It finally deteriorated to this:
Barney, poor dumb Barney, you are quite simply a pompous moron. Someone perfectly content to seek out knowledge as long as it only agrees with your preconceived opinion. But you know what? I'm not going to have to worry about you because you're out of date. People like you are expired. You're views on life and the world are archaic and based on feelings rather than facts. You're nothing more than a protesting worm on the verge of being eaten up by the birds of knowledge around you and soon you will be nothing more than white stains on statues and cars. Your future is bird shit, Barney. And the nice thing about bird shit is it comes right off with a good car wash. And if you don't get my metaphor then let me put it simply: You'll be dead soon and and we won't be dragged down anymore by your ignorance and out of date beliefs. We will evolve and move on
Peace, love, tofu and sprouts to you, too, pal.
Hmmm, not me, but can't say as I haven't thought it sometimes. I must admit, I have observed that you only very subtly personally insult your foes. Impersonally, however, you are a rat's ass to some people's heroes and views.
ReplyDeleteMy modus operandi is to employ the most effective means to fight this current war for America's soul in any situation.
ReplyDeleteI never engage in ad hominem attacks.
ReplyDeleteNo, you're pretty good about that,
ReplyDeleteArthur Martine counseled in his magnificent 1866 guide to the art of conversation, “let your aim be to come at truth, not to conquer your opponent. So you never shall be at a loss in losing the argument, and gaining a new discovery.” Of course, this isn’t what happens most of the time when we argue, both online and off, but especially when we deploy the artillery of our righteousness from behind the comfortable shield of the keyboard. That form of “criticism” — which is really a menace of reacting rather than responding — is worthy of Mark Twain’s memorable remark that “the critic’s symbol should be the tumble-bug: he deposits his egg in somebody else’s dung, otherwise he could not hatch it.” But it needn’t be this way — there are ways to be critical while remaining charitable, of aiming not to “conquer” but to “come at truth,” not to be right at all costs but to understand and advance the collective understanding.
Read more at http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/03/28/daniel-dennett-rapoport-rules-criticism/
LITD likes this.
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