Philosophy - Useful? Important?

[OrdinaryGuy]

Originally posted by Wally Pipp
I'm in the same situation, yet I don't question my existence.
Why am I here ? My parents decided to grant me life.
Where am I going ? Towards death of course. The great void. No conscience, no life, nothing.
Do I feel fine with that ? Yes, absolutely.

incorrect:

Q) Why am I here?
A) Your parents made a mistake

Q) Where am I going?
A) To hell of of course

Q) Do I feel fine about it?
A) yeah, coz u are the biggest son of a b*tch alive

[Wally Pipp]

Where the hell did I fish for contrary statements then ?
I simply outlined what goes for me. I don't need to question my existence. I never fished for a contrary statement.

You started out with generalisations, I merely pointed out that some individuals do not need philosophy at all. There's nothing wrong with that. You agreed. I said that those who think about it the most tend to get entangled in their own thought. Your statement about having time to think followed (which is true incidentally). Then you said that it was (for you) necessary to understand your place in the greater scheme of things. I said that I do not need to know my place. You made derogatory comment.

That's how it went. Where did I fish for derogatory comments then ? Because I outlined a different view ? You mean to tell me that outlining a slightly different view (that agrees in general terms though) than yours is fishing for such comments ? Don't be daft.

BTW. I made the original statement as a piss take. Seems to have evaded you, hasn't it ?

Tell you what, you go on with your thread. I won't bother you no more. How's that sound ?

[OrdinaryGuy]

Am i being ignored?

[Wally Pipp]

Simon, there's no problem with you. It's your thread, debate it. Why do you need my opinions anyway ? Have you ever been swayed by my opinions then ?

I rarely ignore people. Only immature arrogant little *****s that deserve it

[OrdinaryGuy]

Originally posted by Wally Pipp

I rarely ignore people. Only immature arrogant little *****s that deserve it

ahm... and who would that be?

[simonm]

Wally Pip

Look, I have no problems whatsoever with contrary opinions. I do not even have a problem with being baited (and I know when I'm being baited).

Notice that my so-called derogatory comment was phrased as a question:

So, what do you want me to say? You're just a little ignorant grunt who has not the wit to look for a reason why he toils day by day?

I was asking if you wanted me to say something like that to you.

BTW. I made the original statement as a piss take. Seems to have evaded you, hasn't it ?

I didn't respond to your original comment. I repsonded when you went on to elaborate your original comment.

I asked, "Is philosophy important?".

You said, "What's wrong with not being philisophical?"

I said, "Nothing. Each to their own."

You asked, "If they don't need philosophy, why do you?"

I said, "I don't need it, I just find I have the luxury to be in a position to ask such questions."

You said, "I'm in your position and I don't need to ask such questions."

Obviously, at this point I am getting the impression that you want to polarise the debate. You want me to say that everyone should be interested in philosophy or everyone shouldn't.

Why do you need my opinions anyway ? Have you ever been swayed by my opinions then ?

I value everyone's opinions, including yours. In any debate, it is desireable to have the broadest range of opinions as possible.

Personally, I do not see the purpose of debate to be to either change yours or your oponent's opinions. I see it as an opportunity to explore a contentious subject. And yes, you have often provoked me into thinking about subjects in different ways. Take the freedom debate or the debate about drugs, even though I may not have given the impression at the time, I went away and "re-thinked" some of my ideas on the subject. I'm sure it was the same for you; that you now think about those subjects in a new light (even if your opinion remains the same).

And so, I hope it is now clear that I do value your opinions and that we have cleared up this little misunderstanding.

[Wally Pipp]

It's the last line where we went wrong

the "I'm in your position and I don't need to ask such questions" line. I actually meant that I was also in a position with freedom to think about my existence, that I had that luxury too. But I don't feel the need to really think about these things. I have a clear view about it and it does not worry me. It didn't mean I had you baited in saying that statement. That's what you misunderstood.
I merely wanted to show the other side.

But hey, no problem to me tho. I've reconsidered many things in my life. Everyone does. I'm merely conveying my point of view.
I doesn't make any difference though because you agree in general terms and thus adds little to the debate.

[simonm]

I merely wanted to show the other side.

The other side scares me

[Wally Pipp]

[dramatic voice]

You've just entered ... the twilight zone

[/dramatic voice