quote:
lying is by definition intentional falsehoods, and while it may be difficult to demonstrate intention whenever falsehoods are presented, it cannot be anything but intentional when the person fails to deal with the issue when challenged to do so.
I don't actually know for sure, but I don't think that Syamsu lied intentionally, even though he contradicted what he said all the time.
Besides, this place is, more or less, supposed to be a science site.
You just don't see scientists accusing each other of lying or of being stupid in the comments pages of professional journals, nor do you see it at conferences.
The truth is, while they may be intentionally lying, they might also be so self-deluded that they really don't believe that what they are saying is false. I think that this was the case with prominent Creationists like Gish and Morris.
In any case, I agree with Ned that it is always much, much more powerful in a debate to corner someone with their own words and
show what they did rather than to come right out and say it. Readers can and will make the appropriate judgements.
We can never truly know someone's intentions.
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