static variables

[Antoon Pardon]

Op 02-12-15 om 21:30 schreef Ian Kelly:
> A person can hold one opinion in some contexts and an opposing opinion
> in others.

Yes people are capable of that. It doesn't mean we shouldn't challenge them
on that. There are many possibilities for people to act like that. One
context can be sufficiently different from the other to support a different
opinion, people can be hypocritical, they can have different preference in
different contexts, they can be biased, they can be in a different mood,
there may be some misunderstanding. Aren't we allowed to probe for what
is behind these opposing opinions?

I know people who will defend a teacher leading a class in prayer in one
context and several months later fight it in an other context. The
difference being that in the first context the teacher's faith is compatible
with there own and in the second context it isn't. When others challenge
them on that and point this out, do you consider it an adequate response
should they react with the quote:

  A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.

My opinion is that if one finds oneself in the situation that one comes
to different opinions in different contexts, one should try to find out
on what grounds one does so. And not let possible biases, misunderstandings,
... go unchallenged.

I also see nothing wrong with challenging someone's view when you notice
something like this is going on with them. But that seems to be something
the regulars here have problems with because all too often they respond with
the above quote and react as if that settles the question.

-- 
Antoon.