Bill,
In TT we are trying to prevent discussions from becoming emotional in
nature because of demeaning and hurtful statements, so it applies directly
to the persons with whom we are immeditaly engaging in debate.
However, from a debating point of view if one chooses to bring in
arguments made by another, say Calvin, those arguments, too, should have to
stand on the facts of Calvin's argument, not on personal attacks on Calvin.
Perry
From: "Bill Taylor" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: TruthTalk@mail.innglory.org
To: <TruthTalk@mail.innglory.org>
Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] ** Moderator commant **
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 08:29:28 -0600
Hi Perry, I am impressed by your sincerity and humility. Thanks for the
great example to the rest of us.
I have a question for you. You write that "Specifically, 'ad hominem
argumentum', [which is what is mentioned on the TT discussions guidelines
page] refers to trying to gain an edge in an argument by attacking the
person rather than the topic, again, regardless whether it is true or
false.' Does this apply only to the one with whom one is arguing, or does
it
apply as well to attacks against the person of persons whom one might
reference in constructing ones arguments. For example, a dismissal of John
Calvin's views on election via an attack against him as a person, i.e., his
dealings with Servatis; or a dismissal of the content and substance of the
Nicene Creed because it was formulated by supposedly corrupt Roman
Catholics -- are these ad hominem arguments acceptable forms of
argumentation on TruthTalk?
Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "Charles Perry Locke" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <truthtalk@mail.innglory.org>
Sent: Monday, June 27, 2005 8:03 AM
Subject: [TruthTalk] ** Moderator commant **
> TT members,
>
> I have been contacted by email privately and informed that my
referring
> to DaveH as a "sly ol' mormon boy" was an ad hominem reference. After
some
> discussion back and forth, and some research, I am convinced that it is
so
> and that I need to apologize to Dave.
>
> I previously thought that if one merely stated a belief about someone
> that was true, that it was not an ad hominem statement, but upon doing a
> little researh I discovered that it does not matter whether it is true
or
> not...an ad hominem reference is a comment "to the man", so saying
anything
> about anyone personally, whether true or not, positive or negative, is
an
ad
> hominem reference. If I were to say, "John, I really think you are a
smart
> guy", that is an ad hominem reference, too, because it is directed at
> someone personally.
>
> However, on TT I think it is a little more specific in that TT
wishes
to
> avoid the NEGATIVE ad hominem reference, that is, one that the receiver
of
> the comment would find insulting. Dave indicated in a post that he
thought
> "sly ol' mormon boy" was an ad hominem reference.
>
> So, with this in mind, Dave, I apologize to you for making an
ad-hominem
> reference.
>
> The above is a very general interpretation of "ad hominem".
Specifically,
> "ad hominem argumentum", [which is what is mentioned on the TT
discussions
> guidelines page] refers to trying to gain an edge in an argument by
> attacking the person rather than the topic, again, regardless whether it
is
> true or false.
>
> Even though I am acting as moderator, I, too, am prone to making
> inappropriate remarks at times, and I welcome private email from anyone
that
> would like to point out such comments. If we have only one watcher, who
> watches the watcher? While I moderate the group, the group moderates me.
>
> Perry the Moderator
>
>
> ----------
> "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may
know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6)
http://www.InnGlory.org
>
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>
----------
"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may
know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6)
http://www.InnGlory.org
If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to
[EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a
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----------
"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you
ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org
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