{"id":371,"date":"2020-08-10T07:46:00","date_gmt":"2020-08-10T06:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/remoteaikidodojo.com\/?p=371"},"modified":"2021-05-28T11:42:16","modified_gmt":"2021-05-28T10:42:16","slug":"new-rule-1-stop-saying-that","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/remoteaikidodojo.com\/index.php\/2020\/08\/10\/new-rule-1-stop-saying-that\/","title":{"rendered":"New Rule #1 – Stop Saying That"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There is an idea that floats around that is a bit weird. It\u2019s the concept that everybody\u2019s opinion is valid. We have to respect everybody\u2019s opinion because\u2026reasons. Unfortunately this just isn\u2019t the case. Saying we have to respect someone\u2019s opinion is kind of like stating we can say whatever we want and if you argue against it you\u2019re being disrespectful. That may be true but it\u2019s a terrible argument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Stop<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s up there with people who say, \u201cThat\u2019s offensive\u201d and use it as the entire basis of their argument. Sadly, \u2018that\u2019s offensive\u2019 isn\u2019t an argument, it\u2019s an opinion. It doesn\u2019t really mean anything (despite what the Karen\u2019s think).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We aren\u2019t entitled to have everybody respect our opinion. If someone\u2019s argument revolves around that central principle then it\u2019s likely because they either a) don\u2019t understand the topic well enough to form a cohesive argument but feel that people should listen to them anyway, or b) are well aware that their position is untenable or wrong, but refuse to accept the evidence or c) are resolutely holding to a belief because they have faith in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are all terrible reasons to maintain a certain position, especially when someone provides evidence that contradicts the argument being made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Rule Number 1<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This is where our New Rule #1 comes in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are no longer allowed to go on the internet and post \u2018That\u2019s not aikido\u2019, or similar, unless you also state why.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This happens all the time and it\u2019s a ridiculous thing to do. Someone will post a video on the internet of their aikido practice and inevitably, somebody else will say, \u2018That\u2019s not aikido\u2019. And that is all they will say. There will be no information as to why they think that. You\u2019re supposed to take their word for it as gospel, you know, respect their opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s the catch. The statement, \u2018That\u2019s not aikido,\u2019 is no more valid than any other statement unless it is qualified with a reason. Now, if a person is comfortable stating what is not aikido, they should also be quite comfortable stating why it is not aikido. In order to decide it isn\u2019t they must have a determined argument on why it isn\u2019t. Put that down there too. Discourse on the subject of aikido would be so much better if we actually explained our position properly. Who knows, we might even start to reach agreement on the definition of aikido.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Valid and Sound<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The problem is with the idea that you have to respect everyones opinion. You really don\u2019t, you only have to respect an opinion if it is accompanied by a valid argument, but not necessarily a sound one. Valid and Sound have specific definitions here that are worth explaining, simply because the vast majority of people are unaware of them. Briefly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 Valid<\/a> – The premises on which the argument is made, logically justify the conclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 Sound<\/a> – An argument that is Valid, but also begins with premises that are actually true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It should be obvious there that these are different things. An argument can be valid but also false.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If someone says, \u201cThat\u2019s not aikido,\u201d they haven\u2019t given an argument, they\u2019ve told you an opinion. If they were to say, \u201cThat\u2019s not aikido because nage punched uke in the face, and aikido has no strikes,\u201d then you have a valid argument that you can discuss. It\u2019s not necessarily sound though and I would argue it isn\u2019t; because aikido is littered with atemi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"thinking<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Better Debates<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

You can discuss the soundness of a valid argument but without validity you\u2019re debating an opinion, and that\u2019s often a fruitless endeavour. It can be interesting to find out what someones opinion on a topic is, but that\u2019s all you\u2019ll get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a caveat to this that should be borne in mind. Someone\u2019s inability to state their opinion as a valid argument does not always mean that they don\u2019t have one. Some people are just not able to articulate themselves clearly. This doesn\u2019t make them wrong, just harder to understand. If that is the case you should make every effort to understand what they are trying to say. This involves doing something that is very hard, especially on the internet. You have to have patience and listen to what they are actually saying. Kind of a horrifying prospect I know but trust me, discussions of aikido will be all the better for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This isn\u2019t limited to the phrase, \u2018That\u2019s not aikido\u2019 by the way. This is a general problem with aikido discussions. Opinions are stated as facts. Another great example is the standard set of responses when a person asks, \u201cCan I learn aikido from the internet\/DVDs\/books?\u201d Some people provide links to materials, but most people laugh and say,\u201dYou can\u2019t learn aikido from internet\/DVDs\/books!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What they have done is just state an opinion. Where it gets interesting is that when asked for an explanation there is none available. Nobody has ever provided a sound and valid argument as to why you cannot learn in this manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One final thing, you don\u2019t need to wait for January 1st<\/sup> to make a resolution. Decide now, that you will not state something about aikido unless you\u2019re also going to say why you think that. Engage in conversation, find out why someone disagrees with you. Learn, discuss, grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you can afford it, and would like to help out,
consider donating some brain fuel!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Also, if you enjoyed this post you can find further insights in this book.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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