Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Anatomy of Debating a Fool on the Internet

1. I share a belief that not everyone agrees with. The topic's considered a hot button and often invokes and provokes reactions from both sides.

2. I'm told I'm wrong and then presented with claims which, right or wrong, had nothing to do with what I originally said.

3. I clarify that I'm specifically talking about the only point I made. I may, in fact, agree and say as much with some of the nonbearing replies. I ask for a response concerning my point, which is the only belief I shared while entering the thread.

4. My request for discussion on the point remains ignored while further evidence supporting that which I wasn't even talking about is presented.

5. I lather, rinse and repeat.

6. They now claim I said what I didn't say despite all evidence to the contrary being right there for them to read, plus assume that I believe or support other topics and non-sequiturs based on their own projection.

7. I start bangng my head into the wall, wondering the whole time why that doesn't convince them. I reiterate that I can live without changing anyone's mind, I just want a response on the original Goddamn point.

8. Having used their arsenal they resort to mockery, name-calling and other ad hominem attacks. When I point out that I of all people have so far gone this far without resorting to that I'm told that yes in fact I had. I can only assume they take someone presenting an opinion they disagree with as being an attack.

9. Knowing that the definition of Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results, I become certifiably insane.

10. They label me a Troll. Some block me.

11. I raise my long suffering eyes to the heavens. I finally give up and take a break from it.

12. Those close to me who weren't originally involved suddenly check it out: they too ignore the only point I made, the only one I gave a damn about, and berate or admonish me based on the original nonbearing responses.

13. I waste more energy defending myself against that which I shouldn't even need to be defending myself against in the first place.

14. They don't hear a word, but repeat their responses from #12

15. I hate humanity. I hate people, until I laugh at the next joke or thumbs-up the next bit of good news I read. I remain cynical but eventually soften up a bit in the interest of choosing battles and remaining on friendly terms with those receptive to a positive existence. I find someone who finally acknowledges hearing what I originally said. Once in a while they even accept that belief for themself.

15a. I'm even able to bite my tongue for weeks or months when FB links, updates, notes and comments from some of "them" continues to infest my feed.

16. Then, one day, seeing the wrong post at the wrong time, I wonder if this is the time I'll be able to make the point and have some feedback that stays on topic.

17. Return to #2 and continue.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Kickstarting my blogging again

I'm trying to get back into the swing of consistent writing. For the longest time Facebook's status updates and shared links have killed my writing, and the blogs have been covered in dust and cobwebs.

I think I'll start out small, and slowly progress to War and Peace.

Tammy's doing some fundraising for an awesome project over at Kickstarter. Please check it out. Contributers can get their name in the book, get a signed copy of the book, and even be a guest host on our radio show. Even out-of-towners would be able to do that.

She also links it in her greatly missed blog along with a little mini update.

Heads it's Armageddon, Tails the Apocalypse

Many's the time I've pissed off someone over politics. When it comes to that I'm an equal opportunist. To the Left I'm a Closet NeoCon, to the Right I'm a Libtard Moonbat.

They say that you must pick a side, Left or Right, because if you walk in the Middle of the Road you're bound to get hit.

Plenty of times I've suffered road rash, or had to pick flecks of bumper paint out of my skin. I think I still have a tire tread across my butt from the 90s.

At this point I'm usually good about inching just enough out of the way that a passing car misses me by millimeters.

Nonetheless I still get the occasional threat shouted at me as the car speeds away. I'll be given the bird, or have an empty beer can tossed at my head.

The Left wants to disown me when I mention being Pro-Life. They're not placated when I elaborate that I believe laws against abortion are counter-productive, and that it'd be less of an issue if the root causes leading to it were addressed and dealt with by society. It doesn't matter that I think pot should be legalized, Muslims aren't inherently evil, gay people should marry and raise kids, workers should have an easier time being made legal, people shouldn't die for lack of ability to pay for healthcare, etc.

No, I dare respect the sanctity of life - I do it without hypocritically singing the praises of Capital Punishment, The War for Oil, or wishing someone remove the homeless and put them out of sight out of mind. I do it without considering knocked up teenagers sluts. I do it without demanding a CSI investigation for every single period and miscarriage.

Something I've learned about the Left from swimming with them - these sharks will turn on each other in the blink of an eye.

The Right's no better. It doesn't matter that I'm with them on the Pro-Life Bandwagon. It doesn't matter that I don't think guns should be outlawed. It doesn't matter that I like soldiers and cops (when they're not acting above the law) and that I don't consider bruising from being handcuffed to constitute police abuse. It doesn't matter that I consider Jesus to be the Son of God who offered me Salvation. It doesn't matter that I think Government interfere's too much where it's not needed (smoking bans) and not enough where it is. It doesn't matter that criminals should be penalized in a manner that fits their crime.

It doesn't matter because I'm all for a person's right to be intimate with someone of either sex. It doesn't matter because I think Palestinians are human beings who are being slaughtered with America's blessing. It doesn't matter because I don't want my wife to die for lack of insurance or money. It doesn't matter because I think there needs to be a moratoriam on the death penalty and that it should be a consistent Federal, not State, issue. It doesn't matter because I think it's hypocritical to force the Pledge of Allegiance on children. It doesn't matter because I don't believe that Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, even Atheists aren't automatically going to hell just because they haven't accepted Christ.

As far as the Left's concerned I hate women, even though I've worked for them without gender-based issue.

As far as the Right's concerned I hate America, even though I publicly expressed my disgust at the people blocking the Ports of Olympia and Tacoma, and even though I've had plenty of blood-thirsty moments silently cheering footage of soldiers blowing things up.

When it comes down to it I can handle being challenged on a belief. I can take the ribbing, more or less, because I like to dig at people a little bit too and I take it in the interest of fair play. I also enjoy a healthy debate - when both sides stick to the subject without straying into ad hominem attacks (not always easy, and something I don't always succeed at.)

But when I'm given a blanket derision over my "politics" I wonder if the person really knows what exactly they're denigrating.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

No More Setlists

Despite the gap in time since my last post I have in fact been broadcasting The Think Tank along with Tammy many Sunday mornings from 10 to Noon on KAOS 89.3fm in Olympia and online at kaos.evergreen.edu - I just haven't been sharing the setlists.

If my two followers and the dozens of bots that put me within the top 20 pages of various search engines demand it I'll reconsider.

The Think Tank has a Facebook page - the weeks that Tammy T are in charge usually see the setlists posted there.

Maybe I'll actually get around to presenting some content again.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

May 23 Think Tank Setlist

Love Camp 7 - Philco-Bendyx Sunshine Company

The Magnificents - Ring Ring Oo Oo
Gene Dante and The Future Starlets - A Madness to His Method
Padre Pio - Madeline

The Features - The Temporary Blues
Venice is Sinking - Okay
Richard Thompson - Uninhabited Man

Dana Lyons - Barefooted Strangers
Dar Williams - Highway Patrolman
U2 - Heartland

Patchwork - Here at Bay
Michael Zapruder - Oh Cho Li
Michael Zapruder - On the Arm of a Burning City

Terry Scott Taylor - Papa Danced on Olvera Street
Michael Roe - The Itch is Back
Steve Hindalong - Eclipse

The Youth Choir - All Night Long
Julian Berntzen - In the House Where She Lives (Paint Your Days)
Lone Justice - You are the Light

Robyn Hitchcock and The Egyptians - A Globe of Frogs (Electric Version)
The Kinks - Rats
Mike Dumovich - Fly

Love Camp 7 - The Killers
Love Camp 7 - (Beware of the) Angry Driver (Yeah)

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Apr. 18 Think Tank Setlist

I've skipped posting two or three shows-worth of Setlists. If I ever get around to it I'll publish those. Course, you could always just tune in in the first place:

Sundays, 10 to Noon Pacific
89.3fm Olympia, and online at kaos.radio.org

The Kissaway Trail - SDP

Shout Out Louds - The Candle Burned Out
Hyperbubble - U.F.O. Beach Party
Goldfrapp - Dreaming

Caribou - Sundialing
The Apples in Stereo - Nobody But You
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Higher Than the Stars (clean version)

Canada - Record Function
The Classic Crime - Closer than We Think
Camper Van Beethoven - The Long Plastic Hallway

Palomar - The Planeiac
The Pack A.D. - Paper Bag
Page France - Chariot
Page France - Dogs

Robyn Hitchcock and The Egyptians - Vibrating
Rodeo Kill - Heart Break Away from Hell
Dana Lyons - I Was Wrong

Two Door Cinema Club - Cigarettes in the Theater
The Mountain Goats - You or Your Memory
Califone - 2 Sisters Drunk on Each Other

Lost Dogs - Grace is the Smell of Rain
Daniel Amos - Kalhoun
The Swirling Eddies - Hide the Beer, The Pastor's Here

The Kissaway Trail - New Year

Hyperbubble - Chop Shop Cop

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Mar. 7 Think Tank Setlist

Daniel Amos - Happily Married Man

Brooke Waggoner - Find Her Floods
John Prine - Unwed Fathers
Over The Rhine - Born

Joel Rafael - Talking Oklahoma Hills
Joel Rafael - Sierra Blanca Massacre
Shawn Williams - Receive

Cedar Avenue - Someday Soon
Lori McKenna - Mars
Spinn - Reckless

Nini + Ben - down to the Road
Darcie Miner - Vulnerability
Mary Black - Song for Ireland

Hyperbubble - Pictures of Paradise
Lawrence Arabia - Apple Pie Bed
The Besnard Lakes - And This Is What We Call Progress

The Sextons - Underground
Fictionist - Blue-Eyed Universe

A Weather - Lay Me Down

Mumford & Sons - Awake My Soul
Jason Masi - Balance & Pull

Daniel Amos - Dusty Road