failing to admit an error

[tulc]

Do you think if you post a thread and are then shown to be in error about what you posted you should admit you were wrong?
tulc(just curious)

 

[Mystman]

yes.

although I may not always do it explicitly.

Many posts are an 'attack' at the weak point of another post. That's just the nature of discussing things.

So a discussion like this can happen..

me: "I think X!"
you: "You're making errors A, B, C and D!"
me: "I did D correctly because of reasons Y!"

Because I don't address A/B/C anymore, I imply that I agree with your comments. Small differences in wording can make a big difference in meaning here.

you: "You're making errors A, B, C and D!"
me: "Yeah, but D is correct for reason Y"

and

you: "You're making errors A, B, C and D!"
me: "no, because D is correct for reason Y"

and

you: "You're making errors A, B, C and D!"
me: "hmmm, but D is correct for reason Y"

all say something else about my acceptance of your points that I don't explicitely adress.

 

[Freodin]

Of course I would admit an error... if I ever would make one.

 

[Bombila]

Of course, if I make a a major error and later find out I was indeed in error, it would be the honourable thing to come back and admit I was in error.

Not that this is commonly done.

 

[LittleNipper]

Do you think if you post a thread and are then shown to be in error about what you posted you should admit you were wrong?
tulc(just curious)

Yes, if there is no shadow of doubt...

 

[Supernaut]

Do you think if you post a thread and are then shown to be in error about what you posted you should admit you were wrong?
tulc(just curious)

My posts are inerrant as i type in a literal fashion.

 

[JustMeSee]

Do you think if you post a thread and are then shown to be in error about what you posted you should admit you were wrong?
tulc(just curious)

Yes, if I find an error in what I write or say in life, I feel personally obligated to identify my mistake to the appropriate parties.

Much of what I write on the forums is based on opinion, where the subject is not black or white. If my opinion changes, I attempt to share my new perspective.

If I am faced with stating an untruth (my error, not a lie), I will humbly admit my error. I usually say something like, "I was so sure I was right about that. I apologize, I was wrong. I guess I am not as knowledgeable on the subject as I once was.".

I believe we should be honest as possible. Just my point of view.

 

[shinbits]

I have no problem with admitting error. I think many people here are afraid to do so, because many here don't argue to find the truth, they argue to win. so admitting error, in their minds, makes them seem weak. also, people here like to throw it other's faces, if the opposing side is wrong. you see this a lot on the political threads.

basically, it's a stupid pride issue, driven by stupid reasons to argue in the first place.

 

[Washington]

Do you think if you post a thread and are then shown to be in error about what you posted you should admit you were wrong?
tulc(just curious)

I would; however, if I or someone else points out an error in something X says, I really don't care if X admits it or not. It's only important that the error is made public.

 

[Penumbra]

I think I do.

For instance, at least two times when discussing Genesis, I described Eden as "perfect" when it was pointed out to me that it was never called "perfect", but instead just "good".

-Lyn

 

[keith99]

I would; however, if I or someone else points out an error in something X says, I really don't care if X admits it or not. It's only important that the error is made public.

It depends a bit on how much I care about X. I expect myself, my friends and those I admire to admit mistakes. However I do not expect them to dig up sopmething dead and burried to do so. I do expect them to not continue to repaet the error once they know it is false.

 

[Ryal Kane]

I'm pretty sure I've made errors and admitted them on the boards. I've certainly rethought my wording and tried to clarify my position.

One of the most amusing threads I remember here was one in which someone made a simple typo but was so used to dogged denial, he spent pages and pages trying to justify it.

 

[keith99]

I'm pretty sure I've made errors and admitted them on the boards. I've certainly rethought my wording and tried to clarify my position.

One of the most amusing threads I remember here was one in which someone made a simple typo but was so used to dogged denial, he spent pages and pages trying to justify it.

Since I just finished making a post where I said I expected corrections from those I admire your post brought an essay by C.S. Lewis to mind. I believe the title is 'A slip of the Tongue'. An entire essay bases on a simple slip of the tongue in his evening prayers. Something like "May a skip over things eternal to think about things temporal'. Just a slip, and a slip no one else heard. But he felt that a part of him really might want to do just that and that others may be the same. So he turned a little slip into something good.

Thinking more on this. When someone freely or even thankfully accept correction my respect for that person has almost always increased.

 

[shinbits]

Goodness gracious. Almost as soon as I first replied to this thread, it happens again: someone can't admit a simple mistake:

I disagree. G-d is not going to send a moshiach in a manner that violates
that which G-d has taught us.

When someone disagrees with a point you make, then states why they disagree, that's debating a point, right? An absolutely silly defense about why it "wasn't" really debating ensues in this thread, from multiple people who refuse to acknowledge that someone on their side of the issue was wrong.

Wow.

 

[bigbadwilf]

Of course I would admit it, if I were to post something factually innaccurate, and apologise.

However, most of what I post is my own opinion, which I'm in a better position to know than anyone else...

 

[Verv]

Do you think if you post a thread and are then shown to be in error about what you posted you should admit you were wrong?
tulc(just curious)

Yes.

C'est tries bien!

What a great suggestion.

Tulc + 10 points.

If we went to the same youthful Wizard school together, I hope we'd be roommates.

 

[white dove]

I agree that it would be the honorable thing to do.


I also propose that this thread remain a Sticky for those who wish to admit to their error for a thread or post they made that was later found to be in error.

 

[Supernaut]

I agree that it would be the honorable thing to do.

Agreed!

I also propose that this thread remain a Sticky for those who wish to admit to their error for a thread or post they made that was later found to be in error.

Awesome idea!!

 

[DeathMagus]

For me it depends on evidence. If someone trumps my source with a superior source, I'll usually admit the error. If someone essentially matches my argument with a counter-argument that I can't counter, I'll usually just drop the point, since it becomes ambiguous. On matters of opinion or complicated policy, it usually takes a while after a post is made for my opinion to change, and by then the thread has closed or moved on.

In general, however, I think one is at least obligated to not make use of a demonstrably bad or weak argument in future discussions. Otherwise you're just running the same old race every time.

 

[TerranceL]

Do you think if you post a thread and are then shown to be in error about what you posted you should admit you were wrong?
tulc(just curious)

What? I'm never wrong! That's not why I abandoned the thread and created an exact duplicate of the thread I abandoned! Stop persecuting me!


OK I'm just kidding. Of course when you are shown to be wrong you should admit it.

You have to wonder about people whose pride is so strong that they can't even admit they were wrong to strangers on the internet.