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Current Events » in reply to "censure" vs. "censor"

More on the Chinese Water Torture
Robert — (archived)

Before I'd even consider criticizing Dan/Don for a steady stream of posts referencing outside sources, I'd have to criticize Tom. Where Dan/Don generally (but not always) post to news items, Tom more often than not references outside opinions--from paid pundits at Fox and the WSJ to freelance bloggers.

(Yet again, it's not only Tom of course, but Tom gets to serve as the poster boy for what a lot of other people do. Sorry, Tom--that's the price you pay for standing out from the crowd.)

Philosophically, the HabitableZone is where we debate our own opinions, firsthand and original; backed up by whatever facts we can bring in from outside. To the extent that people cite the opinions of others, it seems like an attempt to inflate one's own support, to validate one's opinion quantitatively rather than through the quality of argument. I don't give a rat's ass how many people agree with an opinion, I want to engage the source of the opinion.

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

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