Posted by zeugma on June 22, 2006, at 14:00:44
In reply to Lar feeling unprotected by the Rules, posted by Larry Hoover on June 20, 2006, at 11:54:53
this is late in the day, metaphorically speaking.
There is intrinsically no connection (in my own idiosyncratic opinion) between sophistry and rudeness. In fact, sophistries are often the bane of a civil society. Consider ancient Athens, and other more modern examples. That is why I cannot take "rude" as an adjective that back-refers to "sophistry." (Pure sophistry to think that all sophistries, or even most, are rude, rather than the product of too much civilization.)
"Sorry" is also anything but a magic formula (if it is on babble, then so much the worse for it).
I am probably the least charitable person on babble, as that concept is philosophically defined (I have tried to have conversations on this subject with various posters who champion the notion, but sadly either my interlocutors or I are interrupted by frequent, demoralizing blocks, which is making me 'uncharitable' in a less philosophical sense, though in no way directed towards any of the posters that this thread concerns).
If "sorry" means nothing, then the poster means nothing. That assumption is required is some cases, not here; and the fact that 'rude' cannot be an adjective whose intended force is to back-refer to "sophistry" indicates that the "sorry" does not have the dismissive sense that it would if it derived its logical justification (as in, "That argument, won't work, sorry") from the preceding referent of "sophistry" (i.e., the allegedly sophistical post or posts, not reviewed by me).
considering that both posters I am commenting on are blocked, one for what I consider a grossly excessive amount of time, makes me feel rude, myself. But any sophistry here is purely my own.
The only reason I am posting this labored analysis is because both posters, now blocked, have a passion for getting things right.
without that passion, words are a magic formula, and no more. how can anyone trust anyone in that case?
-z
poster:zeugma
thread:659182
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20060622/msgs/660188.html