You said I’m “replying dismissively.” This would imply that I’m acting as though other people aren’t worth talking to. I’m posting this exactly BECAUSE I want to talk to other people about it, and I’m going to great lengths to try explain my idea. I also don’t see myself insulting anyone...the worst I’ve said is that I don’t care as much for certain other theories because they aren’t clear enough, don’t reflect the evidence that I think is important, and aren’t as simple as I suspect the answer in this case should be. These aren’t insults towards other people.
To say I’m talking “dismissively” (or bring up “fools” or “cranks,” I don’t see a fool or crank anywhere) is starting on the wrong foot, I’m not here to engage in insults or slapfights with other people. My enthusiasm is for the ideas, and yes, certainly, for my first thread, I’ve chosen something that I think could be an important idea and that I’m excited to share.
As long as we are starting with this understanding, I can happily talk about the substantial things you’ve brought up? Fair enough?
This would imply that I’m acting as though other people aren’t worth talking to.
No: as if other people’s contrary opinions aren’t worth addressing, beyond saying “nope, my theory is right, and here’s why”. I wasn’t intending to suggest that you insulted anyone, and I don’t think you have.
I wasn’t suggesting that you regard anyone as a crank, but that the way you’re presenting your theory comes across as rather crankish. And I certainly wasn’t suggesting that you are wanting to “engage in insults or slapfights”; not at all.
Not worth talking to, not addressing their opinions...I’d put those under the same umbrella.
My replies aren’t in the vein of gainsaying other people or baldly declaring that I’m right. I’ve developed this theory for quite a few months now (after being a writer and working professionally as a story analyst for years)...and I’ve had conversations with a lot of people about various aspects of it. My responses here aren’t “Nope, I’m right.” They’re more along the lines of...”Yes, that is a valid concern that I’ve heard before. Here’s what I determined about it, or why I think the theory can explain that.”
Keep in mind also, I’m not a perfect communicator. There’s no way I can know how other people view what I’m saying or what makes sense or doesn’t make sense to others...so I need to see people’s replies to know what I should expand on from the theory or put my energy into clarifying.
I’m also not going to get into a discussion where I’m being called names. If “crankish” is someone who presents a theory based on over 10-years of work in a field they’ve studied obsessively, writes over 30 pages of papers attempting to clearly show how the theory works in as many cases as they can imagine...presents it with enthusiasm, and politely tries to clarify the idea, address concerns and discuss it...then I’m happy to be a crank, and I think a whole lot of other people should be “cranks” in that way.
I’m not going to discuss anything else related to name-calling. I’m going to address the substantive points in a friendly and respectful way. If you want to do the same, I hope you will stay, if you want to focus on names, this isn’t the thread for you.
I’m very happy to discuss the substantive points, at least to the limits of my patience :-).
I’d thought you might find it useful to know that you’re coming across as crankish. I would, with roles reversed. I haven’t called you any names. I suggest you may be being quicker-than-optimal to take offence.
This is natural reciprocal altruism. If I was bickering a bunch of calling names, I wouldn’t mind receiving it back. But I’m going out of my way not to do so, so I’m less tolerant of receiving it.
Similarly, not every reaction someone has is a sign of personal weakness of them. Including “quicker-than-optimal to take offence.” Focus instead on the ideas and not trying to force things into aspersions on others.
Can we clear up one thing before we start?
You said I’m “replying dismissively.” This would imply that I’m acting as though other people aren’t worth talking to. I’m posting this exactly BECAUSE I want to talk to other people about it, and I’m going to great lengths to try explain my idea. I also don’t see myself insulting anyone...the worst I’ve said is that I don’t care as much for certain other theories because they aren’t clear enough, don’t reflect the evidence that I think is important, and aren’t as simple as I suspect the answer in this case should be. These aren’t insults towards other people.
To say I’m talking “dismissively” (or bring up “fools” or “cranks,” I don’t see a fool or crank anywhere) is starting on the wrong foot, I’m not here to engage in insults or slapfights with other people. My enthusiasm is for the ideas, and yes, certainly, for my first thread, I’ve chosen something that I think could be an important idea and that I’m excited to share.
As long as we are starting with this understanding, I can happily talk about the substantial things you’ve brought up? Fair enough?
No: as if other people’s contrary opinions aren’t worth addressing, beyond saying “nope, my theory is right, and here’s why”. I wasn’t intending to suggest that you insulted anyone, and I don’t think you have.
I wasn’t suggesting that you regard anyone as a crank, but that the way you’re presenting your theory comes across as rather crankish. And I certainly wasn’t suggesting that you are wanting to “engage in insults or slapfights”; not at all.
Not worth talking to, not addressing their opinions...I’d put those under the same umbrella.
My replies aren’t in the vein of gainsaying other people or baldly declaring that I’m right. I’ve developed this theory for quite a few months now (after being a writer and working professionally as a story analyst for years)...and I’ve had conversations with a lot of people about various aspects of it. My responses here aren’t “Nope, I’m right.” They’re more along the lines of...”Yes, that is a valid concern that I’ve heard before. Here’s what I determined about it, or why I think the theory can explain that.”
Keep in mind also, I’m not a perfect communicator. There’s no way I can know how other people view what I’m saying or what makes sense or doesn’t make sense to others...so I need to see people’s replies to know what I should expand on from the theory or put my energy into clarifying.
I’m also not going to get into a discussion where I’m being called names. If “crankish” is someone who presents a theory based on over 10-years of work in a field they’ve studied obsessively, writes over 30 pages of papers attempting to clearly show how the theory works in as many cases as they can imagine...presents it with enthusiasm, and politely tries to clarify the idea, address concerns and discuss it...then I’m happy to be a crank, and I think a whole lot of other people should be “cranks” in that way.
I’m not going to discuss anything else related to name-calling. I’m going to address the substantive points in a friendly and respectful way. If you want to do the same, I hope you will stay, if you want to focus on names, this isn’t the thread for you.
I’m very happy to discuss the substantive points, at least to the limits of my patience :-).
I’d thought you might find it useful to know that you’re coming across as crankish. I would, with roles reversed. I haven’t called you any names. I suggest you may be being quicker-than-optimal to take offence.
This is natural reciprocal altruism. If I was bickering a bunch of calling names, I wouldn’t mind receiving it back. But I’m going out of my way not to do so, so I’m less tolerant of receiving it.
Similarly, not every reaction someone has is a sign of personal weakness of them. Including “quicker-than-optimal to take offence.” Focus instead on the ideas and not trying to force things into aspersions on others.