rationalskepticism.org

Spearthrower wrote: So what you're saying -supposedly in response to my post about how you employed a lazy alt-right canard - is that there's ingrained prejudice in Chinese culture against outside, foreign cultures?

What? Nowhere did I suggest that there is ingrained prejudice in China. What I did try to suggest is that some might look at the language and see it as ingrained prejudice.

Spearthrower wrote:So what we're now talking about is that there's ingrained prejudice in Chinese culture against outside, foreign cultures? I would say that's probably a very accurate summary.

Again false ... I did not suggest that the Chinese have an ingrained prejudice.

Spearthrower wrote:And? Does that then suggest it's thereby rational to return the favour? (If I am mistaken in this assumption of the connecting argument, then I think you're going to have to forgive me as you appear to have not attempted to make any logical connection yourself between the posts.)

Yep mistaken.

Spearthrower wrote:Similarly, we could also consider the word 'alien' and it's usage in reference to undesirable foreigners... or dozens of other similar words, and we could perhaps even agree about the plausible ways in which these words can be used without any reference to the literal. Or we could take a whistle-stop tour through a bunch of cultures to see how humdrum prejudice is against other peoples - for example, the Thai word for Indians is "khaek" which also literally translates to 'guest' - as in, you're welcome to visit, but you should 'go home' once you're done. There's no question whatsoever that our base tribalistic prejudices are readily observable all over the world, but what I don't grasp is why a rational person would take that as an indication that there's no reason thereby to avoid engaging in it.

What I do understand people rational or otherwise do read into things what they want to see.

Spearthrower wrote:

romansh wrote: Perhaps those social warriors...

Which ones now? I thought you were talking to me? Do let me know if I am obstructing the view from your soap box.

Those that might take offence to the term devil man, what else did I say?

Spearthrower wrote:I believe you mean that this is your opinion, and I presume it's one you think you can defend. But it's not actually a fact, although the format of your sentence there appears to suggest it is.

Of course whatever I write is my opinion ... unless I am giving someone else's opinion.

Spearthrower wrote:I think it's always good practice to make clear the distinction between fact and opinion. To wit: I think it's quite plausible that you are allowing some unexplored hostility to cloud your reason

Yes I agree you should make clear what is fact or opinion. I think you too have unexplored hostility. But I think me voicing that particular opinion is not terribly helpful. Was your opinion helpful, in your opinion?

Spearthrower wrote:So your offering now is that if people could possibly find Ming the Merciless offensive, their preferable recourse is to petition the President of China to have them change a word in the Chinese languages?

I mean, I would assume that just having a warning about the potential to cause offense on the film would be a rather more simple solution.

So when people on this broader forum expressed feeling of being offended how often have they been told to suck it up? If we look at films how often is a particular group cast in a bad light? Used to be in vogue to cast Afrikaners as bad'uns, of course Germans, and Russians.

Spearthrower wrote:

romansh wrote:But you are right, I can't take this too seriously.

Yeah, it's really quite obvious that you can't, and it's to your detriment too.

What's intriguing is how disconcerted you seem by others taking an action they believe is warranted ethically but you don't understand. There's actually a tang of irony about it.

Exactly how disconcerted do you think I am? And how do you come to that conclusion. Frankly you seem far more attached to the topic than I am.
My detriment? Fact or more opinion?
What it is some social warriors, in my opinion, are tilting at windmills, and occasionally the hit the imaginary giants and do damage ... eg Evergreen

What I hope for, is we can exchange ideas and points of view even if some are in jest without making it too personal.

Merry Christmas