Sunday, 10 February 2008

A very long response

1 comment:

Eugene said...

I love this idea for its convenience, but I'll wait, because they still seem to have some security issues, or at least theoretical ones. Also, there isn't much need yet. One problem is that I would prefer not to have all my log in activity being monitored and worse, recorded. Most would consider this as paranoia, but I think it could be real problem.

I don't mind anyone attacking my ideas, so long as they are not attack me myself (personal attack), and that they provide proper, non-personal reasons.

The issue I was trying to raise here was simply,

Should(NOT is) there be a cost of researching and thinking? If there is, then it could be a breach of personal liberties, but from a non-conventional and far more dangerous way (not legislation or even use of force).

Whatever this is, it is not easy to counter such things. One of the things I've noticed about attacks on Ron Paul is that they don't have reasons that reflect any amount of critical thinking.

For example, when asked "Why shouldn't Ron Paul continue to run for President?"

"Ron Paul should cut and run from the Pres. Race, he doesn't have it. Plus, every time he makes a point, he has a "whinniing to momma" voice. Its annoying!!" LOL!!!

What kind of argument is that? Rational Ignorance is actually irrational here, because from what I could tell from his profile, he's been watching too much Transformers. Is the benefit of looking at CNN debates not larger than watching Transformers clips? It may sound ok for him, but not for me. And since social scientists have yet to come up with a definition of what Rationality means, I call that irrational in that case, in the long term.

Finally, I would like to say that rational ignorance, or the idea under this name, leads to more rational ignorance. One of the reasons is that once the cost of doing something is great, you won't do it. This leads you to do the other alternative more, and therefore more opportunity cost for doing the "right" thing.

Darn, i could write an essay on this and how to combat such tactics, should they be used.