Quote from OPTIONAL777:
You can either feel wounded, or you can present the statistical data and the links.
Opinions around here mean nothing, this is the Internet.
Facts, and reasoning mean everything.
I am challenging your "facts" and your reasoning.
If you can't handle that, I understand. Those who are watching can also understand.
My guess is they don't give a rat's ass what you think of me or what I think of you.
However, they do see that I have challenged you on your statistical data, the use of it, the veracity of it, and the cogency of it as relates to your position of the statistical data, and how it lends support to your argument for capital punishment.
Be in a hissy fit if you want. Or just address the question.
Your choice.
The internet is full of liars and scam artists. So what else is new?
Those who can prove what they say, or provide sound arguments to support their position is all that matters to me in the debate process.
Getting bent out of shape because someone I don't even know calls me names, and questions my motives, why should I even care? I don't. Let them. Free country.
I just try to stay on point of the topic at hand, apply reason to the process, and if I quote data, provide proof of that with a link.
Simple.
Let's see the link to the data. Let's see the statistical number of ex-murderers who upon release from society murder again.
Such a simple request, one has to wonder why someone is not forthcoming with a simple response?
This is hardly your modus operandi. You do not stay on the point at hand, as evidenced by your wild forays into areas off the subject and ignoring the rules as set forth in the first post and spread out around the remainder of the thread.
What matters to you is not ever having to concede anything. This in fact IS how you operate:
OPTIONAL777's DEBATE STRATEGY:
1) Ignore the basic premises in order to be able to go wildly off-topic.
2) Charge ahead like a bull in a china shop.
3) If frustrated by the lack of progress, at first make subtle references to your opponent's stances on other issues, i.e. gun control, religion, abortion, etc. - this helps to make any future runs off-topic appear natural and go smoothly.
4) If again frustrated by your lack of progress, call your opponent a liar and slander him in the very forum you are debating. Accuse him/her of attempting to deceive other forum members. *NOTE: If suspicious of the facts being presented by the opponent, DO NOT under any circumstances simply say, "Hey, what are your sources of information?" Instead, proceed to make up even further falsehoods by misquoting your opponent, ignore entire posts that your opponent has made, and lie outright.
5) When your opponent responds to this onslaught, do not under any circumstances acknowledge the obvious lies he has caught you in.
6) If your opinion is in the minority, imply that the majority opinion is incorrect by using the always-useful "you will see the truth with time" strategy, which relies on dragging in incendiary subjects such as slavery as an example.
7) Again, do not under any circumstances acknowledge the obvious lies you have been caught in. Continue to go on the offensive. As a last resort, state further things that ignore or get around the rules of the thread. For example, if the rule is that the discussion refers to criminals whose guilt is not in question, skirt the rule by making preposterous statements such as DNA may be planted by corrupt law enforcement officers.
8) Your worst-case scenario is as follows: Not only does your opponent again point out these major flaws, lies, and skirting of the rules, but he is ALSO quite willing to present his sources. You are given but one opportunity to save face: If your opponent sets the price of his trump card to be your public acknowledgement of wrong-doing. Simply do not agree to do so, and imply that public acknowledgement is neither important to the audience at large or to you. Press your opponent for his proof and further trivialize his request of public acknowledgement from you.
You are a coward, plain and simple. If nobody here cares what I think of you and vice-versa, it shouldn't bother you in the least to agree to my terms. I mean hey, if the opinion of ET members is so inconsequential, the obvious course of action is to do as I've asked. Such a simple request. One has to wonder why someone is not forthcoming with a simple response.