Post-vote thoughts part III: A defense of negativity

Yeah, I know, I said I'd get to this on Friday. Friday got busy and I wound up working the weekend, so here it is now.

In many debates, there comes a time when to evaluate a pair of arguments, you have to look at who is making them.

An example: Tom Huebner gets up at a forum and says a rec center will help bring in business. Dave Trapeni gets up and says it won't. One of them has to be wrong.

Trapeni has kept a business running through a difficult economy, an accomplishment that deserves respect and indicates a certain type of expertise. What he doesn't do as the owner of a plumbing supply store, though, is convince high-income professionals to relocate to the area. Huebner, as CEO of the hospital, does.

So, who should we listen to on the subject?

I didn't hear that sort of point-to-point analysis from the pro-vote side. I've heard many from that camp talk about the need to constantly be "positive" and how negativity should be avoided. Such a comparison of credentials in an argument could be called negative and is unquestionably personal. It's also to the point.

What matters more -- if something is negative, or if it is right?

Comments

[Peacefully Evyl]

That's just it, isn't it. Trapeni is talking about blue collar, beer on Friday night, ho hum folks who aren't going to move to Rutland for a rec center. Huebner is talking about the folks who are interested in that rec center as part of a decision to move here.

A year or so ago I was actively seeking a new job. I looked at anything that was available anywhere in VT. What I consistently saw in job postings were mentions of access to recreation opportunities. It seemed every professional type job anywhere near a rec opportunity was plugging that as a job perk. Rec centers, proximity to trailheads, biking networks, boating networks, you name it. Rec opportunities were a distinct selling point.

But, hey, no fool would ever move to Rutland for a rec center. Carrie hit the nail on the head in your previous post about this: you have to leave Rutland to do all your shopping, so why move here in the first place.