Lileks: "grade-Z armchair wargaming" at the Huffablog
Today's "Daily Bleat"
Center-right ruminations follow, so youve been warned. And if these seem like far-right ramblings, you really need to get out more.
A few people wrote to ask why I linked to that shallow cup of froth on the HuffPo the other day; not a few asked why I condemned this but not that, which was the condemnable thing of the week for some. Fine. Consider it condemned. I should just come up with an all-purpose graphic of myself with my lips cinched tighter than a chickens rectum, with the words IF YOU THINK I SHOULD CONDEMN IT THEN I PROBABLY DO, because I am not a great fan of high-octane bile delivered via firehose 24/7. As I have said before, to no effect, I dont believe that people who disagree with me are BAD and EVIL and want the country DESTROYED. (Which is why its always amusing when the courtesy is not returned. The other day at the park I had a mild little conversation with a nice woman wearing a black rubber bracelet that said I DIDNT VOTE 4 BUSH, just in case the matter came up at this childrens birthday party; the moment she discovered I would be voting against Mike Hatch for governor a man she didnt particularly like the temperature dropped 95 degrees, and she excused herself. Because people like me are RUINING MINNESOTA, I guess, and whats worse is that were doing it intentionally. With foreknowledge of the disastrous consequences, which we want.) I think there are ideas that have unfortunate consequences, but for the most part theyre held by people who believe they will have fortunate outcomes. Im sure most people who read this site who disagree with me have the same opinion. We want the best, and the struggle to find agreement is only fruitful if we respect each others motives. You don't have to respect the arguments, of course, but you have to respect the speaker, right up until the moment when they confirm your suspicions and reveal themselves as an utter diq. After that, well, have fun. (Some people in the public sphere come conveniently pre-revealed, which makes them fair game.)
Posted by: Mike 2006-07-17 |