Leif Halvard Silli wrote:
Lachlan Hunt 2009-02-01 03.30:
-public-html
+www-archive
Sam Ruby wrote:
The third word is "strawman". It involves raising and addressing an
issue that bears only a superficial resemblance to the topic being
discussed.
That is not the definition of a strawman. A strawman is an argument
where one person misrepresents another's position so as to be easily
refuted.
Avoiding the point(s), for the benefit of one's own point(s), but still
making it seem as if one were on topic. That is a straw man.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man
Leif Halvard Silli wrote:
Maciej Stachowiak 2009-01-31 22.55:
I don't think your description is in conflict with what I stated.
The one part I disagree with is that any raised issue that at least
three people agree is an issue must be flagged in Working Drafts. I
do think it is often a good idea to mark especially controversial
issues, or especially pervasive and clearly unresolved issues, but I
think doing this as a matter of course may create a lot of work. I
would say instead that we should exercise reasonable judgment about
when a flag in the draft is warranted.
Stating his disagreement. (Conditionally permitted by Sam.)
P.S. I know you asked people not to state their agreement on the
list. But since your email was a reply to me, but since your email
was a reply to me and since I think it is helpful to the group to
see people coming to agreement, I chose to make an exception.
Claiming to have stated his agreement.
Sam:
Keep a watch out for these three, and call them out when you see them.
I see a "strawman".
Sorry, that's not a strawman either. Maciej was just pointing that
the he largely agreed with what Sam wrote, except for one small part.
You (and Majiej) make it sound as if there is any difference between saying
"I disagree in point x."
and
"I agree, except in point x."
My guidance was inconsistent. "give each other the benefit of the
doubt" vs. "call them out when you see them". I'd suggest we would all
benefit from giving the former a bit more weight than the latter.
One thing that may also not be clear here: "I think it is helpful to the
group to see people coming to agreement" is a making a subtle point that
Maciej sees "coming to an agreement" a subclass worth distinguishing
from "if you agree".
And, you know what? I tend to agree.
Peace.
- Sam Ruby
