Minoru wrote: > > > And JM seems to have reduced himself to nothing but personal attacks. > > What a waste (his money, time to travel abroad, reading and education)! > And Alan responded:
> Yes, it is quite sad that JM can now do nothing more than make ironic and > sarcastic attacks against a "straw man" that does not represent the views of > any of the other parties in the discussion. > > I am beginning to pity him. > Your solicitude is most touching. Tell me, Alan, does one of your "views" still include the assertion that the Palestinians voluntarily left their homeland in the late 1940s, or have you changed your mind about that at this point? Is that one of the "straw men" you are referring to above? Or have we perhaps resolved that issue now? Personal attacks, Alan? How little you know yourself. Go back and read your own posts, Alan. I seem to recall something about "dupes of terrorist propaganda" being one of the main lines in quite a few of them. Well, like the old saw goes, a dog always returns to its vomit, right? The fact is, Alan, if you and Minoru repeatedly have to engage in such debating tactics, it is a sign, as John G. noted earlier today, that you simply have nothing else to offer. You cannot win the debate on the facts - and I will gladly stand by my own posts here over the last few weeks on that score, as well as the analyses I developed based on them - so you resort to diversionary strategies like accusing the other party of being a dupe of terrorist propaganda, or of simply inventing facts. Now, generally in a civilized, rational debate, there are certain things one just does not say. One does not use McCarthyite smear tactics. One does not accuse the other side of fabricating evidence (which other than plagiarism is probably the worst accusation that can be leveled against someone in any field of endeavor). But neither of you are really interested in a civilized debate. And neither of you have much to offer. Frankly, Alan, your posts here, even when not offensive, rarely rise above the level of the kind of insipid banalities that even the most benighted college freshman would flinch from offering up for discussion. And that is no "straw man", that is a judgment on the quality of your participation on this list to date, and I would bet I am far from the only one here who feels that way at this point. Honestly, it is rather ME who pities you two. You both remind me of that boxer Andrew Golota, the "Foul Pole". Struggle though you might, you can never avoid the low blow. It draws you like a magnet. It is the only reassuring thing left, once your adversary has proven that your facts are wrong, your reasoning is feeble-minded and your arguments are laughable. So go back and read the exchanges over the last few weeks here, Alan. I know what I have said, and I stand by every word. And if things have gotten personal, know that in both cases it was you and Minoru who threw the first punch. If you do not like the counterpunching, then you might try changing the nature of your participation here. And be advised that I am not some spineless little milquetoast like Alan Combes; if you use tactics like these, I will fight back, and you will not forget it. John M. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Persons posting messages to not_honyaku assume all responsibility for their messages. The list owner does not review messages prior to posting, and accepts no responsibility for the content of messages posted. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
