- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Posted by: Recon Number 54
Wow! 5 pages of mostly civil discussion. I am seeing a great deal of patience and logical persistence in a good number of the arguments. If I may, I would like to make an observation.
Anyone who voices an opinion, even if they feel they have all of the evidence in the world and that fact and "common sense" back them up. Iif they still have the reason to state that they are only speaking their opinion, they carry a great weight (IMO) in any discussion. Anyone who voices their opinion and shouts that they know the truth, or that they have all of the facts, and they do not need to consider or contemplate anything that goes counter to their "truth" (again, IMO) shows themself to be a fool.
You see, (IMO) certainty is a trap. The moment that anyone believes that they have ownership of the truth; they have closed off all possibility of accepting any new information or knowledge. Nearly all of humanities horrors have been performed by people who were certain that they were correct. Anyone who is open for the possibility of being mistaken, or that they could learn something more isn't going to be driven to "make everyone see/understand the truth".
That said, I too believe that anything, even potentially dangerous things, taken with full knowledge and precaution are things that we all have the right to try. As long as no harm (not offense, but harm) is done to another. I do not believe that anyone has the right to tell me how to live, risk or even possibly end my life.
But I could be wrong and would be willing to listen to anyone tell me where I could be. As long as they too are not absolutely certain that they are right. Because that is not a conversation, it is a sermon, and I didn't ask for one of those.
Oh, and I enjoy cigars occasionally.
--Cheers
You speak tru7h, my friend