(April 16, 2018 at 6:39 am)MysticKnight Wrote:(April 10, 2018 at 3:23 pm)Simon Moon Wrote: Theist have the burden of proof, and all that...
Theists do have the burden of the proof but now that I'm finally understanding, if and only if those listening are actually trying to understand and listen.
Argument tends to be an adversarial process, largely as a result of biases of which we are not conscious. Given the biases propelling the dynamic seem to operate subconsciously, it's hard to imagine argument working out any other way, even with the best of intentions. Some methods, like the Delphi method, aim to get around this, with some success, but a Delphi is the exception, not the norm. There appear to be strong evolutionary reasons why our social habits of argument evolved this way.
I think what you mean by "actually trying" is that unless they agree with you, they are lying and subject to "dark forces." On top of that, you don't bother to apply the same standard when you're evaluating opponent's counter-arguments. You've effectively said that if you don't agree with such, you just dismiss them. That essentially makes your complaint here an example of hypocrisy. You're a dishonest cad, MK.