Gun Control & RKBA
In reply to the discussion: Questions the left won't discuss about gun control, but should - and soon. [View all]jimmy the one
(2,717 posts)straw man: Wrong. Hypotheses are developed from what individuals think may be true. If you think that that phrase is equivalent to believe to be true, then you have a problem with your vocabulary as well as your scientific method.
I have no problem with my vocabulary, you have a problem with alternate definitions & applying your own definition to what other people say. And trivial pursuit to boot.
Straw man argues 'believe' cannot equate to 'think':
amer heritage: believe: 3. To expect or suppose; think: I believe they will arrive shortly
4. To have an opinion; think: They have already left, I believe.
merriam websters: 3 to hold an opinion : think <I believe so>
Collins: (when transitive, takes a clause as object) to think, assume, or suppose - I believe that he has left already
6. (transitive; followed by of; used with can, could, would, etc) to think that someone is able to do (a particular action)
IE: I believe the correlation would be true. I believe the correlation between declining gun ownership rates and declining violent crime rates demonstrates a contributing causative affect to the former.
Quick definitions from Macmillan (believe)
verb to think that a fact is true...
to think that what someone has said is true...
To believe or accept that something is true or exists: think, believe in, suppose
http://www.onelook.com/?w=believe+&ls=a
thesaurus gets poor straw man on both ends:
think verb to believe something based on facts or ideas
believe in - to think that someone or something exists
Had enough?