If I state that there is a fundamental and philosophical difference between our positions, Brin states that I’m not providing facts. His commenters say that I’m loony and out of touch, clueless, and so such.

If I state facts, Brin will say that these facts are not real, honest, or what not. His commenters will say that I’m following a “script” and being loony and in need of “de-tox”.

If you had ever mentioned me and combined your arguments with mine, then they would have had the convenience of labeling both of us as being such and such, rather than having to read us individually and figure our individual responses.

For example, I did not make any claims about socialism or socialists or that Brin and goon squads were “socialist”. I made claims about the Democrats. Brin’s commenters made claims about voting for Democrats.

But suddenly Brin and Company want to claim that I’m somehow uttering insults about them being socialists. Gelle and Zorgan brought up socialism, not me. But Gelle’s arguments could not be savaged, cause he served, so that left me as the displacement target for all that they felt was wrong, but couldn’t challenge.

Brin was one of my favorite SF authors and I did think I could have a good conversation at his site, but instead I find myself walking on eggshells to avoid being banned, while I can be insulted at will by Brin and the other participants.

Brin’s site is a great example of neo’s Dancing in a circle post. I’d like to hang out and dance with the Brin folks, but I disagree with their status quo so I am cast out and with a fair amount of nastiness.

Bringing up the Iraqis and Afghans to fight for themselves, ensuring that totalitarian systems of thought do not rape the Earth and exploit their own people, are 100% consistent with the principle of order, stability, security, progress, and protecting ecological potential.

Brin doesn’t see it that, of course. But Neo-neocon does, even if she never read David Brin.

Link

Jamie — Me too.

NPR is being particularly egregious. I take grim glee at listening to NPR all the time in the car without pledging a dime to them, since the “National” part of their name is clearly not intended for me. It makes me feel that I’m cheating them just a bit – though I’m generally a TANSTAAFL type and pay my way without demur. (It’s “grim” glee because they eventually drive me to actual yelling at the windshield. Occasionally to the bird flipped below dashboard level. They’re infuriating, they are.)