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Syntho-sis

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Posts posted by Syntho-sis

  1. Barack Obama was seated next to a little girl on an airplane trip back to Washington. He turned to her and said, "Let's talk. I've heard that flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger."

     

    The little girl, who had just opened her book, closed it slowly and said to The Obama, "What would you like to talk about?"

     

    "Oh, I don't know," said Obama. "How about What Changes I Should Make To America?" and he smiles.

     

    "OK," she says. "That could be an interesting topic. But let me ask you a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff - grass. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, and a horse produces clumps of dried grass. Why do you suppose that is?"

     

    Obama, visibly surprised by the little girl's intelligence, thinks about it for a second and finally says, "Hmmm, I have no idea."

     

    To which the little girl replies, "Do you really feel qualified to change America when you don't know shit?"

     

    http://www.funnyandjokes.com/barack-obama-vs-little-girl.html

  2. Sigh... I'd really rather not let this digression continue, but I simply must ask...

     

    How in the hell do you see me asking you to name some Republicans who meet the standards of your assertion to be "bullying" you? Seriously. I just don't get it, and if you're that over-sensitive to offense, then I might suggest you consider no longer participating in the Politics section.

     

     

    “The best thing for an argument is not words and ideas, but to stop arguing”

     

    I don't know who said that, but I think it fits the bill.

     

    I never meant for my offhand comment to bring so much attack. Let's just leave it at that.

  3. My god, people... Syntho-sis - You said in reference to Republicans, "I mean they're <sic> a few who actually do care about serving the people and doing what is right, and making good decisions." I asked if you could name any. You responded (basically), "NO!"

     

    It doesn't matter. I don't care. Shit, I could name some republicans who meet your criteria above, I just wanted to learn more about how you think about the process and what criteria is important to you. I'm comfortable stating now that your thinking on this subject is no longer of interest to me. Let's move on. :doh:

     

    Wha? :confused:

     

    You've got to be kidding me. What is this a high school debate class?

     

    If you don't care then why did you proceed to bully me?

  4.  

    The thing to remember, is that your opinion means nothing at all if you are trying to use it to negate factual arguments. Expressing an opinion as a means to negate a factual argument will not only not work, but get people upset, as evidenced by a few recent posts. Now, the thing to do if you felt iNow or others made excessive claims is not to express an opposing opinion, but rather a fact-based counterargument, or that you find his argument lacking (and point out a flaw in it). In the first case, you will be expected to defend your opinion/counterargument, but in the second case your opponent must either show that the flaw you pointed out isn't really a flaw, or accept that it is and modify his argument.

     

    Now, in the example you gave, no one would have much of a reason to disagree with your opinion, as you are ambiguously saying that you find the day beautiful and there really isn't any way someone could disagree with that (or they might take it at face value, that it universally is a beautiful day, in which case they might disagree saying either that they don't find the day beautiful, or more generally that most people wouldn't, or that there's a tornado somewhere and the people there won't agree with you, etc). Now, if you had used your opinion as the basis of an argument, "It's a beautiful day, so turn off your computer and go outside", you are very likely to be contradicted.

     

    What factual argument was I negating? Refresh me..

  5. alidity of a process of discussion, one that is vitally important to any discussion. No one can deny your opinions and you are right about that, but people are allowed and must at times request clarifications on how you back up an argument, even if that is formed from an opinion. Discussions fail otherwise.

     

    I'm sorry for any unjustified remarks I made against your statements before.

     

    What is the purpose of this argument anyway though? Are you asking me to back up my opinion that they're are a few good and bad politicians in Washington (in both parties)?

     

    How am I going to do that? I can't. I don't know these men personally. I just don't think it's fair to make Republicans look moronic. Even if a few of them make mistakes at times that doesn't make the whole lot ignoramuses.

     

    Maybe it just makes me feel better to know that these men are actually somewhat concerned about this nation. Maybe I'm just naive to think that.

     

    Once again, how am I going to back that opinion up?

     

    I'm confused.

  6. In my opinion, Syntho-sis is not backing up his claims.

     

    Do I need to get out the bloody dictionary and start looking up words for you people?

     


    Merged post follows:

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    When you state an opinion as support for an argument or a counter-argument you can expect people to request clarification so as to quantify it and therefore use it in the discussion. What pray tell, is the point of sharing an opinion that has no quantifiablity? If no one can understand the basis of your argument (because it's a opinion that does not need to be defended) then it has no relevance. If you aren't willing to share the basis of your argument then what are we doing here?

     

    Because it's unnecessary and impractical for me to find 32 'good' republician politicians in Washington. For one, no one is good. But not everyone is a scumbag. And yes I'm just going on an assumption.

     

    Yes, that may be logically weak for me to assume, but for you all to bicker and complain about the logical arrangement of my opinion in this discussion shows how mature you really are. All I wanted was to discuss, I didn't want a bloody argument.

     

    You all have a preexisting ideology. You don't want to learn, you just want to demonstrate your intellectual superiority. That's okay, just makes you look like fools anyway. The youngest of you is probably 10 years my senior anyway.

     

    So when you are willing to learn and discuss politics, maybe we can have a halfway decent discussion.

     

    I don't see that happening anytime soon though.

  7. I appreciate your attempt to shift the burden of proof to me, but I do not accept that onus.

     

    Which, in context, I read as an opinion. Which he is not obligated to support.

     

    :doh:


    Merged post follows:

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    The point, gentlemen, is that he made a completely hollow and vacuous assertion which he was wholly unable to support. That is a fact which has been demonstrated by his subsequent replies.

     

    You know what I find interesting? It seems that when something is in direct opposition to someone's values, ideas, opinions it is usually assumed to be wrong with or without evidence. Because if that person is wrong it hurts their pride. I on the other hand, have absolutely no self-esteem so I could care less if I'm right or wrong.

     

    Let's go thru this together:

     

    1) You assumed my opinion was a statement that MUST be supported with evidence.

     

    Answer: It MUST not be anything more than what I choose for it to be. I could say "Wow, it's such a beautiful day." (Which is an opinion btw) If it was actually a beautiful day, then I think most people would agree with me. It wouldn't be necessary for them to use the scientific method to analyze my OPINION.

     

    2) You then attacked my later attempts to clarify what I was trying to convey. Rather than agree, you continued to attack everything I said.

     

    Answer: At this point you become nothing but a bully, and at this point I stop caring what you say.

     

    So I could pull up articles all day long backing what I had said, and you know what? It wouldn't make a bit of difference. You're obviously more skilled at debate than me but I'm not debating so it's not relevant.

  8. Yeah, I had a feeling that you would be either unable or unwilling to support your claim and address my question. It's been noted. Thanks for the complete non-response. :rolleyes:

     

    Haha I'm gonna ignore that belittlement. Buddy, Listen, I don't like either of the parties. But just how is it fair to say that one party is totally moronic...for lack of a better word...and totally disregard all the corruption and idiocy that the other party is spewing out?

     

    I think they're are a few good men/women on both sides.. Not alot like you mentioned..

     

    I also don't believe that Democrats are mostly righteous do-gooders and Republicans are mostly Evil incompetents.

     

    Is that a little more clear?

  9. Because they're the ones who are acting out atm.

     

    The only 'acting out' that you and me are aware of. Man..There's so much corruption that goes on, it ain't even funny...It's insane.

     

    So, how about that donation?

     

    Yea sure, I'll get right on it. Would you like this bag of old multicolored ties, or my famed collection of rusty spoons?

     

    No I'm serious. :D

  10. How do you know I'm not a City counsel member or a Senator? You're assuming(although, in this case, it is a safe assumption). One could even make a case that my caring for the people is expressed in the fact that I am in the middle of sacrificing 6 years of my life to "defend freedom and democracy around the world".

     

    Who said I assumed? Maybe I have a satellite over your current location watching your every move. You just assumed I didn't have that power (but in this case it's a safe assumption :P.)

     

     

    Monitary issues and the fact that I'm in a contracted job for a couple more years. Would you care to donate to my Presidential campaign for 2028?

     

    Then why bother with the criticism of the Republican party? If we're going to scrutinize Washington, Let's include all the scoundrels. Eh?

  11. Name more than I can count on one hand.

     

    Exactly. Same with the democrats as well..


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    Surely there's at least 32 Republicans that actually care about serving the people. :P

     

    I don't see you caring about the people...All I see is your criticism.

     

    If you can do such a fantastic job, why don't you do it?

  12. Well about halfway thru he started using "they" and "them." Not "he" and "him."

     

    I don't think that's a fair depiction of the entirety of the Republican Party. I mean they're a few who actually do care about serving the people and doing what is right, and making good decisions. I still believe in this country, with or without all the bickering that goes on in Washington.

     

    That J.R. dude brought up a good point as well.. Which I don't need to repeat.

  13. What I meant simply is that botany was my least favorite area of study in biology as of yet. It isn't that I don't love science as a whole; I truly love science despite my dislike for chemistry. Science is the only thing that excites me in life, and what I meant in my thread is that I fear my difficulty in the subjects other than biology may hinder my progression.

     

    Hmm well to me at least....Chemistry is most conceptual. The rest is just algebra.

     

    Is it the concepts you are struggling with or the equations/math?

  14. I apologize for the very similar thread to the one below me, but after explanation they are rather different. If one were to look at my post history, they'd find my own threads to be rather repetitive, but I need to post this.

     

    I am a freshman biology major at a state university. Since I was young, I had always been interested in biology. That's my issue though: Always been interested in biology. In high school, I disliked math, chemistry and never took physics. I took AP Biology last year and it was the best thing I ever did. I proved to myself that I did in fact enjoy biology, studied my ass off, and wound up getting a 5 on the exam. My attention never shifted during class (botany is a different story).

     

    Anyway, when applying as a biology major to colleges, I had a lump in my throat as I knew that I was not born a scientist, and would have to work like no other to be good at science studies in general. So, here I sit. In bed after nearly having a panic attack when doing chemistry homework. I am finding general chemistry to be extremely difficult at times. Sometimes it's a breeze, but others are tedious. I have an A in the class right now, but the final will probably destroy that since we only do homework and no exams. I dislike math, but am actually doing very well in my college algebra class (wasn't ready to do precalc/calc).

     

    After that little background, my main question is this: If I am so narrow-minded, and am only really interested in biology, am I doomed for a career in science? I am well aware of how closely related chemistry and biology are, and I feel if I suck at one then I have pretty much failed as a well-rounded future scientist. Biology is the only thing that excites me, and a career in it is all I can picture myself doing. I worry, however, that my distaste for chemistry as a whole and difficulty in math is going to be an enormous roadblock for me for many years to come.

     

    This doesn't make sense to me. Biology encompasses many different fields of study. Chemistry, statistics, geology, physics, and botany as you mentioned are all staples of the study of biology. So how the heck can you not like botany and love biology? Biology is the study of life.

     

    You've narrowed yourself down to one field. You need to expand your love of learning into other fields of interest. Find things you're interested in and learn more about them...

     

    Go to a library. Chemistry and Biology go hand in hand.

  15. I've never had a bizaar illness, but I do have a bizaar wellness which I share with my grandfather.

    Neither of us are able to contract the cold or flu virus.

    I remeber about ten years ago I had a bit of a bloked nose, but that's about it.

    My grandfather used to go into hospital for medical research. The doctors would put him in an sealed room and fill it with germs to see if he got sick; he never did.

     

    Fascinating. Is it just cold and flu he doesn't contract? What else did they try?

  16. Out of general curiosity I receive a few dozen newsletters each day. I don't read all of them, I have a select few I enjoy. Lately I've been receiving Glenn Beck's daily newsletter. I know some of you may scoff at that, but I somewhat understand his 'anti climate-change position' and I'm interested in how to defend against it.

     

    There's been alot of hype over this issue from that side of the table lately. Specifically over the rigor climatologists have invested in their study.

     

    Honestly I just want to shut these belligerent arguments out with science and logic. I want to know the facts, that scientists have so far.

     

    I also hear these same arguments in my own life and it would be nice to have a firm foundation from which to derail such fallacy laden arguments.

     

    Granted I don't know a whole lot about climatology so you'll have to speech if laymen terms.

     

    EX> Here's what I'm talking about. My blood pressure goes up just watching this.

     

    Thoughts?

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