The Diary—Old Hoax or New?

[Iconoclast]

No it really is on those who believe the diary is genuine to prove it. Especially considering the **** and bull story as to how the diary emerged.

To be absolutely clear here, if you make any assertion at all, the onus falls on you to demonstrate it. There is a difference between making an assertion and giving an opinion. Thus:

• "The scrapbook is an obvious hoax" is an assertion which requires evidence to back it up, whereas
• "The case for the scrapbook being authentic has not yet been supported by the evidence" is an opinion which carries no obligation to defend.

If you post an opinion, no problem. If you simply make bald assertions, please don't be surprised if you are asked to justify them.

Your other alternative is to be found at the end of your previous reply on this point.

[John Wheat]

The evidence that you knew what Caz meant was not obvious to anyone, unfortunately.

Those of us who are quite clever understand that what requires evidence is any assertion. The onus does not simply lie on the side that breaks the status quo (for example, "the scrapbook is authentic") but on the side of whoever makes an assertion. Any assertion. That is how argument has proceeded for many a long year now.

If I assert "There is no God", I have to offer up my reasons for stating so to justify my statement. I don't simply get to negate what to me may be untrue.

No it really is on those who believe the diary is genuine to prove it. Especially considering the **** and bull story as to how the diary emerged.

[Iconoclast]

The Oxford English Dictionary, Safire notes, takes this back to a 1934 quotation from the Proceedings of the Institute of British Foundrymen: "A splendid one-off pattern can be swept up in a very little time."

Almost fifty years after the fake diary. The expression is not found anywhere else, period.
Regards Darryl

I refer you to my post #194.

[harry]

One off,in that sequence,was a common Victorian expression.Maybe not in the contex it was used in the 'Diary',but could it have been suggestive to whoever wrote the diary?My usage does have a meaning.It refers to a particulat item.One off the top for example.

[Darryl Kenyon]

The Oxford English Dictionary, Safire notes, takes this back to a 1934 quotation from the Proceedings of the Institute of British Foundrymen: "A splendid one-off pattern can be swept up in a very little time."

Almost fifty years after the fake diary. The expression is not found anywhere else, period.
Regards Darryl