Semantics

[manifold]

Who do you think plays more games with semantics, liberals or conservatives?

Discuss

 

[strollingbones]

both everyone and all of 'em

just look at the evolution of words

vetted for example

o and i love 'free speech' zones

 

[lizzie]

Probably the more intellectual from each group, if I were going to guess.

 

[theDoctorisIn]

It's a rhetorical tactic. Both sides use it.

People in general use it. Arguing about semantics is the last resort of someone who refuses to accept that they might be wrong.

 

[Avatar4321]

Why isn't it important to look at what people actually say and the context in which they say it?

I think "playing semantics" tends to be an excuse by people losing an argument to get out of the argument without dealing with it whatsoever.

 

[xotoxi]

Who do you think plays more games with semantics, liberals or conservatives?

Discuss

It all depends on what you mean by "semantics".

 

[Si modo]

Who do you think plays more games with semantics, liberals or conservatives?

Discuss

It all depends on what you mean by "semantics".

 

[Yurt]

It's a rhetorical tactic. Both sides use it.

People in general use it. Arguing about semantics is the last resort of someone who refuses to accept that they might be wrong.

i had to chuckle at modbert who thanked this post....he frequently used the "semantics" argument

 

[Yurt]

Who do you think plays more games with semantics, liberals or conservatives?

Discuss

It all depends on what you mean by "semantics".

i did not have semantics with that woman!

 

[dilloduck]

Thesaurians are the worst.

 

[Dr.House]

I am anti-semantic...

Yep.. I'm an anti-semantite....

 

[The Infidel]

Who do you think plays more games with semantics, liberals or conservatives?

Discuss

It all depends on what you mean by "semantics".

Funnay!

 

[midcan5]

There was an interesting study by Drew Westen on the political brain, in the study negative items about a partisan did not activate the section of the mind that controls thought and reason. Reactions were seen in emotional section of the mind. Anyone who watched the Bush Kerry or Gore debates saw this firsthand, it did not matter what was said, for the partisan, it only mattered who said it as was witnessed by the applause.

If I were to create a semantics scale, I would need to weigh the words and their relation to reality. Westen gives an example below.

"Do you know what it means...."

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1RsR5HmCmE]YouTube - Dr Drew Westen on How Democrats should frame their Positions[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNJEq4URCYE[/ame]

 

[Ravi]

It's a rhetorical tactic. Both sides use it.

People in general use it. Arguing about semantics is the last resort of someone who refuses to accept that they might be wrong.

I see you've met Gunny.

 

[JBeukema]

Who do you think plays more games with semantics, liberals or conservatives?

Discuss

It all depends on what you mean by "semantics".

What, exactly, do you mean by 'it'?