malaria in Africa

[Charlie Bell]

On 19/02/2008, at 1:47 AM, Dan M wrote:

> Charlie Bell stated:
>
>> ...and diversionary. It's a debating technique known in some circles
>> as the "Gish Gallop", and it's very frustrating for people who pride
>> themselves on being concise.
>
>
> The purpose of my argument was never to be diversionary, but to  
> explore some
> of the details of another's argument.  I can accept, though, that it  
> can be
> very frustrating to folks who don't write and do numbers fast in  
> their spare
> time.

Heh. It's very frustrating to people who don't have spare time, and  
it's very frustrating to people who are trying to sort out one point  
to be totally smothered. You're not "exploring details", you're just  
drowning people in volume, and switching or adding topics. It's very  
poor in debate, and it's just plain rude in a conversation. But after  
10 years, I'm pretty sure you're not going to change.

Oh look - change of topic:
>
>
> So, let me give you a very concise argument:
>
> 1) Neli told me at Christmas that she got word from home (Zambia)  
> that the
> EU is threatening a withholding of funding if Zambia does not stop the
> spraying of house walls with DDT to prevent malaria.
>
> 2) This technique has been demonstrated in South Africa and shown on  
> this
> list to be very effective.
>
> 3) I therefore conclude that the The EU is more worried about the  
> political
> power of Green parties than children in Zambia dying.

To which I may or may not have time to reply later.

Charlie.