Bill Clinton gives heated response on voter disenfranchisement

Great Debates
41

Is this what you meant by “reasoned arguments”?

Regards,
Shodan

42

No, but it doesn’t surprise me that you can’t tell the difference. I was very careful to state my opinion in a GD-acceptable way. I’ll say it again to make it clear to you: I believe that you are utterly wrong-headed on this topic and will not be convinced by reasoned arguments. Offering them would be like arguing with my dog. I merely wanted to show my disagreement with your assessment (since I was arguing against Clinton in this thread) without wasting my time trying to change your mind.

43

Someone with better search-fu than me might be able to find Shodan’s post, soon after the 2000 election, in which he admitted that Bush ought to do the right thing and concede to Gore. Dunno what’s changed between then and now.

Daniel

44

I think it’s safe to say I never agree with Shodan about anything, but this is truly pathetic, R.P. Sure, you can call his position “wrong-headed”, but if you’re going to assert that he “will not be convinced by reasoned arguments” but not actually provide any yourself, you’re not Making a Case, you’re just talking smack. This is GD, so either Put Up or Shut Up before you start likening another poster’s mental processes to that of a canine.

45

Your post would be of great merit if this were an issue that had never come up before. But it isn’t a new issue on which we are unaware of Shodan’s position, or on which we have a chance to see how **Shodan **will respond to arguments. Despite all the debates on the SDMB, he has never come around.

So when he brings it up in a thread in which I am a participant, and when he does so seemingly in support of my position in the thread, I have two options: remain silent and let it appear that I’m holding my tongue because he happens to agree with my position on the topic of the thread, or say something without rehashing the entire tired debate. I chose the latter.

I thought it might prevent a hijack. Obviously it has had the opposite effect.

46

You know, in retrospect, I could have accomplished the same thing more respectfully by just saying something like “we’ll never agree, but let’s not hijack this thread.” I should have done so, and will do so next time.