DC Sniper

"Attacking the source" implies that I somehow am questioning its character without knowledge of its contents. That's like me saying "Kitteh is a filthy piece of $hit" instead of saying "Kitteh's argument is bad." You know that I didn't call you anything. It is perfectly fine to refuse to read a magazine further if you have determined from its contents that it is for elitist pricks. It is the same reason that people like me wish that MENSA should not exist -- arrogance and elitism are the founding principles of that entity's existence.

By calling it a magazine for "elitist pricks" you're attacking the source for not adhering to your standards of good wirting. I won't vouch for the rest of the magazine, but I will say that this particular piece was actually engaging, even if you already know the story that it being told. At the very least, its descriptions of the vast advances we've made in regards to arson should reinforce your views of the current state of forensic science and the of the confidence we can have in conviction rates.

Actually, a good professor can do WONDERS. That English professor taught me to love writing, and that's my life now. In his classes where I was there, there were 74 students going into finals, and 3 of them had a CHANCE at an A. I don't know about the other 2, but I earned my A. I was so proud, and my writing skills improved, and I went on the internet to practice my writing skills further. 10 years later here I am -- are you seriously going to tell me that my writing skills suck? I am not arrogant or anything, but as a professional writer that's gotten tons of good feedback, I don't need false modesty either.

Another prof, ranked #12 in the country, taught me the argumentational method of St. Thomas Aquinas, a Catholic priest. I am Jewish, what the hell do I need that for? Well, Aquinas believed in anticipating your opponent's strongest arguments, and refuting them before he even made them. If you look back in this thread, I provided you with 2 good anti-death penalty arguments even as I am pro-death penalty myself. I could go on, but you hopefully get the point. If you WANT to learn you will learn a fortune. It's sleeping in class that makes education go to waste.

Perhaps I should have been more specific. I am well aware of a good teacher's ability to foster the potential within their students, but I was questioning more the ability of a teacher to alter political viewpoints. While your professor was able to show you a love for writing which you may not have known that you had, the same success might not necessarily be found in convincing you of a need for socialized health care. As you said, if you want to learn, you will. If you don't, then you probably won't absorb much.