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Skipping over, of course, that Rumsfeld appears to be completely oblivious to irony, this story is a prime example of what I was trying to explain to someone last week, Reductio ad Hitlerum. (Although, I believe I was trying to explain that as a result of mentioning Godwin's Law, that "as an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1." Incidentally, that was the discussion that spawned Albert's somewhat overlooked comparison of Jodie Sweetin to Hitler.)
Still, the description of Reduction ad Hitlerum doesn't quite describe my major objection to "the Hitler Card." Clearly, bringing up Hitler (or Nazis) as a argumentative device is often fallacious, and ought to take weight away from your argument. But it's not just the lazy comparison that gets to me. It's that the argument isn't followed through.
Somehow, people think that the link is good enough to prove your point. And the argument is made both positively and negatively. For example, making the federal government more accountable and eliminating corruption is a good idea. But it's not a good idea simply because the Liberals were corrupt and (as most Albertans would seem to say) the Liberals are evil/wrong/etc. Nor is it a good idea simply because the Conservatives centred their campaign on the idea and (once again, as the opinion of most Albertans would suggest) they are the better party. If either of those seem to be sufficient reason for deciding that eliminating corruption is good, you need to think harder.
Maybe the association fallacy is a better description of what I'm getting at. Still, it can be exceptionally frustrating to watch, or to argue against someone who comes to their conclusions this way. I mean, people like Bill O'Reilly resort to this kind of reasoning. And you wouldn't want to be like him, would you?
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February 05, 2006 -- 7:04 PM
posted by edo
While I might be able to empathize with the sentiment … I don’t know if I’m capable of completely understanding the response.
Either at the Danish consulate in Beirut, Lebanon...
Or outside embassies in London, England...
I suppose if I was a cartoonist, and I was to draw a cartoon now, I would draw a picture of Mohammed furious at a newspaper with Jesus attempting to comfort him saying "Welcome to the secular world..."
Anyways, here are some depictions of Mohammed throughout history. In includes the Danish cartoons and some other representations that I think would be more controversial.
February 05, 2006 -- 5:30 PM
posted by Leo
Well, friday sucked for me too, some stupid hick rear ended me, probably did about $4000 in damage... car not even 3 months old
February 05, 2006 -- 5:26 PM
posted by Par
Shit, Jesse, that sucks. Can you try talking to your faculty or to admin? Maybe you can eke out an exception.
If you didn't take that class, and they didn't let you graduate this semester, would you have a Fall convocation instead? I guess that'd be better than waiting a year...
February 05, 2006 -- 5:24 PM
posted by Par
Rumsfeld Likens Chavez To Hitler:
"I mean, we've got Chavez in Venezuela with a lot of oil money," Rumsfeld added. "He's a person who was elected legally — just as Adolf Hitler was elected legally — and then consolidated power and now is, of course, working closely with Fidel Castro and Mr. Morales and others."
Skipping over, of course, that Rumsfeld appears to be completely oblivious to irony, this story is a prime example of what I was trying to explain to someone last week, Reductio ad Hitlerum. (Although, I believe I was trying to explain that as a result of mentioning Godwin's Law, that "as an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1." Incidentally, that was the discussion that spawned Albert's somewhat overlooked comparison of Jodie Sweetin to Hitler.)
Still, the description of Reduction ad Hitlerum doesn't quite describe my major objection to "the Hitler Card." Clearly, bringing up Hitler (or Nazis) as a argumentative device is often fallacious, and ought to take weight away from your argument. But it's not just the lazy comparison that gets to me. It's that the argument isn't followed through.
Somehow, people think that the link is good enough to prove your point. And the argument is made both positively and negatively. For example, making the federal government more accountable and eliminating corruption is a good idea. But it's not a good idea simply because the Liberals were corrupt and (as most Albertans would seem to say) the Liberals are evil/wrong/etc. Nor is it a good idea simply because the Conservatives centred their campaign on the idea and (once again, as the opinion of most Albertans would suggest) they are the better party. If either of those seem to be sufficient reason for deciding that eliminating corruption is good, you need to think harder.
Maybe the association fallacy is a better description of what I'm getting at. Still, it can be exceptionally frustrating to watch, or to argue against someone who comes to their conclusions this way. I mean, people like Bill O'Reilly resort to this kind of reasoning. And you wouldn't want to be like him, would you?
February 05, 2006 -- 2:45 PM
posted by Jsese
Timing is everything..... I just learned that I don't have to take that class after all next fall. After I talked to that academic advisor guy, he went and talked to the associate dean. I guess they discussed my situation and came to the conclusion that I could graduate with the classes I already had. I would graduate in the individualized concentration instead of the sports performance concentration. which isn't really a big deal eone way or another, therefore all I have to do to graduate is sign a freaken sheet of paper. Unfortunatly as I was under the impression that there was little I could do until registering for that class in march, I didn't check my email until friday night. Another email let me know that I had missed the deadline to graduate this semester by 3 days. If I had checked my email a week earlier I could have graduated this semester. but as it turns out, nothing will happen till the fall whether or not I decide to take that class.
And my brand new ski boots that I had custom fitted, they make my toes go numb within the first hour of wearing them. hopefully I can find a way to make them fit better. or else It was an serious waste of money.
friday night was not a good night for me. nothing seemed to go my way
February 05, 2006 -- 1:05 PM
posted by Par
February 04, 2006 -- 8:35 PM
posted by eric
yeah taylor, Mia told me the other night that Blackbryd should be bringing in that Mastadon release - especially that transparent disc. sounds sweeeeet.
Danny man, i'm not sure where you go for oldschool but you can get THIS
at www.allposters.com
their Oldschool Hip Hop section is sparse (beasties and public enemy only) but the gangsta rap isn't too bad if you want some Dre and Snoop (and 50 cent 64Y!!)
yo, check out this NIRVANA song (yeah not FOO) that Dave Grohl sings on clicky clicky
February 04, 2006 -- 8:13 PM
posted by Par
Sweet, I've been curious about Pope Dreams ever since I weirded Cheung out about it a month ago.
February 04, 2006 -- 8:12 PM
posted by alison
can someone remind me, when exactly did Disney become a super marketing monster? was it back when Roy took over from Walt, or was it when Michael Eisner got the job? this is insane... Admittedly, i'm glad the muppets will live on, but how is it that Disney got ahold of them and suddenly we get schlock like this?
mind you... i do like that you can find the movies on dvd. but still
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