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0 pointsjbigelow7612y ago0 comments

    >This is totally backwards and you have to do some mental gymnastics to believe it.

I think he was pretty much dead on on this one. Swap Republican/Democrat politics for another any other choice and the "you have no right to complain" point makes less sense. Take a fictional encounter with a Doctor...

Dr: You're going to get testicular cancer. Would you prefer it in the left testicle or the right?

Me: I don't want cancer in either testicle.

Dr: You don't understand, if you don't pick a nut then you don't have the right to complain about having testicular cancer.

0 comments

arjie12y ago

In George Carlin's fantasy world:

Me: I don't want cancer in either testicle.

Dr: Congratulations. You are no longer at risk of cancer.

Seriously, if this were a real conversation and given that I'm going to get cancer (per first line), I'd pick one testicle and then have them remove it.

Meanwhile, you'd 'choose' not to get cancer and get it anyway, but without any control whatsoever.

jbigelow76OP12y ago

But not picking one doesn't preclude you from having it removed, so we both still have the same amount of control.

comrade_ogilvy12y ago

In reality, I could write in my neighbor's dog on the ballot, to demonstrate I am a politically engaged individual who is likely to vote for a human candidate if the candidates change their tune.

That is the superior answer to the mythical doctor visit, as well.

I would further argue that refusing to be involved may have resulted in cancer in both the left nut and right nut.

Unfortunately the analogy may be a bit too applicable for comfort, eh?

jbigelow76OP12y ago

    >In reality, I could write in my neighbor's dog on the ballot, to demonstrate I am a politically engaged individual who is likely to vote for a human candidate if the candidates change their tune. That is the superior answer to the mythical doctor visit, as well.

Does anything you say have anything have to do with addressing the point that making a choice somehow magically correlates to the ability to hold an opinion? Because politics or your dog doesn't really have anything to do with it.

    >I would further argue that refusing to be involved may have resulted in cancer in both the left nut and right nut.

Well for anybody that insists on flogging the cancer/politics analogy then this would be impossible, assuming you are a member of the US electorate, as a viable candidate from either party would never pick a running mate from the other side of the aisle (right nut cancer would be mutually exclusive of left nut cancer).

admax88q12y ago

This is a stupid comparison, and it contributes to the dumbing down of politics and political thought.

jbigelow76OP12y ago

The analogy has nothing to do with political thought, it's to demonstrate the flawed logic that not making a choice somehow deprives one of the right to hold an opinion. No need to get testy.

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0 pointsjbigelow7612y ago0 comments

    >This is totally backwards and you have to do some mental gymnastics to believe it.

Dr: You're going to get testicular cancer. Would you prefer it in the left testicle or the right?

Me: I don't want cancer in either testicle.

Dr: You don't understand, if you don't pick a nut then you don't have the right to complain about having testicular cancer.

0 comments

arjie12y ago

In George Carlin's fantasy world:

Me: I don't want cancer in either testicle.

Dr: Congratulations. You are no longer at risk of cancer.

Seriously, if this were a real conversation and given that I'm going to get cancer (per first line), I'd pick one testicle and then have them remove it.

Meanwhile, you'd 'choose' not to get cancer and get it anyway, but without any control whatsoever.

jbigelow76OP12y ago

But not picking one doesn't preclude you from having it removed, so we both still have the same amount of control.

comrade_ogilvy12y ago

In reality, I could write in my neighbor's dog on the ballot, to demonstrate I am a politically engaged individual who is likely to vote for a human candidate if the candidates change their tune.

That is the superior answer to the mythical doctor visit, as well.

I would further argue that refusing to be involved may have resulted in cancer in both the left nut and right nut.

Unfortunately the analogy may be a bit too applicable for comfort, eh?

jbigelow76OP12y ago

    >In reality, I could write in my neighbor's dog on the ballot, to demonstrate I am a politically engaged individual who is likely to vote for a human candidate if the candidates change their tune. That is the superior answer to the mythical doctor visit, as well.

    >I would further argue that refusing to be involved may have resulted in cancer in both the left nut and right nut.

admax88q12y ago

This is a stupid comparison, and it contributes to the dumbing down of politics and political thought.

jbigelow76OP12y ago

The analogy has nothing to do with political thought, it's to demonstrate the flawed logic that not making a choice somehow deprives one of the right to hold an opinion. No need to get testy.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse