A little analogy...
There's a guy who drives like a twat. He goes 50mph minimum just about everywhere he goes. He pays no attention to any road rules, no matter how well-demonstrated the need for these rules are. He's going to kill someone - it's just a matter of time. You know who I'm talking about - he's a stereotype, but hey, this is an analogy.

He does this because he thinks he's a better driver than everyone else. He's not, but he has no doubt what-so-ever, it is not even a question for him. He thinks that he'll always be able to swerve out of the way when another car pops up in an unexpected place on that nasty curve. He thinks that children won't run out into the road in front of him. He thinks that he could stop if they did, because he's such an amazing driver.

Now, here's the rub: Should we respect his opinion? Should we tolerate his opinion? Should we forgo disrespect or intolerance of the opinion because he finds it offensive? Does ignoring the problem seem acceptable?
(misanthrope is so adjective he's verbing nouns!, Thu 26 Mar 2009, 16:09, 6 replies)

that analogy
just doesn't work.
(jennymnemonic, Thu 26 Mar 2009, 16:41, closed)

Which bit?
Which bit doesn't work? I thought it was quite a good analogy.

The guy clearly believes completely and wholeheartedly in his awesome driving.

A Christian believes completely and wholeheartedly in Jesus Christ and God.

Both were against the law when concieved (i.e. when the guy started ignoring speed limits, or when the Christians started worshipping some random disruptive carpenter).

Whose belief is more valid? And WHY is it more valid?
( uberdeity Wondered why Owen Lars knew of the term "hell" on, Thu 26 Mar 2009, 17:00, closed)

Oh! The irony!
That may well be true... but as you may have guessed from the content*, your faith in your opinion, by itself, means fuck all to me. That's what the analogy is all about, FFS!

How about some explanation of why it doesn't work? Does it need the Pope condemning innocents to death by AIDs in his opposition to condoms as context? Or is it a more severe flaw than assuming a context?

I'm completely open to having it torn to shreds, publicly. Go for it. I'd rather be made to look a complete and utter tit but have corrected an opinion, than to carry on in ignorance. It has happened before, and it was good. It'll happen again, and that'll be good too. I genuinely hope that this is one of those moments, and not just the exact thing I'm ranting against popping up and missing the point completely. Please.

Alas, given the lack of attention to irony, I find myself unable to hold my breath in the meantime...
(misanthrope is so adjective he's verbing nouns!, Thu 26 Mar 2009, 17:01, closed)

nope,
Doesn't work. It's not the strength of the guy's belief that's the issue, it's his dangerous driving - which would be unacceptable no matter what his reason for doing it (drunkenness, being in a hurry, whatever). Telling someone to stop driving like a maniac before they kill someone is not intolerant or disrespectful, it's basic regard for human safety.

Conversely, if someone has a strongly-held belief that DOESN'T make them endanger other people's safety - or in fact affect anyone else in any way - it wouldn't be a problem.
(no way hose is staring unemployment in the face on, Thu 26 Mar 2009, 17:00, closed)

.
But he doesn't think his driving is dangerous. It is, demonstrably, but he won't accept it.

It is not intolerant or disrespectful to tell him to stop, because there's a good reason behind it. But, the point is that he thinks it is intolerant and disrespectful. He is offended when no offence is warranted.

That is the problem with this guy - you just can't stop him endangering people by talking to him.

--

That, jennymnemonic, was how to do it.
(misanthrope is so adjective he's verbing nouns!, Thu 26 Mar 2009, 17:08, closed)

okay
I see your point about not being able to stop people acting in accordance with what they believe to be true. I'm just not sure I see the 'danger' that's a huge part of your analogy.

I'm not talking about people with extraordinary power, like the Pope, or religious extremists. I just mean yer average person who lives a normal life while quietly believing in a God. How does that endanger people?

NB I'm not religious in the slightest, personally.
(no way hose is staring unemployment in the face on, Thu 26 Mar 2009, 17:20, closed)