No argument should proceed until you have assessed your moral position.
If there is none to consider (i.e. which software to implement), then move along.
If you are uncertain, then take stock of your current position and ask:
- Have I fully empathized with the person, animal, country, race, group, planet,...etc.., and incorporated that into my position?
- Has my opponent done the same?
Discussing the morality of a position might be the only common ground available.
@th3j35t3r
This is an interesting group that often hosts virtual, group movies. Scientist discuss topics before and after. Maybe this could be streamed to the virtual movie room?
Collaboration opportunity
One of the characteristics of successful people is a belief in free will. Basically, that you are in control of your destiny.
A characteristic of all of the people I've met that never seem to get their shit together is a very strong belief in a spiritual being/force or "Universal Energy" that has great influence on their lives.
I now understand that they have been unsuccessful because they believe this other-worldly power needs to be placated, and they believe they are failing to do so.
Are there any free, online relational databases out there that I can trust?
I'm about to re-architect my COVID dashboard for San Francisco off of Google docs. This isn't a commercial venture, just a labor of love. It's going to be pretty small, with very little utilization as I'll be caching the results elsewhere.
What is right?
What is wrong?
Without a common moral standard there is no means to discuss the topic.
Those that lack empathy will not comprehend many morally-wrong issues.
It's not worth starting down that path until you first, explicitly, recognize the lack of empathy.
That might be the only common ground achieved during the argument.
"Discipline" trumps "intelligence" as an influence on success.
There are plenty of successful people that are stupid yet disciplined.
There are plenty of unsuccessful people that are intelligent yet undisciplined.
And, those that are both intelligent and disciplined have the tools to do extraordinary things.
Here is one of my projects being announced: https://www.wraltechwire.com/2021/11/15/wireless-research-center-advanced-mobility-collective-launch-foresttech-center/
Hysterical, yet informative: https://youtu.be/mlChFvmmSQM
Entrepreneur, Inventor, Passionate Rationalist, Transparent