| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 563.1 | | DPDMAI::DAWSON | t/hs+ws=Formula for the future | Wed Dec 09 1992 11:14 | 10 |
|
For me, playing "Devil's Advocate" is false. If you cannot
speak your own truth then how can you honestly speak the opposite? I
also am not too sure about using the word "Devil" in anything. To me,
playing devils advocate is just another way to keep a conversation
going....if it needs that then maybe the original conversation needs to
end.
Dave
|
| 563.2 | | RXBURY::PARENT | cracklyn nuts, sweets | Wed Dec 09 1992 11:37 | 11 |
|
Dave,
What you say may be true. There is also the intellectual exercise
of seeing the other view or views. It is also recognizing there
are views that are not the ones I may not personally hold as true
or important. I would say devils advocate is a personal exercise
that we share with others.
Allison
|
| 563.3 | an unchallanged opinion may not be worth having :-) | CVG::THOMPSON | Radical Centralist | Wed Dec 09 1992 11:48 | 21 |
| So far I haven't seen the need for a Devil's Advocate in this
conference. There are more than enough people who really do
disagree with me. :-)
The term "Devil's Advocate", as I understand it, comes for the
Catholic Church. It is used in the process of naming a saint. There
is generally no trouble finding someone to plead the case for making
someone a saint. However, to make sure that a close look is really
taken at the life and ministry of the person to make sure they are
truely worthy a Devil's Advocate is appointed. It is this persons
job to "look for dirt". To find anything that would disqualify the
person from sainthood.
Outside of that there is all too often the case where people's ideas
do not get subjected to close examination. They share thoughts only
with like minded people. An opinion not closely examined and challanged
is often shallow or even baseless. The use of a Devil's Advocate can
be a useful exersize to prepare a person for when they actually do run
into someone who has a different opinion.
Alfred
|
| 563.4 | oh dear, I hope I"m not beig "politically correct" on this! | TFH::KIRK | a simple song | Wed Dec 09 1992 13:54 | 15 |
| Alfred,
Thanks for the background of the use of "Devil's Advocate". I've always seem
it used in the sense where someone who agrees with someone plays the role of
trying to break down their argument. I agree that there are plenty of
viewpoints in this conference, but as you say, it can be a useful aid for a
person examining their own arguments and beliefs.
If the term "Devil" makes one uncomfortable, perhaps "Accuser's Advocate"
or "Prosecutor" would be more descriptive of the intended role. "Devil" is
a rather loaded term.
Peace,
Jim
|
| 563.5 | | COMET::DYBEN | Hug a White male | Wed Dec 09 1992 22:24 | 14 |
|
Richard,
Sounds like good advice. I have played devi's advocate alot in here.
For me it simply means " I don't really feel/think this way, but I
have, or am, exposed to it, and would like to know how you deal with
it if you encounter it." It is not a straw man created to vent my true
hidden feelings. I speak my own thoughts, and accept others at face
value, proof?? Hey who was man enough to admit they were duped into
voting yes on 2?? :-)
Love always,
Satan :-)
|
| 563.6 | Unless I'm an extremely poor judge of character | CSC32::J_CHRISTIE | Strength through peace | Sat Dec 12 1992 18:52 | 4 |
| You ain't no Satan, David Dyben!!
Richard
|
| 563.7 | | COMET::DYBEN | Hug a White male | Sun Dec 13 1992 12:28 | 5 |
|
Fooled another one :-)
David
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| 563.8 | borrowing from the debates | CLT::COLLIS::JACKSON | Jesus is the reason for the season | Mon Dec 14 1992 14:34 | 11 |
| Re: 563.6 CSC32::J_CHRISTIE
>You ain't no Satan, David Dyben!!
Richard,
I think the line goes,
"I knew Satan, I was a good friend of Satan, and you're no Satan." :-)
Collis
|
| 563.9 | | HEFTY::SEABURYM | Zen: It's Not What You Think | Mon Dec 14 1992 15:39 | 14 |
| Re.3
Alfred:
According to the book "Making Saints" which I read a few
months ago the position of "Devil's Advocate" was abolished
about 10 years ago in order to make the canonization process
more efficient.
Mike
|
| 563.10 | learn something new every day | CVG::THOMPSON | Radical Centralist | Mon Dec 14 1992 16:49 | 5 |
| RE: .9 Interesting. I hadn't heard that but I don't track such things.
Though it seems to me that a little inefficiency would be a good thing.
After all one doesn't want to declare someone a saint lightly.
Alfred
|
| 563.11 | disagreement always seems so inefficient | LGP30::FLEISCHER | without vision the people perish (381-0899 ZKO3-2/T63) | Mon Dec 14 1992 17:41 | 12 |
| re Note 563.9 by HEFTY::SEABURYM:
> According to the book "Making Saints" which I read a few
> months ago the position of "Devil's Advocate" was abolished
> about 10 years ago in order to make the canonization process
> more efficient.
Is that like those countries which abolish all but one
political party in order to avoid all the inefficiencies that
party politics entails?
Bob
|