The Al Realpolitik Institute of Sulfur Mining & Extraction

[politicus]

Hmm. So basically when the religionists get offended because someone performs some rather unique analysis that throws them into fits of dissonance, they come dump it here and try to pillory, in a manner of speaking, the individual? No surprise. Very expected behavior, I must say, if History is to be any guide.

There's a book called Why People Believe Strange Things, and it goes into all sorts of things, religion being one. If someone is going to believe strange things, I find it odd that they would be so hyper sensitive.

There are plenty of intelligent and coherent ways to make the atheist case, as David (DC) showed this "unique analysis" wasnt one of them.

[politicus]

Hmm. So basically when the religionists get offended because someone performs some rather unique analysis that throws them into fits of dissonance, they come dump it here and try to pillory, in a manner of speaking, the individual? No surprise. Very expected behavior, I must say, if History is to be any guide.

There's a book called Why People Believe Strange Things, and it goes into all sorts of things, religion being one. If someone is going to believe strange things, I find it odd that they would be so hyper sensitive.

There are plenty of intelligent and coherent ways to make the atheist case, as David (DC) showed this "unique analysis" wasnt one of them.

I think that point was not necessarily with what HockeyDude was saying, but DC's 'rebuttal' which was equally as poorly crafted.

Unique analysis can only refer to HockeyDude and there is no way DCs rebuttal was poorly crafted. It was sharp and to the point.

[politicus]

Tyrannical leaders are not "necessary". Chile would have been a much better country without the Pinochet years and China would have developed a lot faster without Maos disastrous policies.

[politicus]

My earlier comment notwithstanding, I do think that the site would be better off if Inks left his position. (The fact that the village idiot has dropped in to express his support for him only confirms this.)

A badge of honor I wear proudly!

And the Update saga is a true testament to that.

[politicus]

Anyway, this is a predictably dismal thread. The idea that Islam is uniquely violent - or that the forms of violence associated with the Islamic world are unique to it - is bogus and bigoted, but the well-intended defences of Islam that tend to get wheeled out (and have been here) are pathetically weak and all too often rely on bad history.

Yet another high handed judgement without feeling the need to elaborate and exemplify his critique or engage in a debate. Basically just: "I am so smart and you are all so  stupid."

Hits too close to home?

Is that a good burn? Its a standard line you can always fall back on if you have nothing really clever to say.

[politicus]

OK, I'll elaborate. You are exactly the kind of know-nothing unapologetically Islamaphobic bigot whom Al referred to, so it's not surprising you would offer a substanceless generic retort to his rather insightful observation.

Nonstandard enough for you?

That is incorrect, if you look at the thread Al's answer was:

Anyway, this is a predictably dismal thread. The idea that Islam is uniquely violent - or that the forms of violence associated with the Islamic world are unique to it - is bogus and bigoted, but the well-intended defences of Islam that tend to get wheeled out (and have been here) are pathetically weak and all too often rely on bad history.

Quote from: politicus on October 04, 2014, 11:49:35 am
Quote from: Sibboleth on October 04, 2014, 11:23:14 am
..but the well-intended defences of Islam that tend to get wheeled out (and have been here) are pathetically weak and all too often rely on bad history.

Me: "Saying Islam has a complex history and exists in various shapes is neither a defense, nor a display of "weak history". Its just a warning against the simplistic arguments made by many in this thread."

Al: "That's not what I was getting at."


And while I am not an expert on the topic I am not a know-nothing on the Islamic world, especially not the history of Islam.

Also, if you look at my two comments in that thread prior to Al's post it is pretty clear that if I was covered by Al's critique I could only be among "the well intended people trying to defend Islam".

[politicus]

interesting moderating strategy you have there, Badger.

I started off subtle, but then was asked for elaboration, which I gave.

I don't (or at least rarely) don't post things I'd infract, and don't infract things I might post.

False. I questioned the quality of the burn, I never asked for an elaboration of your motivation for nominating it.

As evidenced by your endless feuding with Phil you are just the kind of person that don't like to let your opponents have the last word (which would generally be the proper approach for a mod that is supposed to secure a good debating climate, not escalate conflicts). Even if you somehow felt the need to give a comeback you could easily have given a non-escalating reply such as "Yes, I think it was a good burn, because it was accurate and to the point", but instead you chose to go on the attack, as you also do every single time Phil provokes you.

I am a belligerent type myself, so I certainly understand you, but if you are the sort of person that just can't handle to let your opponents have the last word, then you should realize that you probably aren't the right kind of man to moderate a political internet forum and act accordingly.

(this is a test Badger - let's see if you can handle not replying to this post..)

[politicus]

Only 1 other McKinley voter? The whole reason he was shot was because he was too nice!

He was shot because he was seen by Revolutionary Anarchist Leon Czolgosz as a symbol of oppression. What did him being "too nice" have to do with anything?

Czolgosz had nothing against McKinley as a person. Seriously, they were greeting each other at a fair when the bullet was fired.

I don't think you understand how assassinations work.

[politicus]

There is, of course, the fact that the nebulous ideal of "free speech" is overrated,

In your case, I'm inclined to agree.

[politicus]

Context:

The State of Employment might be nice.

[politicus]

Consolate..

The word is consulate, the building in which the consul performs his or her duties.

Consolate is an obsolete form of the verb to console.

That was me trying to draw attention to the wrongly spelled thread title ("TX Man Tries To Burn Down Mexican Consolate"), so not a burn, but a misunderstanding.

[politicus]

I agree with you in substance, but you're not telling us anything we don't already know, and also 'I acknowledge I've broken your laws.  Thank you for sending Jesus to save me; please help me, Lord' is a terrible formula for a prayer.

Troll:  "YALL NIGGAS NEED JESUS"
Nathan:  "I can agree with the spirit of the sentiment, however I find that it is not simply the African American community that requires further spiritual sustenance."

[politicus]

It might have been intended as co-commiseration, but it does across as a burn.

lol

[politicus]

Of course, no prostitutes ever lied about their age. Nor are prostitutes ever minors.

The naive attitude of our cool kids to prostitution is pretty amusing.

Gustaf reminds me of Mighty Mouse:  "Here I come to save the day!!!!!!"

[politicus]

Have you ever heard of the concept of 'faith'? Its a useful one to remember when religion is discussed.

[politicus]

SPC had a serious head injury as a child and so has severe brain damage. As such it's usually best to ignore his inane and nonsensical ramblings.

[politicus]

Mild burn, but amusing:

Because he has quite a bit of breadth to most of his opinions, but most politically inclined people who listen to his arguments (see: most of Atlas) can see that there is no depth - only talking points. Defending our resident segregationist troll doesn't help either.

Exactly. Atlas really doesn't like his talking points infecting all our threads dedicated to Think Progress headlines.

[politicus]

Mild burn, but amusing:

Because he has quite a bit of breadth to most of his opinions, but most politically inclined people who listen to his arguments (see: most of Atlas) can see that there is no depth - only talking points. Defending our resident segregationist troll doesn't help either.

Exactly. Atlas really doesn't like his talking points infecting all our threads dedicated to Think Progress headlines.

Supporting civil unions isn't moderation anymore. Try again.

True, but irrelevant for the burn.

[politicus]

I know I'm probably coming across as having an unhealthy obsession with this Train vs Mikado debate on social change, but:

"But if you tax the rich, their chefs and housekeepers might be out of a job!  What gives you the right to cause the vulnerable to suffer, just for an idea?"

-Mikado

Train is on a roll.

[politicus]

Not a fellow traveler by any means, but RINO Toms response to what is plainly idiotic overgeneralization deserves a mention.

If you always thought of it as a blue state, you were just wrong.  So, let's stop there.

It's disturbing how many of you teenagers and college kids equate liberal with "cool," LOL.  If you want to think that way, fine; I can't stop you, and I have no interest in doing so.  However, there are several rich, entertaining and scenic places that vote Republican every once in a while, and it's frankly hilarious that so many of you think of Democrats as strictly enlightened urbanites and Republicans as backwards rural folk.  Ignorance is bliss, though!

The Republicans that aren't backwards Condeferate Degenerates are low-IQ religious culture warriors that are single issue (Abortion) voters. And yes, that includes the ones that are outside the South. I have yet to meet one that didn't fall into one of those categories.

Well shucks, let me introduce some!

My father is the CFO of a private hospital, and his education includes an bachelor's degree in Accounting and an MBA in finance.  He is pro-choice.  He is a Republican.

My mother is a professor of education at a liberal arts college, and her education includes a bachelor's degree in English, a madter's degree in education and a PhD in education.  She is pro-choice.  She is a Republican.

I am a recent college graduate with a degree in finance.  I am pro-choice.  I am a Republican.

My sister is a sophomore in college at Butler University in Indianapolis, getting a double major in marketing and finance.  She is pro-choice.  She is a Republican.

Glad I could broaden your horizons!!

Then again they may all be RINOs.

[politicus]

Yes, I remember the Night of the Long Knives, when the Nazi party infamously dropped Gregor Strasser off their parliamentary list and kindly informed Ernst Röhm that his faction was was no longer welcome in policy meetings. Great comparison Tender.