[HPforGrownups] Re: Harry Potter and the Bible: The Debate So Far

[Alexandra Y. Kwan]

No: HPFGUIDX 17632

Hello,

I wasn't going to get into this at all since I'm a happy little atheist and
I had no idea what this arguement is about, but...

> no reference to them being condescending in any way. They

They're condescending in that you're implying that you are of higher
intelligence than they are by calling them stupid.  One might remark that
the word "stupid" is condescending in nature and does not need a special
note to explain that it is.  After all, how would one call a person who
begins a conversation assuming that he is of higher intelligence than his
conversational partner?  Without anything to back him up, I might add.  Or
perhaps you aren't being condescending at all, just extremely obtuse.  I
think most people here would agree.

> have legitimate meanings.

Any word in existence has legitimate meanings, even the ones you're
misusing.

> What word would you use to describe
> a "judgemental" attitude?? What word would you use to describe
> an "ignorant" (i.e., lacking  in knowledge about a subject)
> comment??

'Your' attitude and 'your' comments, perhaps?

> What word would you use to describe an outlandich
> remark based on nothing but pure emotion with no facts to back
> it up?? (I'm sorry, was the word "outlandich improper?)

Since we're such nitpickers, I guess I must fulfill my duties by reminding
you that it's "outlandish," not "outlandich."

> How does one communicate.

By not assuming that your conversational partner is stupid, judgemental, and
ignorant.  Start with the notion that the other person does have valuable
and intelligent things to say.

> called no names, made no attacks on motivation of people, did

Calling someone 'stupid,' methinks, is akin to calling people names,
especially with the connotations associating with that word.

> not use profanity (unlike the HP books), and never once
> impugned a person's character, just corrected and then

Intelligence is as much a person's character as anything else.  So, sir, you
most certainly did impugn a person's character.

little Alex