# My apologies for getting off on the wrong foot **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 18, 2003, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-apologies-for-getting-off-on-the-wrong-foot/195894 "2003-08-18T03:40:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dissonance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dissonance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dissonance)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-apologies-for-getting-off-on-the-wrong-foot/195894/21 "2003-08-18T04:26:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Republican \* > **A forewarning: If we are ever discussing foreign relations, policy, etc etc especially about the Middle East, I may not have citations for many of the points I make. I was honored enough to work in Army Counter-Intelligence for more than a decade before retiring in that neck of the woods, so as you could understand my views will be based on person experience (by that, I do not mean simply what I saw with my filtered eyes, but what I have heard from local military, citizens, etc). I will do my best to keep that hogwash out of the debates, but forgive me in advance if I become heated and therefore have a momentary lapse of judgement.** A word of forewarning: these, since they frequently involve visceral reactions, are the ones that you are most likely to need a reliable cite to back up, if you wish to be taken seriously. An unsubstantiated claim that you were in CI will be taken for what it’s worth. I could make the exact same claim myself without any backing. Just to reiterate, this isn’t really the proper forum to make apologies in, but welcome to SDMB, if I’m allowed to do so, youngster here that I am, though I gather we’ll probably find ourselves on opposite sides of most debates. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-apologies-for-getting-off-on-the-wrong-foot/195894/22 "2003-08-18T04:27:49Z")
So that’s why you brought yours? ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-apologies-for-getting-off-on-the-wrong-foot/195894/23 "2003-08-18T04:29:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Republican \* > **I am used to having these discussions on various forums that are not soley for political use, and therefore providing citations for every point you make was not common practice in my mind.** I appreciate the point you’re trying to make, and I just want to clear something up: this is _not_ a forum “solely for political use.” If you look at the topics in Great Debates, we discuss issues of religion, of sexuality, of history, and of politics. In all of these topics, the standards of debate are upheld as much as possible. The standards are really quite simple. If you are going to make an assertion on a point, be able to back it up with facts. As in any real debate, it is up to _you_ (not your opponents) to prove what you say. If you can show facts which back your assertions, then it is your oppenents’ task to debunk them, if they can. And they, too, should be able to prove what they say. And so the circle goes round. Unlike what others have said, it has nothing to do with political affiliation, and everything to do with recognized standards and rules of debate. Those posters who adhere to these standards are respected, whatever their politics. Those posters who consistently post opinion and speculation as fact are roundly criticized. If you have a fact-based argument to make, GD may be a good place for it. If, on the other hand, you wish to voice your opinion on a subject without factual basis, another Straight Dope forum ( **In My Humble Opinion** or even **The BBQ Pit** , depending on the tone of the post) might be more appropriate. Keep these things in mind and you should do fine. And above all, enjoy yourself. Now go forth, and sin no more. \* And though I said it before, once again, welcome to the SDMB. - Yes, this is meant as a joke. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dissonance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dissonance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dissonance)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-apologies-for-getting-off-on-the-wrong-foot/195894/24 "2003-08-18T04:32:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Republican \* > **A forewarning: If we are ever discussing foreign relations, policy, etc etc especially about the Middle East, I may not have citations for many of the points I make. I was honored enough to work in Army Counter-Intelligence for more than a decade before retiring in that neck of the woods, so as you could understand my views will be based on person experience (by that, I do not mean simply what I saw with my filtered eyes, but what I have heard from local military, citizens, etc). I will do my best to keep that hogwash out of the debates, but forgive me in advance if I become heated and therefore have a momentary lapse of judgement.** A word of forewarning: these, since they frequently involve visceral reactions, are the ones that you are most likely to need a reliable cite to back up, if you wish to be taken seriously. An unsubstantiated claim that you were in CI will be taken for what it’s worth. I could make the exact same claim myself without any backing. Just to reiterate, this isn’t really the proper forum to make apologies in, but welcome to SDMB, if I’m allowed to do so, youngster here that I am, though I gather we’ll probably find ourselves on opposite sides of most debates. ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-apologies-for-getting-off-on-the-wrong-foot/195894/25 "2003-08-18T04:34:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Republican \* > **I am used to having these discussions on various forums that are not soley for political use, and therefore providing citations for every point you make was not common practice in my mind.** I appreciate the point you’re trying to make, and I just want to clear something up: this is _not_ a forum “solely for political use.” If you look at the topics in Great Debates, we discuss issues of religion, of sexuality, of history, and of politics. In all of these topics, the standards of debate are upheld as much as possible. The standards are really quite simple. If you are going to make an assertion on a point, be able to back it up with facts. As in any real debate, it is up to _you_ (not your opponents) to prove what you say. If you can show facts which back your assertions, then it is your oppenents’ task to debunk them, if they can. And they, too, should be able to prove what they say. And so the circle goes round. Unlike what others have said, it has nothing to do with political affiliation, and everything to do with recognized standards and rules of debate. Those posters who adhere to these standards are respected, whatever their politics. Those posters who consistently post opinion and speculation as fact are roundly criticized. If you have a fact-based argument to make, GD may be a good place for it. If, on the other hand, you wish to voice your opinion on a subject without factual basis, another Straight Dope forum ( **In My Humble Opinion** or even **The BBQ Pit** , depending on the tone of the post) might be more appropriate. Keep these things in mind and you should do fine. And above all, enjoy yourself. Now go forth, and sin no more. \* And though I said it before, once again, welcome to the SDMB. - Yes, this is meant as a joke. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-apologies-for-getting-off-on-the-wrong-foot/195894/26 "2003-08-18T04:39:12Z")
**O\_o** You got off on the wrong foot here. You’ve been caught plagerizing and lying. Any claims you make will be met with **extreme** scepticism. So far you have refused to gives cites at all (this doesn’t equal nit picking). I see a future for **The Republican** here once he gets used to the rules of the game. I’m afraid I can’t say the same for **O\_o** unless you agree to follow the rules of the board. ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-apologies-for-getting-off-on-the-wrong-foot/195894/27 "2003-08-18T04:42:38Z")
And get used to the hamsters that run the boards as well… they like to play mean tricks sometimes. Like double-posting unnecessarily. ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-apologies-for-getting-off-on-the-wrong-foot/195894/28 "2003-08-18T04:44:50Z")
I just want to thank you, **The Republican** , for your username. When you hear, “the usual suspects,” I would imagine your name is automatically on the list. It’s a big responsibility you’ve shouldered. I bet **december** will be glad to meet you. I like dogs much more than political parties, hence the username. You should have pitted yourself. That can be sort of like a ritual hazing where we all get to know you. Some people use bad words. [George Carlin] Rolls in grave. [/GC] Oh, but he _looks_ dead. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-apologies-for-getting-off-on-the-wrong-foot/195894/29 "2003-08-18T05:12:36Z")
**Moderator’s Note:** This doesn’t really belong in this forum, as it’s not a debate. A reminder: If you see something you think doesn’t belong in the forum it’s in, use the “Report this post to a moderator” link. But, as long as the thread is in that forum, that forum’s rules still apply. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-apologies-for-getting-off-on-the-wrong-foot/195894.md?page=1)