Moto Guzzi bikes presented to the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella

[docc]

We now we're in heady company when the epistemologist chimes in.

[LowRyter]

Aren't we all epistemologists here?

[docc]

On 5/24/2021 at 9:37 PM, LowRyter said:

Aren't we all epistemologist here?

I can only wax epistemologically about matters that I, personally, have substantial first-hand knowledge, experience, and study invested.

Perhaps I could be considered an Epistemological Relayologist . . .

[R.I.P. Mikko]

That is correct @Scud. Sorry @Bill Hagan that this spun way out out into a discourse in current political / Social Mumbo Jumbo.

It was that picture man... that damn picture!!!! 

[docc]

This thread deserves some inspiration . . .

 

[R.I.P. Mikko]

Thanks @docc!! Good stuff! And yea, come hell or high water... I really would like to finally get the chance to meet some of you guys at the SSR. I’m keeping the Scura whole and just doing the little bit I can till she goes in for her heart transplant. It’s now been pushed back till winter of ‘22.
 

So I have this summer & next to get the engine sent off and returned. Maybe get at least the front suspension all together. I have some plans concerning the rear, I’m waiting to hear back.

[docc]

I recall Ing. Giulio Carcano responding to the call for a new motorcycle for the Presidential Guard (Reggimento Corazzieri Carabinieri) saying it should have "The Presence of a Norman Horse."

Pretty sure he nailed it!

[If I were important (I'm not) and deserved a motorcycle escort (I don't), I would feel confident surrounded by dedicated folks on V85TTs . . .]

 

[R.I.P. Mikko]

https://www.bike-urious.com/2001-moto-guzzi-california-police/
 

Strangely it shows being for sale at the same place I bought my Scura on consignment from. Now I understand why things were less then a pleasant experience as the owner just passed away. Their website isn’t active and that’s a real shame as they have some absolute gems sitting there.

[docc]

My good friend followed my roadster home the other day on his 1200Sport. I kept feeling like I should pull safely to the side of the road,

and keep my hands where he could see them . . .
 

[R.I.P. Mikko]

That looks mean in black... from what I understand those were pretty few and far between stateside. Never rode a CARC bike.

[Kane]

7 hours ago, LowRyter said:

And so long as I'm on the soapbox, omission can be powerful too.  Growing up in Oklahoma, there was never a mention of the Tulsa race massacre. I was in my 40s before I ever knew about it.  Something so important and so awful, killing and affecting so many people, families and an wiping out and entire community, something I never knew even after studying "official Oklahoma State History".   Nope, it wasn't in the book.  Nothing about it.

And did you see those lovely centenarians testifying before Congress? I am humbled!

[docc]

12 hours ago, Scud said:

Hey gents, looks like we missed an opportunity to talk about how V85s will be escorting the president of Italy. 

But gosh, in its place we get to consider epistemology, which is also fun. A lot of propaganda is an attempt to control what people will accept as factual. For example, the omission of violence from history books that LowRyter mentioned. In this case, the history book is propaganda because it only tells the "nice" parts of the story. Students in California and Texas get different versions of the same textbooks, which plants the seeds of idealogical division in our youth. Here's a link to a NY Times article that shows some of the key differences in the textbooks. What state is guilty of propaganda - or are both guilty?

Information overload presents special challenges to epistemology. None of us have the time or resources to fact-check everything we hear or see, so we have to decide who we believe will tell us the truth. 

Will governments lie about the nature of a disease, the occurrence of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, or genocide committed against indigenous people in order to take their land? I say yes to all... and could add more topics. Will media outlets lie (including lies of omission) in order to report on events in ways that please audiences and advertisers? (I consider that a rhetorical question).

Where do you go for "truth" and who do you trust to provide you with information that can credibly support a justifiable belief?  Everything seems to polarized that I hardly know where to go anymore, but that's why I still subscribe to The Economist, which I trust to openly disclose the evidence they use to justify their claims. 

Fun case in point... last weeks cover said "10 Million Reasons to Vaccinate the World."  I showed it to my 17 year old daughter, who plans to study journalism and marketing. She said "That sounds like hyperbole to me... but since it's The Economist, it's probably a population thing." Article at this link if you want to read it.

In my opinion, the only way to show zero tolerance against propaganda of all sorts is to be informed with facts, while remaining open to considering the possible meanings or implications of those facts.

Moderator disclaimer:

1) Yep, this thread content is borderline and could get out of hand yet. Honestly, I just watch how y'all are courteous to one another and basically moderate your own-selves. Good on ya.

2) After the initial "conversation" I made some posts relevant to the topic title. The (obvious) action seemed well accepted.

3) Yet, the topic title really does not reflect the intent of the OP, hence the topic was moved to this suforum for "banter." I've marked Scud's post about considering "epistemology" as the topic "answer" as this concept is deeply relevant to forums such as ours.  From Jaap's founding of this site nineteen years ago (!), we have kept a knowledge based approach to sharing. I have found nowhere else (internet or otherwise) where folks are so willing to help one another.

   Still, there is this constant balance and tension between opinion/belief and fact/reality. Can we say epistemology is the reason oil and tire threads have the reputation they have earned all across the web?