Snurp: Bearing the standard of subtlety since 2007
Sometimes I like to do what I've decided to call "forum fishing". For me, forum fishing is about finding good debaters on the internet. As it so happens, it usually fails. The latest time, I wondered for a bit if it was because I was to subtle. I've been told that I try to be too subtle too often, and in fact, I tried to take safeguards in what I posted. Nevertheless, it was not followed apparently. I wonder: does it not pay to be subtle? Should I simply give up, since more often than not my tongue simply stays lodged in the side of my mouth with people wondering if I just bit my tongue?
While I ponder this one with no clear answer in sight, I have come up with what seems to me to be a rather entertaining "subtlety test". The test gauges your ability to detect subtlety in the written word by challenging your ability to read. So if you can read, you can be subtle. That is the test. Here's the problem. If you have gone this far and you still haven't understood, then you fail the test. However, if you understand from this how to become subtle, then you already are. If the test seems simple, then that means you have failed. However, if it's too simple to even be a test, then chances are you're subtle. Either that or you've completely missed the mark. I don't think I can be any more direct without giving it away and ruining the fun.
Chew on that for a bit. Meanwhile, I shall continue my quest of braving the waters of the internet to see what comes up. Also, I'm working on an answer to the subject of the freedom of the will. I'll get back to you on that one...someday.
While I ponder this one with no clear answer in sight, I have come up with what seems to me to be a rather entertaining "subtlety test". The test gauges your ability to detect subtlety in the written word by challenging your ability to read. So if you can read, you can be subtle. That is the test. Here's the problem. If you have gone this far and you still haven't understood, then you fail the test. However, if you understand from this how to become subtle, then you already are. If the test seems simple, then that means you have failed. However, if it's too simple to even be a test, then chances are you're subtle. Either that or you've completely missed the mark. I don't think I can be any more direct without giving it away and ruining the fun.
Chew on that for a bit. Meanwhile, I shall continue my quest of braving the waters of the internet to see what comes up. Also, I'm working on an answer to the subject of the freedom of the will. I'll get back to you on that one...someday.
posted by Derek at 12:44 AM
2 Comments:
Sorry Snurp, subtlety is usually lost on me. I couldn't even find your test in the text. Thus, quite predictably, I failed your subtlety test. Do you suppose, though, that that makes me a poor debater?
"I'm working on an answer to the subject of the freedom of the will. I'll get back to you on that one...someday."
I haven't debated free-will in years! I'll have to check in to see what you have to say on the subject.
As far as the test goes, I think it may be going too far (my classic style). I tend to go off into my own happy land when I write and leave people wondering. I usually have to re-write most of what I think to leave out the excessive snideness and sharp comments. It rarely works...not too good for the whole social thing :/ To make things worse I read Wittgenstein one day, and that sent me over the deep end...:)
But trust me when I say you're not a poor debater sid. You have the background to back yourself up, and you put far more work into your arguments then I have ever gotten myself to. I have long respected your straightforward style.
As for free will, It's been floating in my head for a while now. I'm still working through some objections (I am trying to defend it), but perhaps I could put up my thoughts some time (you could help me out at that point, since you have a more varied background than I).
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