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Why are facts not important?

beancounter

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So yesterday, I started a thread asking for a rule requiring links for statements of "fact" made by OP's.

(Now, before this thread gets shut down..I understand and acknowledge that it's too much work for the Mods to handle.)

In that thread, several people either directly, or passive-aggressively mocked me for the the idea. The thread was closed before I had an opportunity to respond.

You know who you are, so here is your opportunity to explain why factual information isn't a good thing.
 
So yesterday, I started a thread asking for a rule requiring links for statements of "fact" made by OP's.

(Now, before this thread gets shut down..I understand and acknowledge that it's too much work for the Mods to handle.)

In that thread, several people either directly, or passive-aggressively mocked me for the the idea. The thread was closed before I had an opportunity to respond.

You know who you are, so here is your opportunity to explain why factual information isn't a good thing.

Hmm... where is the link to support that (bolded above) fact? ;)
 
Hmm... where is the link to support that (bolded above) fact? ;)

I'm not going to bother looking up the thread...you can find it in the suggestions forum...but I did read comments from more than one forum staff member expressing the OP's suggestion would lead to an excessive amount of work.

I didn't respond to the OP in that other thread, but I'll respond in this one.



In that thread, several people either directly, or passive-aggressively mocked me for the the idea. The thread was closed before I had an opportunity to respond.

You know who you are, so here is your opportunity to explain why factual information isn't a good thing.

I suggest you look around and find a thicker skin. You are going to need it if your ass is chapped from the responses you got in that other thread. I don't think anyone mocked you at all.
 
So yesterday, I started a thread asking for a rule requiring links for statements of "fact" made by OP's.

(Now, before this thread gets shut down..I understand and acknowledge that it's too much work for the Mods to handle.)

In that thread, several people either directly, or passive-aggressively mocked me for the the idea. The thread was closed before I had an opportunity to respond.

You know who you are, so here is your opportunity to explain why factual information isn't a good thing.


Debate is a formal discussion arguing a proposition, belief or claim between sides of differing conviction which implies supporting evidence of fact. Facts indicate whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.

What makes the discussion a formal debate are the rules of the governing body of the debate, being, in this case, Debate Politics, as represented and enforced by the Mods.

A ‘rule requiring links for statements of "fact" made by OP's’ might as well be said as requiring Mods enforce any request by a poster to enforce such rule which would require judgement by the Mods or fact relevancy. It would not be the straw that broke the camel’s back, but the 8/8ths of a bale that broke the camel’s back.

When the opposition fails to provide a link to valid citation of fact, you can always reply in your own words:

“What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence. It is also called Hitchens' Razor. The burden of proof in a debate lies with the claim- maker and if he or she does not meet it then the opponent does not need to argue against the unfounded claim.”

‘Latin maxim ei incumbit probatio qui dicit, non qui negat (“the burden of proof is on the one who declares, not on one who denies”).’

I seldom find the opposition providing relevant evidence of fact. I think because it takes work or the research necessary to find such and they are lazy.

Factual information is a good thing.
 
I suggest you look around and find a thicker skin. You are going to need it if your ass is chapped from the responses you got in that other thread. I don't think anyone mocked you at all.

So, you don't believe facts are a good thing. Got it.

In the words of your own signature line "you're dismissed"...
 
Well, I'd link to the (closed) thread, but I'd probably get banned for doing so. :)

OK, but some facts (such as the one which I bolded) are generally accepted without need of any links. Obviously, anyone is free to post links which dispute (challenge?) an OP's (or any other reply post's) allegedly "factual" content.

I am not attempting to "mock" you for your proposed forum rule change, but simply wanted to point out that requiring an included link to any (all?) references to "factual" statements would be a daunting task for all (posters as well as mods).
 
So, you don't believe facts are a good thing. Got it.

In the words of your own signature line "you're dismissed"...

When did I say facts are not a good thing?

(btw, I don't think you know how to dismiss people.)
 
OK, but some facts (such as the one which I bolded) are generally accepted without need of any links. Obviously, anyone is free to post links which dispute (challenge?) an OP's (or any other reply post's) allegedly "factual" content.

I am not attempting to "mock" you for your proposed forum rule change, but simply wanted to point out that including a link to any (all?) references to "factual" statements would be a daunting task for all (posters as well as mods).

For the Mods yes, but it shouldn't be a burden for individual posters when they are asserting a position as fact (separate from expressing an obvious opinion which doesn't require factual support)
 
For the Mods yes, but it shouldn't be a burden for individual posters when they are asserting a position as fact (separate from expressing an obvious opinion which doesn't require factual support)

I disagree, since many facts (or concepts) are generally accepted without need for a supporting link. An example would be discussion of a law/policy without a specific (linked) reference to the statute or (initial) policy statement. Many posts discuss (address?) M4A (or UHC) with no reference to any specific legislation.
 
I disagree, since many facts (or concepts) are generally accepted without need for a supporting link. An example would be discussion of a law/policy without a specific (linked) reference to the statute or (initial) policy statement. Many posts discuss (address?) M4A (or UHC) with no reference to any specific legislation.

Sure, if the poster can provide enough specific info so that others can easily look it up themselves, that would be fine.
 
So yesterday, I started a thread asking for a rule requiring links for statements of "fact" made by OP's.

(Now, before this thread gets shut down..I understand and acknowledge that it's too much work for the Mods to handle.)

In that thread, several people either directly, or passive-aggressively mocked me for the the idea. The thread was closed before I had an opportunity to respond.

You know who you are, so here is your opportunity to explain why factual information isn't a good thing.

I generally believe if a claim is made the claimant is obliged to provide support if asked.

If one claimed the Atlantic was deeper than the Pacific one should either support the claim or retract it.
 
Sure, if the poster can provide enough specific info so that others can easily look it up themselves, that would be fine.

OK, but now you seem to have added a rule qualification (exception?) based on what could be easily looked up.
 
I generally believe if a claim is made the claimant is obliged to provide support if asked.

If one claimed the Atlantic was deeper than the Pacific one should either support the claim or retract it.

That could be tricky since using (comparing?) the average depth as opposed to the deepest single location may well yield different "facts".
 
That could be tricky since using (comparing?) the average depth as opposed to the deepest single location may well yield different "facts".

Indeed. But then the facts can be compared and measured and a decision made.

Too many people declare X without supporting X with facts and logic.

“I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind; it may be the beginning of knowledge, but you have scarcely in your thoughts advanced to the state of Science, whatever the matter may be.”

- Lord Kelvin, 1883
 
So yesterday, I started a thread asking for a rule requiring links for statements of "fact" made by OP's.

(Now, before this thread gets shut down..I understand and acknowledge that it's too much work for the Mods to handle.)

In that thread, several people either directly, or passive-aggressively mocked me for the the idea. The thread was closed before I had an opportunity to respond.

You know who you are, so here is your opportunity to explain why factual information isn't a good thing.

But....they told you:

1. It would take an army of mods given the volume of threads and sources they would have to read, then determine just how many of the stated 'facts' in the thread are supported by the sources, whether that support is strong enough, etc.

2. They do not want to have to take on a fact-checking role anyway.




It has nothing to do with a belief that "factual information isn't a good thing." It's about feasibility first, and responsibility second. You've been here a few years. Surely, you know which posters start threads with valid source support and which constantly spout off with bull****.
 
But....they told you:

1. It would take an army of mods given the volume of threads and sources they would have to read, then determine just how many of the stated 'facts' in the thread are supported by the sources, whether that support is strong enough, etc.

2. They do not want to have to take on a fact-checking role anyway.




It has nothing to do with a belief that "factual information isn't a good thing." It's about feasibility first, and responsibility second. You've been here a few years. Surely, you know which posters start threads with valid source support and which constantly spout off with bull****.

Well let me explain what got me a tad irritated.

I was effectively dinged for jaywalking, and the mods then told me they don't have enough time to chase after the guy breaking into the house across the street. (obviously I'm using an analogy)

I wouldn't expect them to check every thread. Just the ones that are brought to their attention by fellow members...just like someone brought my "jaywalking offense" to their attention....

That only seems fair and equitable.
 
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So yesterday, I started a thread asking for a rule requiring links for statements of "fact" made by OP's.

(Now, before this thread gets shut down..I understand and acknowledge that it's too much work for the Mods to handle.)

In that thread, several people either directly, or passive-aggressively mocked me for the the idea. The thread was closed before I had an opportunity to respond.

You know who you are, so here is your opportunity to explain why factual information isn't a good thing.

No one thinks that facts aren't good but that said, I can't think of a better reason for the mods not fact checking than the one you were already given by Red, who wrote,
"Mods aren't fact checkers and we absolutely don't want to be either. No rule will be created to back up every assertion a poster makes. Thanks for the suggestion, but this one just isn't realistic without an army of moderators and that's not going to happen."
 
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