From: libertidad@south.south.com   
      
   Brian, your problem is rooted in fantasy.   
   You profess to critical thinking yet you don't even know how to define   
   such a cognitive asset, let alone practice it.   
   There are several dimensions which taken together, comprise critical   
   thinking.  You display none of them.   
      
   Tolerance:  Critical thinkers relish divergent views & therefore enjoy   
   a real debate.  You attempt to shut down any divergent views (that is,   
   views which don't align with your way of thinking if it can be in fact   
   called "thinking).  You therefore do not enjoy a *real* debate.   
      
   Tolerance is the firstmost & foremost dimension of critical thinkiing.   
   You have none.   
      
   Analytical skills: Critical thinkers don’t accept just any kind of   
   talking. They want properly constructed arguments that   
   present reasons and draw sound conclusions.   
      
   In other words, they want *argument* in the classical sense, not   
   necessarily syllogistic, but nonetheless argument - conclusions based   
   on premises.  You abhor argument or perhaps don't understand what an   
   argument is.  Therefore, you are incapable of analysis, & therefore do   
   not possess analytical skills.   
      
   Truth seeking: Critical thinkers are on mission - seek *objective*   
   truth.   
   Even if the *objective* truth turns out to undermine their own   
   previously held convictions & long-cherished & is flat out against   
   their own self interest.   
      
   You have concrete *subjective* views on everything developed in   
   isolation & therefore devoid of others' constructive criticism &   
   correction.  You wouldn't know objectivity if you fell over it.   
      
   You, sir, are therefore not a critical thinker & never will be.   
   Continue to dwell in your own delusional world while the universe   
   marches by - sooner or later, your illusion will come crashing down &   
   there will be no one there to cushion it for you.   
      
   You know this is true.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)