David Dyer-Bennet <dd-b at dd-b.net> writes: > Gregory Rapawy <grapawy at yahoo.com> writes: > >> Taking your broader claim ("*How much* somebody cares >> about something *in an intellectual debate* is >> completely irrelevant, except tactically."), I think >> that in certain areas of debate the strength of the >> participants' beliefs in certain emotional (or, >> perhaps, value) propositions is relevant to the truth >> they are seeking to ascertain. Examples include >> political philosophy, rhetoric, and aesthetics. > > Well, for your particular benefit, I will disagree > *passionately* and *vehemently* with this position. Maybe > it'll help, who knows? I'm with you, David. The more passionate someone is, the less attention I pay to their claims; anyone who can't stop ranting goes straight to my killfile. Lurk a while on rec.arts.sf.written for reasons why I do this; the thread with "Iraq" in the subject is probably a good place to start. As for sincerity, I'll put forward the claim that the most sincere people on the planet are suicide bombers. Discuss. --KG