Where Al "went sideways" as far as I am concerned is when he took the above statement of opinion by me and said that it amounted to me saying what other people think and accused me of libel and/or slander. And while I agree that in general opinions should be based on facts, when we're dealing with an impression that one has about what other people think, it's pretty hard to come by objective facts, isn't it? I mean after interacting with several people on a given issue, don't you usually come away with some opinion as to what they, individually or collectively think about closely related issues? And do you have direct objective facts to back that opinion up with? That's my real issue with Al in all of this, his almost demmand for such objective proof.
I think that if you make a claim about a WHOLE GROUP (which you did when you mentioned "the left"), based on the actions of a few, it leads to prejudice and fear. And we all know that fear leads to hate...which in turn leads to the dark side. And no one wants to go there.
I admit that I have done this before too: painted a group of individuals with a broad brush based on my experience. That doesn't make it right. I think it's stupid when I do it too and I hope in the future I get called on it.
But if you are claiming a statement of fact as opposed to a personal observation, then yes you either should show support. If you qualify your opinion with "From my experience..", or "When I speak with left wing nuts, I find...", or even just "It seems...." then at least it shows the real source of your knowledge.
I do not need to prove anything to anyone because my record speaks for itself. I really do have a 160+ IQ. I really do make well into six figures. I really am very well educated.
I mean no disrespect here but if your behaviour on this board (pompous, arrogant, misguided) is indicative of how you behave in real life, I cannot imagine it is easy for your to make friends. The weirdest, rudest and most socially inept guy I had EVER met was a P.hd student in physics who was (inexplicably) loaded and an IQ of 178.
Bragging about how smart, rich or educated you are is the Least Common Denominator for winning an argument and will always alienate you from good, honest people ("wrong" or "right").
And repeatedly claiming "We both know I'm right" makes you look dangerous ignorant of the discussion
you are a part of.
