Subj : Re: GNU Public Licences Revisited (again)
To   : comp.programming
From : William
Date : Sun Sep 25 2005 12:40 pm

"Duane Bozarth" <dpbozarth@swko.dot.net> wrote in message
news:43342E10.F8FA234B@swko.dot.net...
> William wrote:
> >
> ...
> > I have two friends and each believes the media is highly
> > biased; one thinks it's a liberal bias, the other thinks
> > it's a conservative bias. They are absolutely convinced
> > they are right despite the troubling contradiction.
>
> Depending on which outlet they're watching, it's quite possible (even
> likely?) they're both right...

The word "media" is plural - probably should have capitialized
it, though, to give its true collective meaning. They can watch
the same show, doesn't matter. (The more balanced and accurate
it is, the more likely they will both see a bias since any fact
that fails to support their position appears as a bias to them.)

>
> > I have a third friend who says they're all biased and
> > there's no point in believing anything at all except
> > one's own opinion whether or not you can support it.
> > (Debating issues with him is frustrating, believe me.)
>
> He's right to a point, I think,

Only to a solipsist. (Hmm, can two solipsists ever agree the
other might be right?)

> although it is possible to filter the worst to get a
> general idea of the underlying kernel of truth if one is
> careful to observe more than one source...

If you'll re-read my statement you'll see the implication
that he doesn't go that far, nor does he allow that anyone
else does or will. To him, an unsupported opinion carries
the same weight as one with overwhelming (to anyone else)
evidence.

If he likes an idea, that's pretty much it. In fact, the
less real evidence, the better, since he tends to prefer
the "underdog" ideas over the accepted ones. He much
prefers Velikovsky over Sagan, for example.

He's not much different from the other two examples, really.
Just much more likely to find a fact or evidence biased
since it's far more likely to trouble his beliefs.

> > For the record, it was a 70s (I think) invention which was
> > a foldable fishing "rod" and tackle that could be carried
> > in a pocket (a large pocket):
> > http://www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages/pocketfisherman.htm?gid=
> > The inventor said it wasn't something you actually used, it
> > was something you gave as a gift. (It may stand as THE
> > primary example of profit motivation at work.) -Wm
>
> I'd nominate the Pet Rock for that "honor"... :)

I think you have to give more weight to the PF since it
actually required the traditional skills of invention to
achieve (design, engineering, etc.). Someone had to actually
work on it for a while... -Wm

.