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Politics : Libertarian Discussion Forum

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To: Doren who wrote (7608)3/12/2009 5:45:50 PM
From: TimF  Read Replies (1) of 13062
 
Torture. Semantics.

I'll let others debate the actual torture issue, I'm interested in your "Semantics" reply.

Its seems pointless to just reply "semantics" to a point or question. Yes obviously whether or not something qualifies as torture, or qualifies as any other word, is semantics. The whole issue is a semantic one. But "semantics" isn't an argument that you are right or they are wrong or that their point is worthless. Semantic points are rather important in many cases. If your going to ban say "assault with a deadly weapon", you have to define "assault", and "deadly weapon". If someone reasonable argues that his weapons aren't deadly, or his actions might not have been an assault, but rather something else, than perhaps he should be charged with another crime, or none at all. Its "semantics" but its the difference between a prison repentance and walking free.

A dismissive "semantics" as if that was a either a counter argument or a reason to close down debate sounds like your saying the meaning of words is unimportant. But without an understanding of the meaning of what both sides are saying you can't even have a real debate.
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