cipher@mmm.UUCP (Andre Guirard) (07/17/86)
Frequently, in "debate-type" postings, I see these phrases, and
variations on them:
Needless to say...
Of course...
As everybody knows...
As any fool knows... (my personal favorite)
Naturally...
Obviously...
These phrases are usually followed by a preposturous lie. These
phrases mean _nothing_ (after all, if it's really obvious why say it at
all?). They are used primarily to keep people from challenging the
statement that follows, by implying that anyone who doesn't agree is
stupid or unreasonable.
I encourage everybody to keep an eye out for these and similar phrases.
What follows is the weak point of the poster's argument, in case you
want to refute it.
--
(___) Andre Guirard
|_ _| La Diablo kiu Strabas
( v ) ihnp4!mmm!cipher
\-/
Vlicsak@hsi.UUCP (Don Licsak) (07/21/86)
> > Frequently, in "debate-type" postings, I see these phrases, and > variations on them: > > Needless to say... > Of course... > As everybody knows... > As any fool knows... (my personal favorite) > Naturally... > Obviously... > > These phrases are usually followed by a preposturous lie. These > phrases mean _nothing_ (after all, if it's really obvious why say it at > all?). They are used primarily to keep people from challenging the > statement that follows, by implying that anyone who doesn't agree is > stupid or unreasonable. > > I encourage everybody to keep an eye out for these and similar phrases. > What follows is the weak point of the poster's argument, in case you > want to refute it. Is the net for discussion or are we being graded on formal debate? As eveybody knows, it's a place for discussion. Naturally, no one expects to be critized for their choice of phrases. Needless to say you are entitled to voice your opinion. Of course, everyone else can voice their own. Obviously, you have your axe to grind about this subject. However, as any fool knows, an axe honed too fine dulls too soon. -- Don Licsak ihnp4!hsi!licsak Health Systems International New Haven, CT 06511 "I'm the person your mother warned you about"
jsdy@hadron.UUCP (Joseph S. D. Yao) (07/31/86)
I really can't totally agree with this (though, as many have
pointed out, there is some truth to it). To have an argument
or proof complete, one must sometimes make statements which
in hindsight are obvious. Obviously, one does not wish to
insult his or her audience's intelligence. (But you weren't
thinking that before you read it!) Therefore, to mitigate
any impatience the learned reader may express, with thoughts
like "Well, of course!"; or "How obvious / trite / etc.", the
writer will, of course, enter some such phrase.
--
Joe Yao hadron!jsdy@seismo.{CSS.GOV,ARPA,UUCP}
jsdy@hadron.COM (not yet domainised)