Posted by Bartholomew on October 29, 2001 at 16:29:32:
In Reply to: You are definitely Type 0 posted by JP on October 27, 2001 at 19:03:41:
: In fact, I would say it is common parlance to call someone like you just "zero" for short, eliminating that pesky, worthless "type" concept altogether.
: Of course, given your complexity the reference is more to the mystical nature of the number zero from a sort of Kabbalah/numerology sense, and the abstruse nature of mathematics, division by zero, etc. Definitely not the more common appellation used to describe someone who mindlessly criticizes both sides of a discussion without attempting to contribute anything meaningful.
Playing the devil's advocate is a constructive argumentative technique. If a person can be made to see a flaw in their point, that person will stop pursuing the flawed idea and move on to something else. Devil's advocates prevent wasted time. Knowing that a theory is incorrect, and having no theory to replace it, is better than not knowing that the theory was incorrect in the first place.
A critic without ulterior motives ("mindless," as you say) is a GOOD thing. Zero is not a true devil's advocate; he is taking a view, the one that says the Enneagram is bullshit, without giving a reason why. Don't give him credit he doesn't deserve, and don't discredit a valid means of furthering knowledge.