Re: 68 isn't too old to stop, Jon.

On Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 9:00:51 PM UTC+1, Derek wrote:
> And though I've been criticised for saying I've learned a lot more from 
> him than I have from most of the AR side (my friends) put together 
> over the years I still stick by my initial statement. So yes, Jon, if you 
> read this short thread, don't mistake my remark as meaning, "you've 
> been the perfect foil, fool." I'm being quite sincere. Happy birthday!

Well, I'm glad you feel you got something out of the exchange. I think I would say at the very least that his particular way of arguing about the issue has not been explored all that much in the actual published literature, or at least there has been a little bit about that kind of argument (on either side of the argument) but it sort of hasn't really been explored in great depth. Notably he is correct in saying "someone should count the number of collateral deaths". A very recent publication by two animal rights philosophers agreed with him on just that point. Further, there was... passion and intensity in his on-going crusade of attacking vegans, and I could say that I agree with you that I learnt something in the sense that he gave me a new way of thinking about the matter that I might not have encountered otherwise, or at least not until much later, and not as an argument presented in such a relentless and insistent manner. One can say that much.

Dutch was also right to point out that I made it too obvious that he got under my skin. Do I dare to confidently say that I am past that now? Perhaps it will be said that my first post in this thread reveals otherwise.