Judging by the slew of downvotes, it seems like a lot of people here do not consider my positions stated in this thread defensible, so I think it’s time to withdraw from this discussion, since its continuation is unlikely to move anyone’s opinions in a more accurate direction.
Nevertheless, even if my argumentation has been poor, which it probably has, I do think that the widespread apparent inability to identify the problems of this post, and the fact that it’s getting upvoted instead, represent a severe failure to apply critical thinking skills of which people here pride themselves so often. It’s not so much about identifying particular inaccurate statements and flawed arguments, but a complete failure to recognize that a mix of unsubstantiated claims based on vague tastes and impressions is being offered in place of a sound argument, and that the whole approach fails to meet any reasonable intellectual standards. This would be true even if every single piece of advice in your post happened to be correct on a rigorous examination.
Again, please don’t read this as a personal attack. If you look at my earlier comments in various threads, you’ll see that I liked some of the stuff you wrote. I just think this post really is substandard, and that people upvoting it are displaying a failure of critical judgment by doing so.
Again, please don’t read this as a personal attack.
I’m not, and I appreciate that you’re being explicit that it isn’t.
It’s possible that, rather than failing to see that this post doesn’t meet the standard of sound argument, other voters are not holding it to that standard. I don’t feel qualified to judge whether that’s appropriate or correct in this community, nor indeed whether it’s occurring; I’m just proposing an alternative hypothesis to explain what you’re observing. Hopefully one of the voters in question will weigh in.
Judging by the slew of downvotes, it seems like a lot of people here do not consider my positions stated in this thread defensible, so I think it’s time to withdraw from this discussion, since its continuation is unlikely to move anyone’s opinions in a more accurate direction.
On these kind of emotionally charged subjects I find that the comments that get rapid initial downvotes are often the same comments that end up later being upvoted to a reasonable extent. The most passionate and ideological among those who disagree with you vote first while those that are more distanced from the conversation come along later.
Potentially useful, yes. But not necessarily sufficient information to warrant any action.
Judging by the slew of downvotes, it seems like a lot of people here do not consider my positions stated in this thread defensible, so I think it’s time to withdraw from this discussion, since its continuation is unlikely to move anyone’s opinions in a more accurate direction.
Nevertheless, even if my argumentation has been poor, which it probably has, I do think that the widespread apparent inability to identify the problems of this post, and the fact that it’s getting upvoted instead, represent a severe failure to apply critical thinking skills of which people here pride themselves so often. It’s not so much about identifying particular inaccurate statements and flawed arguments, but a complete failure to recognize that a mix of unsubstantiated claims based on vague tastes and impressions is being offered in place of a sound argument, and that the whole approach fails to meet any reasonable intellectual standards. This would be true even if every single piece of advice in your post happened to be correct on a rigorous examination.
Again, please don’t read this as a personal attack. If you look at my earlier comments in various threads, you’ll see that I liked some of the stuff you wrote. I just think this post really is substandard, and that people upvoting it are displaying a failure of critical judgment by doing so.
I’m not, and I appreciate that you’re being explicit that it isn’t.
It’s possible that, rather than failing to see that this post doesn’t meet the standard of sound argument, other voters are not holding it to that standard. I don’t feel qualified to judge whether that’s appropriate or correct in this community, nor indeed whether it’s occurring; I’m just proposing an alternative hypothesis to explain what you’re observing. Hopefully one of the voters in question will weigh in.
On these kind of emotionally charged subjects I find that the comments that get rapid initial downvotes are often the same comments that end up later being upvoted to a reasonable extent. The most passionate and ideological among those who disagree with you vote first while those that are more distanced from the conversation come along later.
Interestingly, that seems to be what’s happening to the post itself.