Posts by Bart Janssen
Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First
-
Hard News: Changing news, in reply to Ben Curran,
Autonomic reflex is not the quite the phrase I’m looking for
Anally pedantic is the phrase I use to describe myself, especially on days when my brain appears to notice the silly more than usual.
-
Up Front: Choice, Bro, in reply to Paul Williams,
I don’t think it diminishes the legitimacy of a person’s sexual orientation/activity if there are also exogenous factors.
Here's the thing. It doesn't matter if it's genetic or environmental. It doesn't matter if it's fixed by age 16 or entirely mutable throughout someones life. It doesn't matter if it's someones choice.
What matters is that it's wrong to decide someone elses orientation is wrong or let their orientation affect their civil rights.
That Colin is wrong about being able to change orientation is irrelevant. Quite simply if he was right and it was a choice then it still wouldn't change the fact that any two adults (however you like to define that) should be able to marry if they so choose.
-
And on topic.
It's great to see them acknowledge they have a problem with stats. It would also be nice to see them address their problems with the other sciences in a similar manner.
It really isn't that hard to find scientists who would be most happy to explain the scientific bits to the reporters before they publish. It would certainly make it easier for me to read the Herald.
-
Hard News: Changing news, in reply to Sacha,
given that it's their official brand?
So you're saying we should abandon our love of proper English in favour of marketing? This is the home of the pendant.
-
Hard News: Changing news, in reply to Shaun Lott,
What exactly do we think the 'U' stands for?
Unremarkable?
Sorry but I couldn't resist.
-
Up Front: Choice, Bro, in reply to Heather Gaye,
I can't think of anything that'd convince me he's made this (or any) decision based on human rights and basic decency
My guess is he discovered that some homosexual people are rich.
-
Hard News: Friday Music: Impermanence, in reply to FletcherB,
When did you last check you could still access the data?
Well since the zip drive died, and was thrown away, that could be tricky.
I also have copies lurking on my hard drive, well actually on several hard drives. Oh and there's the paper copy on the shelf above my desk ... which I STILL use!
-
Hard News: Friday Music: Impermanence, in reply to Kumara Republic,
back up to Zip disks
I still have my thesis on zip disks and floppies.
-
Hard News: Media3: Where harm might fall, in reply to Morgan Nichol,
Do we really want laws that we hope will only be enforced sometimes?
I do. And my understanding is that is actually how the legal system currently works. It is designed in the knowledge that there will be some times when it is inappropriate to apply the letter of the law.
Judges are expected to use, well, their judgement.
It's also expected that they will sometime make the wrong judgement.
-
Hard News: Media3: Where harm might fall, in reply to Morgan Nichol,
Is being annoyed the same as being harmed? Irritated? Upset? Bothered? Flustered? Insulted? Where is the line drawn?
It's drawn case by case. In each case you are dealing with individuals. Some may be more or less susceptible to harm. But the fact remains that some people are harmed, sometimes irreparably. That's why you need to exercise judgement when applying whatever legal tool you use.
I don't think anyone is saying making those judgements will be easy.
It is no good saying we'll just ignore a person's suffering because we can imagine a situation where a rule that protects them could be abused. The response needs to be one of making considered judgements not making absolutes and then arguing that one absolute rule can't work.