tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post3388260669526024819..comments2024-03-19T07:48:54.021-06:00Comments on Gus Van Horn: Are the Dots Really Connected?Gus Van Hornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-2366221366660682542014-03-27T05:10:42.050-06:002014-03-27T05:10:42.050-06:00As you say, "If you’re going to call a spade ...As you say, "If you’re going to call a spade a spade shouldn’t you also call a heart a heart?" I think that can be a good way to both remember to give credit to someone else for a good argument, and to look for alternative explanations.<br /><br />I recall reading something about the pilot's political leanings, but all I got was something to do with a politician he supported having been ensnared in some kind of scandal. (I no longer remember where I saw this, but the fact was even used to insinuate he might have been prone to terrorism!) Rising above mere scandal to consider the political ideals he espoused is a crucial part of the analysis. (Thanks for bringing this up: I was unaware of that fact.) <br /><br />Although I was in the dark about the pilot's politics, I did get the impression that the pilot intensely valued aviation. THAT made me doubt he would have been party to a terrorist plot.Gus Van Hornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-66257928516105080182014-03-26T06:12:54.095-06:002014-03-26T06:12:54.095-06:00You make a good point. It’s easy to become convinc...You make a good point. It’s easy to become convinced of one particular cause if you consider all the evidence for that scenario and none of the evidence for alternatives. Most people argue that way – piling on bad arguments after good and thereby stabbing themselves in the feet. Others reply by trying to trash all their arguments, even the good ones. You see a lot, the especially on the internet. <br />If you’re going to call a spade a spade shouldn’t you also call a heart a heart? If you’re opponent makes a good argument; acknowledge that and move on. <br />BTW: why hasn’t the bottom fallen out from our economy yet? Maybe for the same reason it took centuries for Rome to fall; they started off so powerful it took them that long to lose it. But I’ve noticed over the years that on average and over time, recessions are lasting longer, they are getting worse and recoveries are slower and shallower. So we have ups and downs but they are superimposed on an overall downward trend.<br />The pilot being in league with terrorists never made a lot of sense to me, considering his background. Yes, he was a Muslim but he supported a political party which actually stood out in Malaysia because it was opposed to Sharia and Jihad groups etc. So he seemed to be one of the least likely candidates for terrorism. (It seemed more likely that he might actually be a target of terrorism to me).<br />Steve Dnoreply@blogger.com