On 17/03/2011 18:30, Olin Lathrop wrote:
> Oli Glaser wrote:
>> The goal is not to "win" or to "teach", rather to cooperatively seek
>> out and further knowledge and understanding.
> But that's either a load of crap or grossly naive.  Usually you start a
> discussion because you want to convince someone or you want information.
> Very rarely is it ballanced where you simply want to "discuss" something =
and
> see where it leads.  It happens, but most conversations don't have that g=
oal
> in mind.  That doesn't make the other conversations useless or invalid
> though.
>

No, of course not - all I was pointing out is that maybe then they=20
become something other than a "discussion" by definition. By that token,=20
most conversations will be a combination of discussion, lecture,=20
argument and so on.
If the diagram is trying to say all other modes of communication are=20
useless (not really sure - it does say something about a "waste of=20
time") then no, I don't agree there - arguments, lectures, etc all have=20
their uses also.
If I can infer a "useful" message there, it is maybe that sometimes we=20
lose sight of the intellectual goals in pursuit of more "personal" and=20
immediate ones, and this can waste time being unproductive. I'm sure you=20
can agree with that to some extent.

--=20
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