"Jim Cate" wrote in message
...


Alan Gomes wrote:

Alright...let's try this one more time....

What percentage of capsizes *of any kind of boat* get reported? I don't
know...it's just a question to consider. But if it's a relatively small
percentage--which is certainly possible--then you cannot conclude that
the
lack of Mac capsize reports proves anything as to its stability. You are
the
one who drew the conclusion that since there are not a significant
number of
capsize reports on the Mac then they must not be capsizing
significantly.
All I'm doing is questioning the logic of that conclusion on the grounds
that reported capsizes may not approximate actual ones.

--AG


snip

(Incidentally, do YOU have
any evidence to support YOUR particular theory?)

Jim



"Jim Cate" wrote in message
...



Jim,

The nature of my statement does not require evidence. It is a "logic"
statement, not an "evidence" statement.

My point was simply that apart from evidence--which you, as the one making
the argument from silence would need to provide--other explanations are
logically possible--in this case maybe even probable.

Stated another way, a subjunctive asserts nothing indicatively. If I had
made an indicative statement then you could require evidence. It is actually
you who made the assertion, and so it would be you who needs to provide
evidence that the lack of capsize reports proves something.

All that said, you may be right. I'm simply saying that it remains to be
seen.

Cheers,
Alan Gomes