"Brainwashed" is probably ranked with the weakest possible arguments. If I say you're brainwashed, I can ignore the chance that someone might be able to disagree with me and have a valid point. If I can relegate you to a pat little category, I don't have to listen.
A little wake-up call, folks: it could be easily said that we are all brainwashed. We are all products of our environment. Quit name-calling and try—just try—to understand another person's point of view for once. You might find yourself stretching and growing.
You might even find yourself becoming wise.
"Quit name-calling and try—just try—to understand another person's point of view for once."
ReplyDeleteAnd that is why Prop 8 is going to be defeated.
The majority of voters in California have managed to understand exactly what you're talking about here.
Amen.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I found your blog. I've admired your comments around the Bloggernacle for a while, and I really like what I've read today. I will add this site to the links on my blog, not that it will increased your traffic at all.
Thanks, RoAnn, for pointing me here.
Ray
Chino—I think it is widely understood that you think Proposition 8 is going to fail, and that this eventuality is a good thing. This thread, however, is not about Proposition 8. I welcome your thoughts on the common "debate tactic" of calling someone brainwashed.
ReplyDeleteRay—thank you. I, too, enjoy your comments and will be glad to see your perspective here, as well.
Silver, would you feel tempted to say that Chino is brainwashed?
ReplyDeleteI mean that as a joke with a point. Basically you can say that anyone who disagrees with you is brainwashed and dispose of his arguments. But that's facile.
So anytime I hear or read that someone calls another person brainwashed I shut my circuits off and move along. No meaningful discussion follows.
When a debate reduces to the point of namecalling it's all over. Names are the verbal equvalent of throwing rocks, which is what kids do when they're scared.
ReplyDeleteVelska,
ReplyDeleteI might be missing something, but I think what you said in your comment was exactly SilverRain's point in this post, so I guess I'm not sure why you responded to her as you did. I think all she was saying to Chino was 'stay on topic.' :)
Names are the verbal equvalent of throwing rocks, which is what kids do when they're scared.
ReplyDeleteI like that!
And I very much abhor when people resort to, "Harrumph... grumble... brainwashed... grumble..."
(Claims of brainwashing are very, very rarely unaccompanied by harrumphs and grumbles I've noticed.)
Velska—not really, because I can understand how someone might disagree with me without being brainwashed!
ReplyDeleteJendoop—I love your turn of phrase, and your point. When people turn to namecalling it is generally because they are scared. Perhaps a little more compassion towards them is in order.
Chedner—I think namecalling is usually accompanied by gnashing of teeth, right?