Argumentum ad ignorantiam

Finally my boat is back after having a bath in a 5% detergent solution. I think things will be a little slippery the first time out thanks to AQIS.

In the meantime I’ve had a bit of time to get the ball rolling for Belmont, and catch up on the latest in the mothosphere.

Although I’m loathe to give it oxygen, it was fun to get a bit of a ribbing in the latest episode of the Mothcast. A little less talk a little more action was a good call, albeit a little cheap coming from someone who contributes so little to the class. Online or off.

It was also interesting to listen to a perspective of the recent Worlds formed via the Internet. When we were in Cascade Locks, we joked how different everyone’s recounting of the same events were, so in a way it’s not surprising to hear an account so divergent from reality given the multiple sources of information.

Not surprising that it goes hand in hand with the statement that no development goes on in Melbourne. Ha.

Though as a hack blogger, I couldn’t let the premise that to blog is to lose stand without correction. The absence of evidence is unfortunately not the evidence of absence. Given all the recent Moth World Champions have a blog in one form or another, along with various facebook profiles, and youtube or twitter accounts. The premise doesn’t stand up to proof, let alone logic.

Perhaps when a non-blogger actually wins an event we can reconsider a better thought out argument. Though it’s probably easier to stand back and claim anything when you don’t actually have to back yourself up at the Worlds.

Who said anything about cheap points?

A bit of a shame. I just hope Dave’s scientific approach to equipment development is based on surer ground. Otherwise it might make Rohan’s approach look rigorous by comparison.

In the meantime, the blogosphere rolls on. Filled the verbiage of both the vain self promoters and those who are passionate and confident enough about what they do to want to share it with anyone. The poor insecure tinkerers can meanwhile safely hold onto their precious secrets and their dog-eared copies of theory of wing sections in relative anonymity, hoping to strike it lucky with their likeminded puddle-dwellers while everyone else gets on with the business of making things better. Or they could get sailinganarchy logins.

I look forward to listening to what happens in Dubai. When I’m actually there.

PS. I love you too Dave.

21 Responses to “Argumentum ad ignorantiam”

  1. Bruce McLeod Says:

    Open popcorn, check. … So I am a puddle dweller, a vain self promoter or an insecure tinkerer? The real answer is probably all three.

    That reminds me, I need to find who has borrowed my copy of Theory of Wing Sections …

  2. Phil Stevenson Says:

    If we were mis-informed as to what was really happenning at the Gorge, it must have been from excessive emotion and inadequate truth in the Blogs we were reading? So can we have the real story now?

  3. scott Says:

    @Bruce

    Perhaps we share another category… those with an abnormally high threshold for failure?

  4. scott Says:

    @Phil

    Believing what is written on the Internet, let alone on a blog is akin to believing one of Doug Lord’s theories.

    No real substitute for a first-person account.

  5. john.h Says:

    Unfortunately I cannot make the NSW AGM but I would be happy to donate some nice relaxing herbal tea for everyone to have during the meeting.

  6. Les Says:

    It must be true – I read it on the internet……….

  7. david lister Says:

    Sorry you didn’t see the funny side. As for contributing nothing? Me and the puddle dwellers are busy right now as it’s been raining, got to go. Anyway I’ll see YOU at the meeting!

  8. scott Says:

    @david

    No I do see the funny side. Really. I thought the whole thing was comedy. It makes a lot more sense when you think of it like that.

    I don’t warrant an invite to your meeting unfortunately. Care to forward it through?

  9. Cookie Says:

    Loved the post…

    Cookie, UK champion and blog owner

  10. bora Says:

    i love our class. boom of dooms for everyone

  11. Marco Casavecchia Says:

    Believing what is written on the Internet, let alone on a blog is akin to believing one of Doug Lord’s theories.

    No real substitute for a first-person account.

    This strongly resembles an argumentum ad baculum!
    Some use to trust you, I for one.

  12. Marty J Says:

    @john.h

    I read somewhere that when going to visit ‘the foiling Messiah’ the only suitable gifts were gold, frankincense and myrrh.

    Sorry, couldn’t resist throwing that one in….

  13. Bruce McLeod Says:

    @martyj

    I thought it had been updated to carbon, foil designs and moulds that you needed to take …

  14. Karl W Says:

    What was that about the flag dropping?

  15. a_s Says:

    its a new round of bullshit Karl, this one ends in dubai

    for what it is worth keep blogging everyone.
    ill continue on being a perfectly happy insecure tinkering puddledwelling non blogger

  16. Simon Payne Says:

    Bring back Propper..

  17. JohnH Says:

    Si that is the most sensible thing said yet.

  18. Della Bosca Says:

    The moth class looks like a bigger snakepit than nsw labor. We get better chicks though.

  19. Tom A Says:

    Settle this on the water, not in a blog room! i suggest dave and scott each design and sail 90×90ft Moths in a match race to settle this dispute.

  20. a_s Says:

    TomA
    clearly that the best way to settle an arguement.
    the race will be run…. somewhere, sometime under some sort of conditions. Does that constitute a NOR?

  21. Diver Dan Says:

    You are all a bunch of WMD’s. Amazing stuff from a two bit class.

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