Calling the argument ridiculous, moved from MAIN

[dumbledore11214]

Carol responds:
I also don't much appreciate having my canon-supported argument
described as "ridiculous" by a List Elf, of all people. Disagreement
and counterarguments are one thing; but disparaging someone's
carefully expressed and canon-supported arguments is another.

Alla:

So I would have just written this offlist, but I would hate for 
anybody to believe that it is somehow against the rules to call the 
argument ridiculous. I am of course speaking only for myself and my 
fellow list elves may disagree with me, but it is always been my 
understanding that it is perfectly allowable to call the argument " 
WEAK, SILLY, RIDICULOUS, even ABSURD",  as long as I am not calling 
you any of those things.

I do think that there are words, which while characterizing the 
argument still come dangerously close to characterizing the person. I 
would never call your argument for example idiotic or stupid, because 
I believe that it comes dangerously close to calling person those 
things, NO I do not believe that your arguments are idiotic or 
stupid,  just saying hypothetically. I would also never say that 
because you argue certain thing, that you are somehow WRONG in 
thinking whatever it is I am arguing against.

But ridiculous **argument**? Eh, sure. And if I think your ARGUMENT 
is silly, yeah, I am going to say so.  And of course my arguments had 
been called ridiculous and silly quite a few times, why not. 

It also does not matter much to me whether argument is canon 
supported or not if I think that it is ridiculous. Of course yours 
was canon supported and I gave my canon reasons why I think it is 
ridiculous. I did not just say – oh yeah this is ridiculous, bye.

Moreover, BELIEVE me that now I am usually so tired of debates and 
prefer discussions for the most part that even if I think that 
argument is silly or ridiculous, I will often not say so. The thing 
is if I decided to SAY SO, I do not believe that I am wrong in any 
way. I am being more confrontational, SURE, but I think I am within 
the limits.



Alla AKA Alika elf speaking only for myself ONLY.