Posted by JP on October 29, 2001 at 19:54:46:
In Reply to: Hey! posted by Bartholomew on October 29, 2001 at 16:29:32:
: 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.