up with a situation where it was not, in fact, hazarous.

Yes, but the point isn't whether or not you should do it. The post I quoted was attempting to make the point that, because one could generalize that "Jumping off of the Sear's Tower is hazaroud to your health" is a universally true statement, that it proves that universally true statements aren't inherently idiotic. The problem is that he used a gross generality, in which one could easily insert situations within the constraints he had placed (jumping from the sear's tower) and end up with a situation where it was not, in fact, hazarous.

True, I suppose.

Though it could be pointed out that anything can be hazardous... to an extent.

i hope the title is deliberately ironic. otherwise that's just too perfect :D

and yeh, most of the time an exception can be found to a rule, hence always talking in absolutes being idiotic (or ignorant at the very least).

Everyone who speaks in absolutes is an idiot.

Discuss.

The irony of this, as someone pointed out, is ridiculous...and a little too much to handle right now...

Everyone who speaks in absolutes is an idiot.

Discuss.

Prove it. There were a few geniuses before intelligence was wiped out of society.

Everyone who speaks in absolutes is an idiot.

Absolutely.

and you just spoke in absolutes! Oh, the ironing!

Geez. What a pollack!

before intelligence was wiped out of society.

When did that happen?

Everyone who speaks in absolutes is an idiot.

Discuss.

I SEE WAT U DID THAR

'Your either with us, or your with the terrorists' - Dubya
'If your not with me, you are my enemy' - Darth Vader

'Your either with us, or your with the terrorists' - Dubya
'If your not with me, you are my enemy' - Darth Vader

Why do people compare Il Douche to Darth Vader? I always emphasize he's Jar-Jar Binks. A clueless monkey with a speech impediment who was placed in a position where he could put the true evil into power.

Absolutes are inaccurate. There are nearly always exceptions.

I would say there are always exceptions, but that is a logical paradox.


"What goes up must come down." (unless it reaches escape velocity)

I SEE WAT U DID THAR

:)

You people will argue about anything.

:cool:

Absolutes are inaccurate. There are nearly always exceptions.

I would say there are always exceptions, but that is a logical paradox.


"What goes up must come down." (unless it reaches escape velocity)

Some absolutes are exceptions to the rule that there are always exceptions, thus, there are always exceptions.

Most absolutes are not exceptions to the rule and therefore have an exception, thus, there are always exceptions.

...

Nope, don't see a paradox there.

I do see a paradox in the "Everyone who speaks in absolutes is an idiot" or at least the irony in it, as it declares that the OP must believe himself an idiot too :p


Oh wait, if there are always exceptions, there must be an exception to that too. Curses, the paradox has begun! Unless it itself is an exception.

When did that happen?

It was phased out with the introduction of Television.

Everyone who speaks in absolutes is an idiot.

Discuss.

Murder, rape, robbery, these things are wrong, no way around that. Absolutely. If you try to argue that in some circumstance this is incorrect then I call you an idiot.

what if you have to murder someone to save all of humanity now and forever and to restore harmony and balance to the universe which will be taken over by the forces of evil at any moment? Is that wrong?

everything is absolute.
So is nothing.

That statement is idiotic.

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with, and certainly nothing idiotic about, talking about absolutes, such as "Jumping off the top of the Sears Tower is hazardous to your health".

Anyone who believes "Everyone who speaks in absolutes is an idiot" is an absolute idiot.
Jumping off the Sears Tower is really no more dangerous than, say, jumping off an 8 story building, really.
But you could have a bungee cord. Or parachute. Or a really big pillow to land on. Or a hang glider. Or some really good shock absorbers. Or a pogo stick.

to be slightly more serious, moral relativism sucks, I think that can be taken by some people from the contention that there are no absolutes. Or militant moderatism, the stance that says everything is fine, dont complain about it or youre just an extremist or wrong. I cant agree with that seeing as the world is to some extent or another a bit shit and in need of improvement.

what if you have to murder someone to save all of humanity now and forever and to restore harmony and balance to the universe which will be taken over by the forces of evil at any moment? Is that wrong?

Yes, lets pick a scenario that has no basis with reality...

Yes, lets pick a scenario that has no basis with reality...

ok, say youve got this serial killer that you know is a killer and hes so powerful and wealthy that hell never be convicted for his crimes, and you know hes going to kill more and more people, what do you do then?

Or say you were working under Stalin, or Hitler, and you knew that they were signing warrants for the deaths of hundreds of thousands?

Let's say you and a woman are kidnapped by a psycho-voyeur and unless you rape the woman he'll kill you both.


Theorycraft, it's fun!

ok, say youve got this serial killer that you know is a killer and hes so powerful and wealthy that hell never be convicted for his crimes, and you know hes going to kill more and more people, what do you do then?

Or say you were working under Stalin, or Hitler, and you knew that they were signing warrants for the deaths of hundreds of thousands?

Murder is wrong. Period. You are not allowed to take the law into your own hands, serial killer or no.

Let's say you and a woman are kidnapped by a psycho-voyeur and unless you rape the woman he'll kill you both.


Theorycraft, it's fun!

Clearly you have watched too many Saw-type movies.

Murder is wrong. Period. You are not allowed to take the law into your own hands, serial killer or no.



Clearly you have watched too many Saw-type movies.

Actually never seen anything like that. Not big on cheesy horror flicks.

I'm not big on cheesy horror flicks either, but I must say that SAW was WONDERFUL. It's entirely dialog driven, scenario based suspense, with undertones questioning values, morality, and trust in fellow man, by exploring the extremes of "what would you do if" type scenarios. (and it also happens to have some really raunchy gore) I highly highly recommend it if you have a thinking brain and don't have a weak stomach. I haven't seen the sequels yet.


I'd like to derail for a second and propose another corollary postulate:


Threads with obviously contradictory titles invoke more responses on Internet Discussion Forums.


Discuss.

Threads with obviously contradictory titles invoke more responses on Internet Discussion Forums.


Discuss.

Nice save. ;)
People are drawn to glaring ironic posts because they are often unintentional, thus giving an opportunity for pwnage.

Everyone who speaks in absolutes is an idiot.

Discuss.

You´re TOTALY wrong.

Someone who speaks in absolutes isnt an idiot, but one that thinks in absolutes.

And there is a huge diference there.

You´re TOTALY wrong.

Someone who speaks in absolutes isnt an idiot, but one that thinks in absolutes.

And there is a huge diference there.

*whistles*

I'm not big on cheesy horror flicks either, but I must say that SAW was WONDERFUL. It's entirely dialog driven, scenario based suspense, with undertones questioning values, morality, and trust in fellow man, by exploring the extremes of "what would you do if" type scenarios. (and it also happens to have some really raunchy gore) I highly highly recommend it if you have a thinking brain and don't have a weak stomach. I haven't seen the sequels yet.


I'd like to derail for a second and propose another corollary postulate:


Threads with obviously contradictory titles invoke more responses on Internet Discussion Forums.


Discuss.

not to be off topic but Saw 3 has the most hardcorer gruesome sick vilest murder scene ever, its so gorey its uber gross