That's pretty much my point, HB. If a person is going to give an opinion and debate it, they also have a responsibility to substantiate it...not necessarily to prove themselves right or superior or what ever...but to give me that information so that I may logically respond to it...and likewise. Too often an opinion ends with "well, that's how I feel", "so", "I don't care", "what do you know?", "because I said so"...and the like. Where's the give and take?
As far as theory vs. fact...Evoloution vs. Creationism...Big Bang vs. God...These are great example of that...ppl have died because of their views on this...how can either be proven??
the thing that made me think of that post first was seeing the debate on healthcare from the states. its funny, you see both sides calling the other hitler...
here, lately we mostly do have civilized discussions, it wasnt always that way, but it is now. It is hard to understand where others are coming from, but without knowing that how can anything they say mean anything?
BTW, the seek first to understand then to be understood comes from steven covey, think its part of the 7 habits.
