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TexasTowelie

(112,222 posts)
Thu Dec 30, 2021, 08:30 PM Dec 2021

A parable worth remembering

The donkey told the tiger, "The grass is blue."

The tiger replied, "No, the grass is green​."

The discussion became heated, and the two decided to submit the issue to arbitration, so they approached the lion.
As they approached the lion on his throne, the donkey started screaming: ′′Your Highness, isn't it true that the grass is blue?"​

The lion replied: "If you believe it is true, the grass is blue."​

The donkey rushed forward and continued: ′′The tiger disagrees with me, contradicts me and annoys me. Please punish him."

The king then declared: ′′The tiger will be punished with 3 days of silence."​

The donkey jumped with joy and went on his way, content and repeating ′′The grass is blue, the grass is blue..."​

The tiger asked the lion, "Your Majesty, why have you punished me, after all, the grass is green?"​

The lion replied, ′′You've known and seen the grass is green."

The tiger asked, ′′So why do you punish me?"​

The lion replied, "That has nothing to do with the question of whether the grass is blue or green. The punishment is because it is degrading for a brave, intelligent creature like you to waste time arguing with an ass, and on top of that, you came and bothered me with that question just to validate something you already knew was true!"

The biggest waste of time is arguing with the fool and fanatic who doesn't care about truth or reality, but only the victory of his beliefs and illusions. Never waste time on discussions that make no sense. There are people who, for all the evidence presented to them, do not have the ability to understand. Others who are blinded by ego, hatred and resentment, and the only thing that they want is to be right even if they aren’t.

When IGNORANCE SCREAMS, intelligence moves on.

Credit to: Deena Walker, Texas Democrats

17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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A parable worth remembering (Original Post) TexasTowelie Dec 2021 OP
K&R n/t ChazII Dec 2021 #1
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Dec 2021 #2
K & R...nt Wounded Bear Dec 2021 #3
I like it ! TeamProg Dec 2021 #4
"It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere." niyad Dec 2021 #5
The debate over the efficacy of the vaccine has been over for some time grantcart Dec 2021 #6
Country version: TomSlick Dec 2021 #7
Mark Twain said, "Never argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level, then beat tclambert Dec 2021 #8
Excellent advice that regrettably, I sometimes fail to take. n/t. NNadir Dec 2021 #9
I sorta disagree. Well, to clarify: unblock Dec 2021 #10
And even if your efforts do not convince the fool in question... Salviati Dec 2021 #13
Exactly. The msm's biggest mistake has been giving them continued legitimacy unblock Dec 2021 #14
Convincing one fool is not important Martin Eden Dec 2021 #17
The lion was a Trump appointee. nt Javaman Dec 2021 #11
K&R. nt c-rational Dec 2021 #12
K&R! burrowowl Dec 2021 #15
Amen Joinfortmill Dec 2021 #16

grantcart

(53,061 posts)
6. The debate over the efficacy of the vaccine has been over for some time
Thu Dec 30, 2021, 09:36 PM
Dec 2021


The debate now is whether some people believe in the concept of what a number is.

tclambert

(11,087 posts)
8. Mark Twain said, "Never argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level, then beat
Thu Dec 30, 2021, 09:40 PM
Dec 2021

you with experience."

unblock

(52,243 posts)
10. I sorta disagree. Well, to clarify:
Thu Dec 30, 2021, 10:12 PM
Dec 2021

I agree that the normal sort of intellectual debate and argumentation is a wasted effort.

But that doesn't mean the fool can't be convinced. It just requires different tactics.

Which are typically known as "the low road".

Laugh at them. Ridicule their "arguments". Ignore them. Say things like, "bless your soul". Patronize them.

And let them know that their idiocy in one area undermines their authority in another. Remember, intelligence and expertise are highly compartmentalized. So a political fool may well be an genius at engineering or running a business or whatever. So, let them know that after hearing them say something stupid about politics, you'll have to reconsider the wisdom of using their services in their field of expertise.


They don't understand or respond to normal debate. But they do respond to peer pressure, the status that society confers on them or denies to them.

Salviati

(6,008 posts)
13. And even if your efforts do not convince the fool in question...
Thu Dec 30, 2021, 10:43 PM
Dec 2021

... they may convince other fools watching, or the less foolish who may be convinced by those more foolish then them.

Martin Eden

(12,870 posts)
17. Convincing one fool is not important
Fri Dec 31, 2021, 08:28 AM
Dec 2021

But keeping foolish beliefs from being widely accepted is essential to avoid disastrous public policies.

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