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To: epicure who wrote (5828)	3/30/2002 11:24:12 AM
From: Solon	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 21057

"Ridicule has only one problem. It only appeals to people who already agree with you" Truly; although I believe it also influences the noncommited; still, it does little to change the mind of the opponent. I suppose that is why it is used rather sparingly in personal discourse as compared to "public" conversations such as take place here on SI. "Conversations" on SI are actually public efforts to influence or promote a public point of view. Sometimes this public "statement" must overcome a natural inclination of pity or even empathy for the individual, but this is the choice that must be made in the real world. I entirely get your point, however, and it is one with which I concur.

To: epicure who wrote (5828)	3/30/2002 11:36:37 AM
From: Lane3	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 21057

Ridicule has only one problem. It only appeals to people who already agree with you. We mustn't discount it's value as a bonding agent amongst like thinkers. When a group feels persecuted, it's therapeutic. When you're in a fourteen percent minority, sometimes this is needed. In the case of religion, though, the other 86 percent also feels persecuted, which confuses the matter a lot. Everybody, except you, of course ;), claims to be the victim. One thing that Neo and I will probably never agree on is that the dominant group should be magnanimous enough to tolerate a certain amount of this...