That would have been a reason for not wearing seat-belts, but not a good one compared with the reason for wearing seat-belts. Namely, that they (statistically) work.

As Aristotle would have said, knowing the difference (and using the difference) between anecdotal (not "antidotal" which it is not) evidence is "a mark of an educated man". Nowadays, a formally educated man, most probably.

Dang, you 'must' of clicked on "quote post" as soon as I posted, for as soon as I reviewed my post, I immeditately changed it.

No harm done, I hope. No offense meant.

Anecdotal evidence is only that, anecdotal evidence. One thing to get from formal education is what the value of anecdotal evidence is, and how to distinguish it from real evidence. That is a (as Aristotle would have said) "mark of an educated man".

But you can start a bit of autodidacticism now: Anecdotal evidence - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Other posters could benefit from a bit of self-teaching on this topic, too.

Fine, thank you.

Ahh, there you are.

Oh no, insufficient evidence for ken, what would the almighty ken do without evidence? would you sit and curl into a ball in the corner of the room? It is truly sad that you rely so heavily upon evidence.

My example was indeed anecdotal evidence, but maybe this is because it was never presented as evidence in the first place! where did you obtain the stupid idea that I was putting forth "evidence"? what do you think this is a facts forum?

And I never used anecdotal evidence to draw a conclusion that shouldn't be drawn, because I did not draw any conclusion! do you know what conclusion means? My post implied the putting forth of a point, and an example (not to be mistaken with conclusion!) of how you're statement is not always the case.

I guess then that my lack of substantial evidence means that having a teacher is the only possible way to become educated no ken?

Sorry for thinking you were making an argument for what you think is true. I'll never make that mistake again. (Don't know what could have gotten into me!).

No, of course not. What on earth would make you "think" I said that?

QWERTY at 20 paces.....

One is free to think whatever one likes, but when it comes to putting an argument for it so as to persuade another, one faces the constraints of doing so in such a manner so as not to violate the rules of logic and also to present sufficient grounds for your conclusion, irrespective of your subject matter.

Those are the rules of debate, and that is what makes it worthwhile and challenging. I will admit that I don't always conform to them, but at least I have learned a lot about it on the Forum.

I really really sincerely thank you for this Reconstructo.

I wish more knew like you.

Without attacking specific members, what do you think of other members in this forum in general?

For me, I feel that the average age of the active members is 40, and that most of them are from the United States. Some of them are quite locked up in their own thoughts, and some of them are arrogant and close-minded academics. Hey, I am not saying I'm any better, I'm probably worse than that.

..thus selling half baked bread

Thanks man! I only wish I wasn't coming from such an angry place when I wrote that line. I inspired other humans to hate me and show me contempt because in truth I hated them and showed them contempt. At the moment, I see how ugly and sad this situation is on both sides.

I may not have made an idol of others lately, but I do have a tendency to make an idol of myself. I think Satan (think John Milton, Byron, etc.) is a great symbol for this. I suppose this Satanic self-idolatry is more respectable in its way than the idolatry of other human beings, but it's still a good way to cut one's "self" down from its potential inclusion of all reality. In Dante's Inferno, down becomes up right as Dante and Virgil pass Lucifer who is frozen in sh*t. Now that's symbolism! Nevermind the ingenious use of the narrowing spiral.

---------- Post added 05-19-2010 at 07:04 PM ----------

To everyone I have talked down to, shown contempt to ----SORRY BROTHERS!!!

Let's all just admit we are sometimes *ssholes of the greatest magnitude, forgive one another and move on. This site has an enormous potential to enrich our lives. I know that dwelling on the high thoughts is what keeps me from getting caught up in the sad games we all as humans have a tendency to get caught up in.

Unfortunately I let myself get caught up in more than a few sad games in this very forum which ideally could offer me the cure or substitute for such games ---real friendship based on the shared appreciation of man's better thoughts --his better "angels" shall we say.

The limits of our language are the limits of our world are the limits of our selves. That's my story and I'm sticking to it, until I hear something better. Call me crazy, but I would like to have only love in my shirt when I log on here. When I have "stormed" off it was a frustration not only with others but also with those tendencies in myself to turn an opportunity for mutual enrichment into a place of violence no less cruel for its merely apparent bloodlessness. We are "spiritual" (read lingual/conceptual/passionate) beings and words sometimes pierce deeper than bullets --and the sad thing is that that is exactly what we sometimes enjoy about them. Oh, the cruelty of a poison tipped sentence. What the f*ck are we thinking? Some of us here have long known better. But I'm not one of those. But screw it! I'm going to give it a try. Some of you hate me, or at least the crust of me as shown on tv, and I can't blame you for that. I'm a nasty little b*tch sometimes. I've got to forgive you to forgive me and also the reverse. All this "you" and "me" distinction is practical but deceptive. We are linguistically and emotionally connected and interpenetrating. It's as obvious as the nose on our face. I know the sick thrill of setting myself above. And also the cruelty that is experienced and inspired by such treatment directed against myself. Enough is enough. Who wants to live like that? -->No, I haven't undergone some great conversion. This is just the better part of me trying to take the wheel from the worse part.

Peace!

Call me crazy, but I would like to have only love in my shirt when I log on here.

I know the sick thrill of setting myself above. And also the cruelty that is experienced and inspired by such treatment directed against myself. Enough is enough. Who wants to live like that? -->No, I haven't undergone some great conversion. This is just the better part of me trying to take the wheel from the worse part.

It has been asked;(I know because I asked it already)
You may even have answered, I'm not really following this thread;

What do you think of yourself as a member in this forum?

Are you proud of your participating self?

Are you happy with your contributions?

Could YOU be better for yourself or for the forum?

Which comes first, You or the Forum?

Call me crazy, but I would like to have only love in my shirt when I log on here.

I don't think I know what "having love in my shirt" means, but it sure sounds nasty, and even a little bit kinky. Maybe I don't want to know.

Yes, you don't want to know ken, its for gay people.