tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post7578547162995736899..comments2024-03-27T06:56:10.255+00:00Comments on Broad Oak Magazine: A horror of being wrong Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-21418299833451602702014-08-09T02:46:46.375+01:002014-08-09T02:46:46.375+01:00No wonder I didn't fit in most of the time. I ...No wonder I didn't fit in most of the time. I usually said, and still say, things which are factual. The usual responses in discussions is that my earnest opponent leaves.Paddingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07952088638231881617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-12055065202969139372014-08-08T18:02:53.535+01:002014-08-08T18:02:53.535+01:00Sackers - I agree. As I recall, Johnson once admit...Sackers - I agree. As I recall, Johnson once admitted that he could just as easily have taken the other side in one particular argument. <br /><br />Chesterton could have said that public schools have no great record for instilling truth, but that would have made his argument far less forceful and less likely to attract attention.A K Haarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05897490979828603179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-72382252295901257762014-08-08T17:27:44.377+01:002014-08-08T17:27:44.377+01:00I don't think it's particularly public-sch...I don't think it's particularly public-school, or even British. The internet is full of evidence that people want to win arguments, by fair means or foul. Dr Johnson, although keen to formulate truth, was also extremely combative in discussion - I remember one passage in Boswell when, having lost a point, Dr J was puffing like a volcano until he could come in with some riposte on a different point that his opponent subsequently made:<br /><br />PERCY. ‘Pennant does not describe well; a carrier who goes along the side of Loch-lomond would describe it better.’ JOHNSON. ‘I think he describes very well.’ PERCY. ‘I travelled after him.’ JOHNSON. ‘And I travelled after him.’ PERCY. ‘But, my good friend, you are short-sighted, and do not see so well as I do.’ I wondered at Dr. Percy’s venturing thus. Dr. Johnson said nothing at the time; but inflammable particles were collecting for a cloud to burst. In a little while Dr. Percy said something more in disparagement of Pennant. JOHNSON. (pointedly,) ‘This is the resentment of a narrow mind, because he did not find every thing in Northumberland.’ PERCY. (feeling the stroke,) ‘Sir, you may be as rude as you please.’ JOHNSON. ‘Hold, Sir! Don’t talk of rudeness; remember, Sir, you told me (puffing hard with passion struggling for a vent,) I was shortsighted. We have done with civility. We are to be as rude as we please.’ PERCY. ‘Upon my honour, Sir, I did not mean to be uncivil.’ JOHNSON. ‘I cannot say so, Sir; for I DID mean to be uncivil, thinking YOU had been uncivil.’ Dr. Percy rose, ran up to him, and taking him by the hand, assured him affectionately that his meaning had been misunderstood; upon which a reconciliation instantly took place. JOHNSON. ‘My dear Sir, I am willing you shall HANG Pennant.’ <br /><br />https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/b/boswell/james/osgood/chapter32.html<br /><br />He just *had* to win.Sackersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17284329249862764601noreply@blogger.com