Answer these True/False questions to see if it is worth my time to debate you. An answer of True (T) gets (1) point, False (F) (0) zero points. Tally your points and read the bottom to see if you are worth my time.
1) We don't know what caused X, therefore B caused X. T/F
2) Person A believes Z. Person A is really smart, a genius in fact, therefore, Z is True. T/F
3) Event X has happened, therefore Y will certainly happen. T/F
4) Personal experience G defies all logic and common sense. But, because it happened to ME, everyone should accept G as fact. T/F
5) In order to believe W, you need to have faith in W. In order to have faith in W, you need to believe W. T/F
6) The Police accused suspect D of stealing a TV. There is no other evidence, or witnesses. It is up to D to prove that he didn't steal it. T/F
7) Jane is dead or she is alive. Jane is not dead. Therefore Jane is alive. T/F
8) Sparky the dog, stole a piece of meat from the BBQ. Sparky should be burned alive as punishment. T/F
9) Entropy increases disorder, therefore order cannot increase. T/F
10) Jack has been holding a grudge for 60 years against his neighbor, who stole his scissors, worth $1. Jack forgave his grand daughter for stealing and spending $6,000 of his money last week. Jack is a forgiving person. T/F
OK, tally up your points. For every (T) you get one point, for every (F) you get none.
If you got a 10, congratulations, you are not worth my time!
If you got a ZERO, we should talk!
(Adapted from http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/)
10 comments:
I got a score of 1 (I think Sparky should be burned alive, jk) because I dispute #7. You said, "Jane is dead or she is alive." Since you offer only two options, one of which you freely confess is false, process of elimination seems like a reasonable course of action to me. If you had left room for a third option, such as, "Jane does not exist," then I might have changed my answer (unless, of course, 69% of US citizens claimed to have met Jane and had a personal relationship with her, in which case I might reconsider).
I'm not stupid, Steve, there's nothing here that I didn't already know. It's a shame that you're so unsure of your beliefs that if anyone disagrees with you, you feel the need to convince yourself that they are somehow less intelligent than yourself.
Hey,
I'm glad you agree.
It's strange because I was thinking of you when I wrote half of the questions. Does #1, 4 or 5 sound familiar?
In fact, about 9 of the 10 fallacies were uttered by you. I'm glad you are making progress though.
The idea that Jane is alive was a consequence of poor logic called a False Dilemma. Offering only two options is part of the fallacy. She could be in a coma, not exist (like you said), or any number of other possibilities.
You touched on another fallacy called an appeal to popularity. 80% of American children under 5 years of age believe in Santa Claus. That means he exists. I think I'll make that #11.
You're not stupid? I didn't say you were. I mistakenly use fallacies myself sometimes. (Doesn't make me stupid.)
I have no problem helping you learn. I don't think I'm more intelligent than you Matt, it just takes practice, like any skill. Since you made a fallacy in this very message, I would suggest you practice more. I posted a link which can help you.
I ignore most of yours. Perhaps I would roll my eyes at your posts less often if you studied Christianity more thoroughly before criticizing it so thoroughly.
"You touched on another fallacy called an appeal to popularity. 80% of American children under 5 years of age believe in Santa Claus. That means he exists. I think I'll make that #11."
No, that doesn't mean he exists, but if you were new to our culture and didn't already have good reason to believe he didn't, then the fact that so many believed he did would be reason enough to consider the possibility. That's all I was saying. At least try to understand my points before you misinterpret them.
"You're not stupid? I didn't say you were. I mistakenly use fallacies myself sometimes. (Doesn't make me stupid.)"
You sure do go to a lot of trouble to try to convince me that I shouldn't be offended - why do you try so hard to keep me around? It's almost like you have something staked in this debate... does your brother have money on me?
In Christ's Love,
Matthew
1) if you would point out my fallacies, I would greatly appreciate it.
2) There are good reasons why I think santa doesn't exist.
Arguments from sheer popularity don't cut it. thats all I'm say'n.
I don't care if you stick around or not. Go ahead and make fun of my kindness Matt. I like you, thats why I don't want to insult you. But you can believe whatever you want.
I haven't spoken to my brother in 4 months (his choice). I wish I could get something out of this, something I could use to pay the rent, buy a new pair of shoes or something. Satan doesn't pay very well.
"Satan doesn't pay very well."
I've heard me makes loans, however... High interest...
Does fire insurance come with the employment plan?
"Go ahead and make fun of my kindness Matt."
I'm not making fun of your kindness, Steve, I'm just caught by surprise. Atheists of your caliber generally either abandon their posts or cut the conversation short about 10 minutes in, your endurance impresses me - very few would put up with me for as long as you have. Congrats!
In Christ's Love,
Matthew
By the way, I was just about to add a link to your blog on my page, and then you went and ruined it by making your blog no longer child-safe - your more recent posts are enough to make me think that you're trying to scare me off.
Well, I suppose you are technically still a child, but that doesn't stop you.
haha, fire insurance. Good one.
"Well, I suppose you are technically still a child, but that doesn't stop you."
I was actually referring to my readers, some of which are younger than myself, but yes, it has made it rather unpleasant for myself as well.
"haha, fire insurance. Good one."
Yeah, I can pump out puns like that one faster than Ray can relocate an atheists' convention to the local banana factory.
I didn't know they were younger than you. That makes a lot of sense now.
That's ok, I don't really care if they come over or not.
I'll put a link to you on my webpage, for the 2 people who read it. haha
Cute, I like the button.
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