John R. Yamamoto- Wilson wrote:
> Kevin Gowen wrote:
>
>> I see that Ernie has joined the John Hyphen-Name school of source
>> selection.
>
> What you don't see, though - or at least don't care about - is that
> such sources (Ernest's on chikan and mine on US imperialism)
> represent a perspective - not necessarily one to be espoused, but one
> which a body of people nevertheless believe.

And to this I must give a big "so what?"

> Now, your attitude appears to be "we don't need to consider these
> perspectives because they come from left-wing or radical or loony
> sources",

You've got it. The perspectives of loonies are not particularly useful,
which has just reminded me that Bryan Adams is full of shit.

> whereas I'm more interested in looking into how it is that
> people acquire these kinds of perspectives

Sounds likes self-indulgent crap to me.

> (and I'd have to say, to
> me, yours is just one more - often loony - perspective).

Nothing loony about it. I'm sorry if it is a perspective that offends the
folks at the World Socialist Brigade.

> Simply
> rejecting them out of hand because you don't like the source is
> unhelpful.

I can see you've never taken a course in research methods. You'd better not,
lest your esteem of the Weekly World News be dashed to pieces.

> There may or may not be some substance behind their views.
> If there is, I'd like to know about it. If there isn't, and they've
> simply dug a hole for themselves, I'd like to see how they dug the
> hole in order to work out how to engage in effective dialogue with
> people with such views.

Effective dialogue with such individuals is not possible. Thus, the only
reason I engage you is to amuse myself.

-- 
Kevin Gowen
"The US economy accounts for about one-third of global GDP-greater than
the next four countries combined (Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom
and France)."
- "Advancing the National Interest: Australia's Foreign and Trade
Policy White Paper", Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade