The discussions on here are hot garbage. I am tired of trying to hold reasonable discourse when verifiable information isn't considered. Half-baked options are a dime a dozen and there aren't any discussions actually occurring. Couple this with posts encouraging the skepticism of the COVID vaccine and you have my reasons. I refuse to be a part of it.
Sorry to see that.
I decided a long time ago that I am not really writing to those people even when I hit reply to one of their comments and give an opinion. There are very few people capable of having a good faith discussion, by which I mean open-mindedly considering one's arguments and either explicitly agreeing with them, or disagreeing and giving what he thinks is the flaw in the case made. Likewise with failing to answer non-rhetorical questions.
There are many people on RF that can do that, but since I rarely disagree with them, there is little reason to engage in discussions with them, either. You're one of those. This might be the first post of yours I have ever responded to. It might be the first time I had a different opinion than the one you expressed.
So why be here? This is a good place to survey the spectrum of types of people out there and their relative numbers. Right now I am especially enjoying the comments from the antivaxxers. It provides a window into that kind of thinking. I'm enjoying thinking about the sciencey sounding answers given by people who reject the council of the scientists - "we're just waiting for more information" from people who ignore use the advice of experts, "we're waiting for full FDA approval" from people who don't care what the FDA, WHO, CDC, or Fauci say.
It's an interesting phenomenon, much like the creationists giving specious, sciency sounding rebuttals to evolutionary science, one again using the science they like to reject the science that challenges their unexamined positions.
There's a quote I like that approximately sums up this habit of trying to sound like you use evidence and reason in a world that respects and expects that, when you don't:
"Hypocrisy is the compliment vice pays to virtue." meaning that when one is being hypocritical like that, he is in essence acknowledging that critical thinking is a virtue is worthy of giving lip service to even when not in one's tool box.
Maybe you can find value in this exercise if you reframe what it is you are doing here. It can't be to have constructive discussions with people who don't share your idea on what is the proper way to decide what is true about the world. It has to be to observe them and learn from what you see. I'm also watching the evolution of the hostility to antivaxxers. It wasn't that long ago people weren't showing open contempt for such people. Now they are. The conversation is evolving. Where else can you get this view of what's going on out there?
Here's a laugh for you, since you're out. This is about four people betting that they can go the longest without masturbating. Best wishes.
