Comments on: Do You Still Beat Your Wife?

By: Thurstin

Thurstin — Tue, 05 May 2009 16:31:42 +0000

Well since I have lived there, Dad has not ever beat his wife.

By: Chris L

Chris L — Tue, 05 May 2009 03:13:22 +0000

Pastorboy - "Do you still beat your wife?" is the classic example of a loaded question. See: The wikipedia entry for "loaded question" See: Google for "do you still beat your wife" I remember learning that particular question more than 20 years ago in high school in an English class...

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 05 May 2009 03:02:57 +0000

#7
John once again demonstrates his lack of ability to reason. I’m sure I’ve said to someone before something along those lines as a rhetorical device, which once again John misses.
And this man is a pastor!

By: Christian P

Christian P — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:36:02 +0000

I’d also like to point out that in no way did I make light of the issue of abuse. The question is an extreme example of the fallacy that can result from such questions when they do not apply. Abuse is a serious and unfortunately rampant problem.

By: Rick Frueh

Rick Frueh — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:19:18 +0000

I have it from reliable sources that Joe does not beat his wife, however Erica gets a few good shots in when necessary.

By: Christian P

Christian P — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:10:38 +0000

PB,

I have no idea what you are talking about, but Joe had nothing to do with my article other than his recent conversation with Chris R. a couple of posts ago. Their conversation was one of the ones that inspired me to write this.

Nothing is original, but as far as I’m concerned, the question in the title came from a class session with Dan Dyke at then Cincinnati Bible College (now Cincinnati Christian University).

By: Pastorboy

Pastorboy — Tue, 05 May 2009 01:27:48 +0000

Joe,

You were the originator of the question posed by the title of the OP.

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 04 May 2009 22:30:09 +0000

John,
I can’t believe I’m doing this but do you care to explain #2?

By: Sandman

Sandman — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:45:14 +0000

Hi Robbo,

Yes, I had planned to write something to the effect that not every question or comment deserves an answer, but I reconsidered it in light of another recent thread where it seems some people are keeping score and looking for payback, and it could’ve been taken the wrong way as a swipe at them.

2. It’s better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.

By: Robbo

Robbo — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:18:28 +0000

Re. Sometimes it helps to wait a good long while before responding to some of the things people write.

True. Once a disagreement begins on a comment thread, there is a rapid escalation which can be avoided by a self imposed cooling off period of at least 24 hours. In practical terms I have almost never seen anyone come on a blog and change their initial point of view in a comment thread.

Something better than waiting a good long while is not to respond at all or, if you feel very strongly, take it to email ouside the blog. And, by the way, two principles have guided me in recent years when I read something at a blog that, rather than encourage and build me up, really really upsets me.

1. Amos 5:13. Therefore the prudent man keeps quiet in such times, ……..

2. It is better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt, which is not from the Bible but somewhere in Proverbs it says “even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent”.