Let's define some basic terms that are overused and badly abused

[SGOS]

By the way, I find it extremely hypocritical of you to accuse others of making up definitions and then say "this is MY definition and I don't care about yours". Then again, your hypocrisy has been demonstrated already long ago.

Everyone that's been following this thread must have thought the same thing.  It's odd that no one brought it up until now.

[zarus tathra]

At least I'm attempting to define my terms. I don't really want to define them permanently, but people should at least define them for the sake of individual discussions.

[Icarus]

At least I'm attempting to define my terms. I don't really want to define them permanently, but people should at least define them for the sake of individual discussions.

The English language is confusing enough, we don't need people to come up with new meanings for words that differ from the actual definition. Broaden your vocabulary and you wont need to come up with new definitions, a word or combination of words probably already exists that allows you to express exactly what you want to communicate.

[the_antithesis]

I'd say overused is a tad overused these days.

Get over yourselves, kids.

The whole world isn't here for you.

[The Skeletal Atheist]

And then you wonder why people aren't interested in participating in your threads.

Well that and he's an undeserving smug asshole with some weird hate boner for the poor.

I'll be honest: when I come across a Zarus thread I don't seriously reply most of the time because it's a waste of time. Every thread of his is "I'm right, you're wrong. I'm not going to attempt to adequately express why I'm right because I'm above you".  I'm not going to give him any respect because he doesn't give any one else respect.

[PickelledEggs]

Well that and he's an undeserving smug asshole with some weird hate boner for the poor.

I'll be honest: when I come across a Zarus thread I don't seriously reply most of the time because it's a waste of time. Every thread of his is "I'm right, you're wrong. I'm not going to attempt to adequately express why I'm right because I'm above you".  I'm not going to give him any respect because he doesn't give any one else respect.

I rarely ever agree with you, skeletal, but I do with this.
(and by rarely, I mean a lot of the time, but that's just MY definition of the word)

[PickelledEggs]

Usually when I want to know what something means, I look it up in the dictionary.

It's pretty straight forward when it's already written down for you. Plus you don't have to go through the work of coming up with pompous definitions of your own.

[zarus tathra]

Like I said, any term can be meaningful when you're talking about political theology, but terms quickly become meaningless when you get down to the details.

Again, let's take a favorite here, "equality." I get what it means on an abstract level. What's problematic is figuring out what it means in execution. Do you mean equal outcomes? No? Then how about "equal opportunity?" What does that mean in practice? Does that mean that everybody gets the same (inevitably second-rate, mediocre) level of education? Does it mean that kids are taken from their parents so that kids with wealthy, smart parents don't get a leg up over kids with stupid, poor, abusive parents? etc. etc. etc.

[Icarus]

Like I said, any term can be meaningful when you're talking about political theology, but terms quickly become meaningless when you get down to the details.

Again, let's take a favorite here, "equality." I get what it means on an abstract level. What's problematic is figuring out what it means in execution. Do you mean equal outcomes? No? Then how about "equal opportunity?" What does that mean in practice? Does that mean that everybody gets the same (inevitably second-rate, mediocre) level of education? Does it mean that kids are taken from their parents so that kids with wealthy, smart parents don't get a leg up over kids with stupid, poor, abusive parents? etc. etc. etc.

Well you've completely forgotten context, no wonder you're having problems understanding what words mean. Use equality in a sentence or paragraph and the term becomes much less ambiguous. This is vocabulary 101.

[Jmpty]

So, here's the deal. I have no problem with people who aren't very smart. It's not their fault. I do have a problem with people who aren't very smart, who THINK that they are very smart, and want to show other people how smart they are.. That gets annoying very fast. #Zarustathra.

[the_antithesis]

...

You still haven't figured out we don't give a shit?

Christ, you're thick.

[zarus tathra]

If you don't give a shit, then why are you here?

So, here's the deal. I have no problem with people who aren't very smart. It's not their fault. I do have a problem with people who aren't very smart, who THINK that they are very smart, and want to show other people how smart they are.. That gets annoying very fast. #Zarustathra.

I don't care how smart or un-smart you think I am. All I want is a little semantic discipline from people who want to pontificate about why their political theories are best.

[the_antithesis]

If you don't give a shit, then why are you here?

Because you're shitting in our yard again.

Knock it off.

[the_antithesis]

All I want is a little semantic discipline from people who want to pontificate about why their political theories are best.

People think you are a twat because you act like a twat.

If you do not want people to dismiss everything you say because you are a twat, stop acting like a twat.

Take your meds and learn some social skills.

[zarus tathra]

Omg I don't want to be a twat you are so right