"Most" is a magic word, that indicates the majority of something, but not all. It is entirely relative, allowing scientists and intellectuals to talk about innumerable quantities and undefinable concepts on a more comprehensible level.
It can also be used for complete bullshit.
Take a common comment found on the internet, ""X thing or group of people" are "offensive adjective Y." A common one would be to say, "console gamers are stupid." (I'm not trying to pick on neither console gamers nor people who dislike consoles, mind you. This is just an example. I'm a console gamer, myself)
Now, an unsupported, negative opinion stated as fact is often pegged as an, "Obvious x is obvious" type of comment, but here's where poor little, "Most," is abused. Instead of saying, "Console gamers are stupid," people dress it up, saying something like, "Most console gamers aren't smart enough to use a PC." I can understand this sentiment; there are a lot of understandable reasons that people choose a PC over a console, and when someone reads, "most console gamers aren't smart enough to use a PC," like how two dots and a line can suggest an entire human face, people fill in the holes and begin to see an entire argument in that single sentence. Said comment fits into the context of a console versus PC argument, and suggests that consoles are easier to use than PCs, but is not as rewarding.
The problem is that the person who posted, "Most console gamers aren't smart enough to use a PC," didn't actually say any of that. He just made, "Console gamers are stupid," more elaborate. If so-and-so felt that PC was superior to consoles, to be civil, he should still hold his tongue and instead say that PCs are his preference. And then explain why.
Other relative terms like, "Few," "many," and to a lesser extent, "Some," are also abused in this manner.
Yet another magical defense is to say something offensive about an inanimate thing or entity, then say something pleasant towards the people involved. For example, "Consoles are complete shit, but to each his own." Again, So-and-So is just being offensive instead of a logical argument in a way that people tend to treat as a sound argument. Of course, he should have said something about his opinion, like, "I dislike consoles, but to each his own." So-and-so still hasn't supported his opinion, and thus hasn't made a real argument, but he's still getting to voice his opinion.
This is a bit more complicated than, "Most," because we're talking in the purely relative, but again, its a matter of key words. Terms like, "I think, we feel," and so on should precede a personal opinion, because it is a personal opinion. Yes, there are plenty of relative terms that are stated as fact, like saying that gold has a yellowish tint, but this is because it is a universally accepted opinion. Saying, "consoles are complete shit," aside from the inaccuracies when taken literally, implies that so-and-so's opinion is universally accepted.
There are even more "Get out of flaming/discipline free" cards used throughout the internet, which irks me to no end. The reason why I shared this long-winded rant are that I like others to double-check my logic, and that I like when others can provide their own input on similar matters. (And to be honest, its also to act as a bit of a reminder of how to post civilly, but that's cause its a peak hormonal time for me, and I can't stop beating dead horses right now.)
I'd appreciate any sort of comment or contribution of sound reasoning. Or wit. Witty comments are fun, too. (Yes, I feel a bit like I'm just saying, "Discuss," but the 'Scapist is good at making rants into discussions.)
I'd also like to apologize to anyone who goes by, "So-and-So." I do not hate you. I just used your monicker as an example.
It can also be used for complete bullshit.
Take a common comment found on the internet, ""X thing or group of people" are "offensive adjective Y." A common one would be to say, "console gamers are stupid." (I'm not trying to pick on neither console gamers nor people who dislike consoles, mind you. This is just an example. I'm a console gamer, myself)
Now, an unsupported, negative opinion stated as fact is often pegged as an, "Obvious x is obvious" type of comment, but here's where poor little, "Most," is abused. Instead of saying, "Console gamers are stupid," people dress it up, saying something like, "Most console gamers aren't smart enough to use a PC." I can understand this sentiment; there are a lot of understandable reasons that people choose a PC over a console, and when someone reads, "most console gamers aren't smart enough to use a PC," like how two dots and a line can suggest an entire human face, people fill in the holes and begin to see an entire argument in that single sentence. Said comment fits into the context of a console versus PC argument, and suggests that consoles are easier to use than PCs, but is not as rewarding.
The problem is that the person who posted, "Most console gamers aren't smart enough to use a PC," didn't actually say any of that. He just made, "Console gamers are stupid," more elaborate. If so-and-so felt that PC was superior to consoles, to be civil, he should still hold his tongue and instead say that PCs are his preference. And then explain why.
Other relative terms like, "Few," "many," and to a lesser extent, "Some," are also abused in this manner.
Yet another magical defense is to say something offensive about an inanimate thing or entity, then say something pleasant towards the people involved. For example, "Consoles are complete shit, but to each his own." Again, So-and-So is just being offensive instead of a logical argument in a way that people tend to treat as a sound argument. Of course, he should have said something about his opinion, like, "I dislike consoles, but to each his own." So-and-so still hasn't supported his opinion, and thus hasn't made a real argument, but he's still getting to voice his opinion.
This is a bit more complicated than, "Most," because we're talking in the purely relative, but again, its a matter of key words. Terms like, "I think, we feel," and so on should precede a personal opinion, because it is a personal opinion. Yes, there are plenty of relative terms that are stated as fact, like saying that gold has a yellowish tint, but this is because it is a universally accepted opinion. Saying, "consoles are complete shit," aside from the inaccuracies when taken literally, implies that so-and-so's opinion is universally accepted.
There are even more "Get out of flaming/discipline free" cards used throughout the internet, which irks me to no end. The reason why I shared this long-winded rant are that I like others to double-check my logic, and that I like when others can provide their own input on similar matters. (And to be honest, its also to act as a bit of a reminder of how to post civilly, but that's cause its a peak hormonal time for me, and I can't stop beating dead horses right now.)
I'd appreciate any sort of comment or contribution of sound reasoning. Or wit. Witty comments are fun, too. (Yes, I feel a bit like I'm just saying, "Discuss," but the 'Scapist is good at making rants into discussions.)
I'd also like to apologize to anyone who goes by, "So-and-So." I do not hate you. I just used your monicker as an example.