"All people have a legitimate basis.":lol2:

It is within the realm of possibility. However, that is not the case.

I am fond of commenting on the concept of respecting all people, despite the differences you have with them, in a general effort to improve the condition of living on planet Earth, with other human beings, all of whom have a unique point-of-view. If you haven't gotten that as being my point, then you aren't really paying attention. And I can't be blamed for that.

Yes, everyone has a unique point of view. That doesn't oblige me to value those points-of-view equally (or wallow in the laughable pretense that thereby I would be "improving life on the planet".)

Any tree stump can treat everyone the same. I think people should exercise more discretion than that. Once someone has demonstrated themselves to be a dimbulb, they just don't rate as highly with me; fools suffered gladly have little motivation to leave their foolishness.

@Maggie: I didn't suggest a course of action (how to treat people, how to rate people, or how much discretion to apply - these are decisions best left to the individual). Reading comprehension: don't project your assumptions upon the text (creating ad hoc points to form a rebuttal against).

Much like reading an entire book, and taking away from it one line which resonated with you as something useful to you in your life, each person you encounter can be a learning experience. Each person has an internal validity not dependant on external value judgments. If you percieve everything through filters of preconcieved notions, you are not capable of processing new information. Part of growing as a person is expanding your understanding of others. Perhaps, especially the people you disagree with or do not understand.

Again Flint conflates "failure to understand" with other reactions. "To understand all" is not in fact "to forgive all".

As for the trite little sermon about "learning experiences", sometimes the take-home message from a "learning experience" with person ${x} is "${x} is a twit". Some people just are twits, and while it may not be their fault, that doesn't oblige anyone to "respect their validity"...nor is any great life lesson missed thereby.

Yes. What bothers me about this is that ${x}'s twit-ness is merely an opinion. It may be an informed opinion, but it usually is not. My neice is someone most people would dismiss as a 'twit', unworthy of further engagement. Fact is, my niece suffers from a neurological disorder that inhibits her mental and physical capabilities but these disabilities are not immediately apparent. People who dismiss her are missing out on an incredible kid. It is nice, though, to sit in judgement of others. It makes one feel all invincible and stuff.

That's right, Brianna, every person is unique.

You know what I find interesting? No one has called Maggie on HER shit. I propose that MaggieL has, indeed, the recipe for the Final Solution. You go, Maggie. You go.

Oops. I suppose everything I just said was a Red Herring! My bad!

Well...that's an opinon *of* an opinion, which has all the weaknesses of an opinion, but in double measure.

"Twit" is glossed as "a foolish, annoying person". It's not a synonym for diminished mental capability.

And yes, indeed, judgements are judgemental. But either you make judgements or you wander through life aimlessly.

To have confidence, road maps and plans, you have to make judgements.

Way to cite that post from a serious thread where Brianna was really opening up as a person, and twist it to your sick purposes in this pointless argument you have single-handedly created and perpetuated. Bravo. That kind of behavior really encourages a healthy community spirit. We could all really learn alot from you - teach us, Maggie, teach us. We need your mean-spirited vibe to keep us on the right path.

Isn't this a serious thread too? I'm perfectly serious.

I beleve there's an important connection between this warm-fuzzy relativist philosophy--where making judgements is bad and everything and everyone are uniquely but ineffably valuable--and feelings of rootlessness and directionlessness.

Philosophy matters, and critical thinking isn't just a nicety. If all you can do is accuse me of "sick, twisted purposes" in making a serious point, maybe it's your seriousness that needs examination.

Right, right, you're right, I'm wrong. You're smart, I'm stupid. Jesus that gets boring.

http://www.jlist.com/IMAGE/5pkom

I beleve this says it ALL !!!

Even better with the handy image tags.

http://images.jlist.com/e1/baka_gaijin_15.jpg

Baka gaijin indeed ...