Advice Goddess Free Swim
It's Friday night, and I'm wiped out. Book writing till late, which is a good thing. (They like when you turn it in on the date you said you would, or, um, thereabouts.)
So today...you pick the topics.
P.S. One link per comment or my spam filter will eat your post.
We're in the last hundred hours, and the many sarcastic Trump enthusiasts of Amy's blog are nowhere to be seen. Neither they nor the left have taken any lessons from these years at all. It was a waste of time.
Crid at January 16, 2021 9:04 AM
We're in the last hundred hours, and the many sarcastic Trump enthusiasts of Amy's blog are nowhere to be seen. Neither they nor the left have taken any lessons from these years at all. It was a waste of time.
Crid at January 16, 2021 9:04 AM
Most things are.
If you are looking to derive any personal meaning out of politics, you are going to be sadly disappointed,
Isab at January 16, 2021 9:20 AM
Might one "[lose] your mind on the subject of Trump"?
Crid at January 16, 2021 9:33 AM
• 'Merican food.
• It's fun to watch them stew in their own juices that way. (It ain't the colors, politics or preferences — or even the gender — of the players that makes the NBA such a bore.)
(I lied! It's the gender. But it's still nothing personal.)
Crid at January 16, 2021 9:58 AM
Might one "[lose] your mind on the subject of Trump"?
Crid at January 16, 2021 9:33 AM
I’m curious as to what meaningful lessons you might have derived from the last four years?
I’m sure my insights are much different from yours. I think you have to look back forty , not four. The big picture so to speak.
I think we are fortunate to have Orion here to lay it all out so plainly, but not in the way that he intends, I’m sure.
Isab at January 16, 2021 11:01 AM
College is a scam:
https://twitter.com/ceilidhhsmith/status/1349797975921315842
Sixclaws at January 16, 2021 11:10 AM
And obviusly the red one is enjoying this a lot:
https://mobile.twitter.com/420insidejob/status/1350139024552439810
Sixclaws at January 16, 2021 11:12 AM
You want the fortune cookie version?
Trumpistas & Wokies are identically violent, infantile, and self-destructive.
(But it's still amazing: Trump appeared on a teevee show where he was depicted as a talented businessman… and people believed it!)
Orion has never typed a word that [A.] couldn't have come from the press office of the CCP, and [B.] didn't come from a textbook in conversational ESL for visitors.
Crid at January 16, 2021 11:35 AM
I watched a two-hour show last night on the unsolved murder of JonBenet Ramsey in Boulder in 1996.
The show focused, in large part, on Lou Smit, a Colorado Springs detective who, three months after the murder, was asked by the district attorney's office to come out of retirement to assist with the investigation.
Most speculation centered on the Ramseys back then, that Patsy killed JonBenet out of anger or that their son Burke had killed her in an accident, and that the Ramseys were trying to cover it up. Two things that caused the police to be suspicious of the Ramseys were the unusual long-ass ransom note (at three pages, someone called it the “War and Peace of ransom notes) — which included the fact that the amount demanded was $118,000, the same amount of the bonus John had received that year and which, apparently, few people were privy to — and that there was apparently no sign of any forced entry.
Also, if you’re an intruder who kills a little girl and leaves her in the basement, and then you spend time to write a three-page ransom note using pen and paper from the house, while the family is in the house — because, one would suppose, you’re hoping the family would pay the money before discovering her body — why wouldn’t you follow through with the phone call you said, in the note, that you would make?
Smit, however, concluded that the Ramseys were not responsible for the murder and that the Boulder Police Department had been unjustifiably pursuing the them as suspects. In one of the crime scene photos, he noticed a small open window in a basement room and demonstrated, on camera, that he could fit through it. However, his intruder-through-the-window theory was dismissed because there were some cobwebs in some corners of the window space, the feeling being that any intruder couldn’t possibly have failed to destroy the cobwebs while climbing through. But it was pointed out on the show last night that it was unknown when the photo was taken and, if a little time had passed, the cobwebs may have been subsequently spun. From destroying cobwebs in places where spiders like to spin them outside my house, I can attest how fast those little buggers recreate them.
Anyway, I remembered that there were people back then pursuing the intruder angle but don’t recall the name Lou Smit or his specific arguments. Back then, I leaned toward the Ramseys-did-it-and-tried-to-cover-it-up belief but, after watching the show last night, I’m now more inclined toward Smit’s contention about an intruder.
Smit passed away from cancer back in 2010 but his daughter and others are still doggedly working on the case. If the murderer was indeed an intruder, I hope he is eventually caught through DNA evidence the way Joseph DeAngelo, the “Golden State Killer”, was finally tracked down after so many years.
The case against the Ramseys is certainly nowhere near as overwhelming as was the case against O.J. Simpson, who walked because his defense team succesfully sold the jury on the big lie that he was “framed” by the LAPD (just as Trump has successfully sold his supporters on the big lie that the election was “stolen” from him.)
I’m a rarity, a liberal who’s in favor of the death penalty. However, I feel it should only be applied in cases where there is absolute certainty about the murderer’s guilt so I wouldn’t have been in favor of it in O.J.’s case, had he been convicted, because while the evidence was overwhelming, there was not absolute certainty (e.g. multiple eyewitnesses in addition to overwhelming evidence.)
JD at January 16, 2021 11:57 AM
Wrote sixclaws:
College is a scam
Yes. Yes, it is. And that link is hilarious.
As is the lawyer for Capitol Insurrectionist Robert Sanford, who tried to "cancel" a cop by throwing a fire extinguisher at his head. It's clear Sanford has hired a man equal to his own brainpower:
“It’s very important to separate Mr. Sanford from some of the other things that were shown,” Latoison said during an appearance on CNN’s Cuomo Prime Time. “He was not walking around with a six-foot spear, he was not, you know, physically attacking Capitol officers–”
Eponymous host Chris Cuomo then interjected to note the specific allegations: “He hit ’em in the head with a fire extinguisher.”
To which the attorney visibly swallows before replying:
"Well, the first thing I’m gonna say about that is: this fire extinguisher was empty."
https://lawandcrime.com/u-s-capitol-siege/attorney-for-former-firefighter-who-allegedly-attacked-capitol-police-with-fire-extinguisher-this-fire-extinguisher-was-empty/
Kevin at January 16, 2021 12:04 PM
I still recall this Norm Macdonald barb from his time as host of Weekend Update on SNL:
JD at January 16, 2021 12:06 PM
Attorney Latoison: “Yes, I admit that my client rammed his car into that crowd of people, and it’s very unforunate that three of them died, but have you ever seen how much SPACE is inside of a car? I mean we’re not talking about a solid block of steel here. You can fit FIVE PEOPLE inside most cars, and a lot more than that if you’re a group of drunk frat guys.”
JD at January 16, 2021 12:39 PM
"Prediction: I say Trump wins in a popular vote landslide." - Isab at April 6, 2016 7:30 PM
"News for you Artie. Trump is going to be re-elected in a landslide. And Republicans will hold the Senate." - Isab at January 25, 2020 7:13 AM
"Trump will most likely win in a landslide." - Isab at March 25, 2020 6:52 AM
What I have learned is that it is possible for someone to be completely and utterly wrong for 4 years running and to maintain a belief that they have deep and meaningful insight into the world around them.
Artemis at January 16, 2021 2:57 PM
This world isn't 'around you', Orion. We're in America. It's none of your beeswax, kitten.
Crid at January 16, 2021 3:10 PM
Crid,
Your delusion helps me to understand why some conservatives do not understand how they lost.
When you encounter someone with a different political view point you conclude they are an "illegal".
You are in the minority Crid... most American citizens do not agree with you.
Artemis at January 16, 2021 3:15 PM
You're not American. Who gives a fuck?
Crid at January 16, 2021 3:19 PM
Why?... because some random lunatic on the internet says so?
The candidate I voted for won Crid.
All of my predictions with regard to the election outcome came true.
If you had paid attention you might have learned something.
Artemis at January 16, 2021 3:23 PM
You didn't vote in this election. You woke up with Xi's dick in your mouth (or worse).
Crid at January 16, 2021 3:27 PM
Crid... I understand now why folks such as you and Isab always seem to get everything wrong.
It is because when you don't like reality you find ways to ignore or dismiss it.
You cannot make accurate assessments of the future when you live in a fantasy land.
Despite your insistence to the contrary I did in fact vote in this election (as I have in past elections).
Like Trump you cannot seem to accept being wrong about anything. The only difference here is that Trump somehow managed to fail upwards to the Presidency with a loyal following... and you still just wallow in your own fetid excrement wondering why no one ever really loved you.
Artemis at January 16, 2021 3:39 PM
For Americans who care meaningfully about politics, especially Californians, here's a great radio appearance by Mickey Kaus, about 15 minutes: Click this link, and select
If you listen all the way through... That's right, he's a liberal. I like him anyway— He's sane in precisely the ways which can't be contained in 21st century partisanship.Crid at January 16, 2021 3:41 PM
> Like Trump
The things you say are just dumb.
I take it back! They're boring AND dumb. The things you say have nothing to do with American politics, and certainly nothing to do with mine... And no one on this blog, perhaps including our hostess herself, has been as loquacious with political opinions here as I have.
It's not your language. You don't know how to read this stuff, and you don't have the cultural coherence to make sense of it. You're like a farm puppy barking to earn the respect of a tractor.
It's pretty obvious at this point you're doing your work through translation software, and struggling to dress it up with (clumsy) idioms and (desiccated) cleverness.
Maybe it's personal, maybe it's a class assignment, but nobody cares. Go fuck yourself.
Crid at January 16, 2021 3:48 PM
Well of course you like him Crid... this "liberal" doesn't like labor unions and is against immigration.
You are just a xenophobic corporatist.
The rest it unimportant to you.
The guy is apparently well known for being on the same side as Ann Coulter... what makes him so "liberal" again?
Artemis at January 16, 2021 3:48 PM
Exactly. You don't understand spoken-word English.
Crid at January 16, 2021 3:55 PM
Crid Says:
"The things you say are just dumb."
Just because you do not like what someone is saying does not make it "dumb".
What is dumb is constantly being wrong... which you are.
Your insistence that what happened at the Capitol was not a coup or an insurrection for example was extremely dumb.
My claims that you were wrong have been corroborated by law enforcement personnel present during the attack, by prosecutors investigating the criminal activity after the fact, and top military officials with access to all of the relevant intelligence related to the insurrection.
The problem you have here Crid is that no matter how "dumb" you insist I am... your consistent lack of clarity on events such as this (along with a repeated history of being utterly blind to what is going on around you) would force us to conclude that you significantly less intelligent than you give me credit for.
The point is that relative to me you have the intelligence and insight of a mold spore.
Artemis at January 16, 2021 3:56 PM
"Prediction: I say Trump wins [the 2016 election] in a popular vote landslide."
2016 popular vote result
Trump: 62,984,828
Clinton: 65,853,51
Well, I guess that prediction was off by just a little.
Of course, the imagery was fairly accurate. Four years of the Trump presidency was like a massive mudslide, destroying much in its path.
JD at January 16, 2021 3:58 PM
Orion: Ruff! Ruff!
Crid at January 16, 2021 4:03 PM
Crid,
This is what I mean... mold spores do not say "Ruff! Ruff!"... the animal you are trying to think of is called a dog.
Artemis at January 16, 2021 4:06 PM
Orion's crushed spirit.
Crid at January 16, 2021 4:07 PM
Crid,
What exactly is your end game at this point?
Surely you have to realize that you're basically a joke to me, right?
If your goal has been to run me off, certainly you cannot be so stupid as to imagine anything you are doing is going to work.
If your goal is to bother me, certainly you realize by now that making fun of you is fun for me.
So what's your exit plan here?... you cannot exactly save face at this stage... time isn't on your side either as I'll be alive and kicking long after you are dead and buried.
If you tell me what you are trying to achieve I can probably give you some useful advice... because right now it just seems like you are flailing.
Artemis at January 16, 2021 4:17 PM
It's almost like you didn't listen to the radio clip! Because you don't know how.
Chinese annoyance— Sexless, submissive, oblivious, compliant.
Crid at January 16, 2021 4:19 PM
Crid,
I've pretty much got you figured out politically at this point... xenophobic corporatist... that about sum it up?
Artenis at January 16, 2021 4:24 PM
You can't comprehend spoken English and are learning to read through translation software: Sum it up?
Crid at January 16, 2021 4:34 PM
Even the timings of your responses seem suspect, as of you were looking at the page at ten-minute intervals. Class project, nothing personal.
You don't have any personal beliefs, only the assigned ones.
This is fun.
Crid at January 16, 2021 4:39 PM
The Biden commies pretend to adore.
Crid at January 16, 2021 4:45 PM
Voters for Biden from completely different nations love this.
Crid at January 16, 2021 4:48 PM
Crid Says:
"Even the timings of your responses seem suspect..."
Says the person who posted 4 times within 15 minutes and no responses in between:
Crid at January 16, 2021 4:34 PM
Crid at January 16, 2021 4:39 PM
Crid at January 16, 2021 4:45 PM
Crid at January 16, 2021 4:48 PM
Good grief you make this too easy.
Artemis at January 16, 2021 5:57 PM
You're not American, so who cares?
Crid at January 16, 2021 6:32 PM
For Amy.
Crid at January 16, 2021 8:01 PM
Crid,
Did you learn all of your communication skills from a primer on propaganda?
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20161026-how-liars-create-the-illusion-of-truth
"Repetition makes a fact seem more true, regardless of whether it is or not. Understanding this effect can help you avoid falling for propaganda, says psychologist Tom Stafford."
I have never seen someone be wrong so repeatedly and so consistently over such a long period of time.
I'd say it was impressive, but your delusions aren't even that clever.
Artemis at January 16, 2021 11:22 PM
It's all irrelevant, Orion. You're not from America, you've never been here, your thousands and thousands of words are weightless.
Crid at January 17, 2021 12:16 AM
Crid,
No one here or anywhere else is all that interested in your subjective assessment of objective reality.
Artemis at January 17, 2021 12:50 AM
The phenomenology of lesser nations doesn't amuse.
Crid at January 17, 2021 1:45 AM
I fucking hate it when threads end up an argument as to Artemis's nationality, sex, or any other personal detail.
Either respond to her points or ignore them. But these weird thread derailings are annoying.
Nicole Krieger at January 17, 2021 2:18 AM
Nicole,
Thank you.
Artemis at January 17, 2021 7:14 AM
Her "points" are a posture, a derailment by nature. From the very first appearance it was a con. No Orion contribution can be regarded as sincere. Orion degrades the forum. That's always pissed me off.
You want "her" taken seriously. "She" hasn't earned that courtesy.
Crid at January 17, 2021 7:43 AM
If you want imaginary friends, Nic, you shouldn't come here.
Crid at January 17, 2021 7:51 AM
Then ignore her.
I come here for interesting discussions. 20 comments of speculating about Artemis's personal life isn't it.
It's very disappointing to see that several comments have been added to a thread I like, and to find out it's just a bunch of this crap.
NicoleK at January 17, 2021 8:01 AM
Nicole, I agree.
It would be nice if Artemis simply ignored the baiting.
However, it would be even better if the person doing the baiting — the constant infantile baiting — ceased doing it.
I remember another message board I was on about twenty years ago, divided into sections on music and politics. In the politics section most of the people were liberals with one libertarian. The libertarian guy was almost constantly being attacked and baited by a couple of the liberals, one in particular, a guy who fancied himself the top dog in the politics section (which is similar to the person doing the attacking and baiting here.)
But the libertarian guy never responded to the constant provocation and I admired him for it because I think it’s a natural response to feel compelled to respond when you’re being attacked.
JD at January 17, 2021 8:08 AM
Not surprised to recall that Nicole had abandoned Boston for cheerier climes overseas. For Ivies most of all, it's just about pulling the levers....
Crid at January 17, 2021 8:13 AM
…Joined by the occasional useful idiot.
Crid at January 17, 2021 8:14 AM
I don’t know if Professor Bumper Stickers, aka Artemis, is a woman, man, or some sort of weird genderless hybrid (personally, I suspect adjunct professor at a third rate college waiting in vain for his exalted elevation to a tenured position at the Ivy League level... he’s been very careful not to leave an Internet trail that could derail him at some future point...obsessive about it actually) but here’s what I do know, never once in all of these years has “it” ever written a post, or linked to piece that is anything other than the warmed over pap served up by the NYT. At least Crid posts interesting stuff. That piece at Tablet was thought provoking. Thanks for the link, Crid. I would suggest Dr. Stickers read it, but I think we all know by now that “it’s” incapable of taking in perspectives that don’t conform with “its” predigested NY Time’s/late night television host approved worldview.
Is Crid infuriating at times, sure, but at least he’s genuine, as are many of the other commenters here, and that’s why I come out here every day. Okay kids, now it’s time to cue the 1,500 word rebuttal from Stickers that I will not read....
Sheep Mom at January 17, 2021 12:40 PM
JD Says:
"It would be nice if Artemis simply ignored the baiting."
It honestly isn't quite that simple.
I tried this approach for a long while, but the problem was Crid was bound and determined to destroy any comment section I was a part of.
You can read all about his plan here in a thread I am not even a part of:
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2015/03/twinkie.html
"Yes, and it's kinda relevant. 85%-97% of readers would presume that I'm the troll and that Little Arty is the tortured urchin, because my aggression is naked and shameless, while his is defensive and needy." - Crid [CridComment at Gmail] at March 3, 2015 11:23 AM
That thread is from 5 years ago. I started off trying to ignore Crid, which is why he calls my "aggression"... "defensive".
Crid has been up to this nonsense for more than half a decade. At some point I decided that since he wasn't going to stop I might as well have fun with it and make fun of him.
Again... I'm not even in that thread. He's just casually discussing how he is on a mission to make some random internet commenter disappear by constantly attacking them.
Artemis at January 17, 2021 1:45 PM
NicoleK Says:
"Then ignore her."
I've been instructing Crid to do that for years. That isn't in his mission statement though.
Crid decided years ago that he would rather lay waste to any thread I post in than let other people on this blog enjoy a conversation on a topic they are interested in.
Artemis at January 17, 2021 1:55 PM
Inspiring video of heroic patriots trying to save our country.
JD at January 17, 2021 1:59 PM
Sheep Mom, what’s your opinion of Trump?
Also, what are your sources for news/information?
JD at January 17, 2021 2:15 PM
JD,
I think you are starting to get a much clearer picture of what is going on around here.
Artemis at January 17, 2021 2:19 PM
Sheep Mom Says:
"he’s been very careful not to leave an Internet trail that could derail him at some future point...obsessive about it actually"
This is the internet Sheep Mom... there is nothing "careful" or "obsessive" about just leaving comments anonymously.
I don't have the foggiest clue who you are or what you do for example. Is that because you are being "careful" or "obsessed"?
You're problem has always been that you are a typical conspiracy theory thinker... I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if you were onboard with all of that Qanon nonsense.
If you see plots and schemes so readily in the fact that you don't know who someone is that you are chatting with on the internet then you will see them in anything.
Artemis at January 17, 2021 2:40 PM
At some point I decided that since he wasn't going to stop I might as well have fun with it and make fun of him.
I’ve always loved the saying: Never wrestle with a pig. You get muddy and the pig loves it.. (There are numerous variations.)
The problem is that you’ve giving the narcissist what he wants: attention. Narcissists crave that.
Let the narcissist flail away with his constant infantile baiting and ad hominen attacks. If he continues to do that — and he almost surely will — perhaps others here will tire of it just as Nicole has.
JD at January 17, 2021 2:40 PM
*your
Artemis at January 17, 2021 2:40 PM
JD,
You're just going to have to trust me on this one.
Crid's goal in this case isn't simply personal attention... it is about a nexus of control.
Artemis at January 17, 2021 2:43 PM
JD,
As a matter of fact, I suggest you read the following article:
https://www.winning-teams.com/narcissism_control.html
"The narcissistic personality manifests itself in the narcissist's behavior. He (or she) will seek to dominate every individual and every group with which he interacts. The narcissistic personality and its obsessive desire for control is not about control just for control's sake, but an essential defense against the risk of receiving a narcissistic injury; a blow to the ego or self-esteem."
Ignoring Crid does not inflict narcissistic injury upon him.
Only consistent blows to his ego will compel him to change course.
If he feels he has support he will continue.
That is why he is trying to explain himself to NicoleK.
Artemis at January 17, 2021 2:46 PM
Sheep Mom, I have another question for you. Let's say you're at dinner with your husband (or boyfriend...or, if you're a lesbian, your wife or girlfriend.)
The waiter brings your dishes but they're not what you ordered. Your husband/boyfriend/wife/girlfriend sneers in disgust and then loudly and angrily belittles and berates the waiter: "You idiot, ... blah...blah...blah"
How would you feel about that?
JD at January 17, 2021 2:49 PM
In another country, you're beyond conscription. Even my loyal, unquestioning servant Sheep Mom can't reach out that far. Nexy-nexy!
Crid at January 17, 2021 3:05 PM
Awwwww. Isn’t that cute? Stickers has a boyfriend and he wants to know if I have the password to their super secret Lefty club!! That’s how narrow your minds are. You want me to show my papers before I can have an opinion. You need to assess my loyalty to the Party isn’t that right, Comrade JD? Newhouse is right, everything is broken and you are both an example of that brokenness. If the question was honestly meant I would answer it, but since it’s just an attempt to “flatten” me, I think I will pass on the opportunity.
Sheep Mom at January 17, 2021 5:23 PM
JD,
Have you learned anything from this interaction with Sheep Mom?
Artemis at January 17, 2021 6:00 PM
NicoleK,
I doubt it was lost on you, but let's be clear what Crid just told you:
"...Nic, you shouldn't come here."
Basically, if you don't support his campaign to ruin every thread I participate in... then you might as well go too.
Artemis at January 17, 2021 7:06 PM
It's more that (stateside) Americans dislike being told not to communicate. Cura te ipsum: If comments don't enrich, inspire, ennoble and amuse, don't read them… Right?
'Free country' thing.
Crid at January 17, 2021 7:32 PM
That’s how narrow your minds are. . . . If the question was honestly meant I would answer it, but since it’s just an attempt to “flatten” me
Sheep Mom, it's very narrow minded of you to judge that my questions weren't honestly meant.
You're certainly not alone in this, of course. It's not uncommon for people to act in a particular way -- such as being narrow-minded -- while criticizing others for being that same way.
JD at January 17, 2021 9:54 PM
Crid Says:
"It's more that (stateside) Americans dislike being told not to communicate."
So naturally you spend your time on random internet blogs telling people who is and who isn't allowed to participate.
Look Crid... you aren't actually fooling anyone here except for those who are easily distracted by frippery or trumpery.
I've seen you fawn over international F1 drivers like a school girl smitten with a member of a boy band.
You pretend you have this overwhelming belief in American exceptionalism... but if Michael Schumacher showed up at your door you'd be on your knees begging to lick his taint and have him call you his little piggy in German.
Artemis at January 17, 2021 10:37 PM
Only consistent blows to his ego will compel him to change course.
Artemis, how many pointed barbs have been hurled at Trump over the past four years? Countless.
Has that put any dent in his massive ego? Almost certainly not.
Has that compelled him to change his behavior? Not in the least.
The narcissist is very similar to Trump (who is, of course, an über-narcissist.)
JD at January 17, 2021 11:10 PM
JD,
The worst thing that has happened to Trump thus far has not been the lack of attention... but his lack of a platform.
Despite his loss of twitter access he still sees his face all over the news.
He knows he is getting massive amounts of attention, but the attention is one where he has no ability to exert any social control over anyone.
That is the worst thing that can happen to a narcissist. Not simply to be ignored, but to have to come to grips with the reality that they are being made fun of and have no true recourse.
For example, Trump will likely be called in to testify before Congress under oath during his second impeachment hearing... he will be watched by millions... but I guarantee that he doesn't want to be seen in an environment where he weak and impotent.
Artemis at January 17, 2021 11:23 PM
In the NYT,
JD at January 17, 2021 11:28 PM
JD,
As a matter of fact, this is what Trump looks like when he speaks under oath in court:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3hdtfd9YcU
You'll note none of the bluster... he constantly cites physical failings, such as being unable to see or remember things.
He's going to be stuck between a strong desire to seem strong... and an even stronger desire not to further incriminate himself.
His base will get to see their golden calf gelded on live television. That is what lies in his future and he is none too happy about any of it.
Artemis at January 17, 2021 11:32 PM
The worst thing that has happened to Trump thus far has not been the lack of attention... but his lack of a platform.
I agree, but my point was that four years of attacks on Trump haven't caused him to change his behavior.
This isn't Twitter and the narcissist is not going to lose his platform.
For me, I've been on message boards with people like that -- I'm on another one right now -- and I find it to be a waste of my time to respond to them. But you may actually enjoy responding and, if that's the case, then I certainly understand why you'd want to continue.
I'm not to going to try to persuade you any more. I just wanted to offer my opinion.
JD at January 17, 2021 11:41 PM
His base will get to see their golden calf gelded on live television. That is what lies in his future and he is none too happy about any of it.
Yes, he probably isn't happy about it but I don't think seeing him that way is going to make any difference to the vast majority of the people in his base. They worship the guy.
I'm outta here...going cross-country skiing early tomorrow morning in the Cascades.
JD at January 17, 2021 11:46 PM
"an über-narcissist.) "
I imagine narcissists would enjoy Lyft as well.
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at January 18, 2021 12:24 AM
JD Says:
"I agree, but my point was that four years of attacks on Trump haven't caused him to change his behavior."
Right, but I think the issue here is that the attacks were consequence free.
Trump has more or less lived a consequence free existence for his entire life.
That is essentially the problem. People like Trump only respond to consequences.
"I'm not to going to try to persuade you any more. I just wanted to offer my opinion."
I understand and I want you to know that in general I agree with you.
What I have witnessed going on here over the last decade or so is a phenomenon that I have been trying to figure out how to best push back against.
This blog used to have a very good mixture of people with differing political perspectives. Overtime what happened however is certain segments of the blog became extremely belligerent with anyone and everyone who they did not see as sufficiently conservative.
You just experienced some of that yourself with Sheep Mom. You just asked some reasonable questions in an effort to understand where she was coming from... to generate some possible common ground or identify areas of agreement that you could then branch off from.
The response you received in return was aggressive and dismissive... all the while she tried to describe herself as a victim of an attack that never took place. She preemptively attacked you while claiming to be the victim.
I have seen dozens and dozens of thoughtful and interesting posters driven off never to be seen again by these assholes.
They don't even tolerate new people contributing to conversations and run them off as quickly as possible if they don't appear sufficiently pure in their conservative ideology.
It's not as simple as just ignoring those types of people.
Artemis at January 18, 2021 12:33 AM
JD Says:
"Yes, he probably isn't happy about it but I don't think seeing him that way is going to make any difference to the vast majority of the people in his base. They worship the guy."
They are a fickle bunch. They worship him because they hold a false image of him in their head.
They are true believers... but reality is going to smack them in the face after the 20th when they realize that he is not President anymore and has absolutely no power or influence.
His creditors will be coming for him, he will be buried in legal problems both criminal and civil... the image they worship will be destroyed.
The folks who attended Trump university worshiped him too... until they eventually realized they were conned.
The loons are already concocting new conspiracy theories that call Trump a Democrat secret agent:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35066940
I suspect that once they realize nothing they were expecting will actually materialize they will turn on Trump in seconds and blame his existence on the left.
Artemis at January 18, 2021 12:43 AM
> you fawn over international
> F1 drivers
Your insults have been extremely personal for the past few months, bearing on comments having nothing to do with any of the topics directly under discussion, and demonstrating essentially scholarly research into discussions on Amy's blog over last sixteen and a half years, as if indexing thousands of topics.
No one has ever cared so deeply, neatly cataloging the the kaleidoscopic horizon of my observation and quotidian trivia… All for a guy with a laptop, distracted by important projects, but with a lot of spare time, who enjoys having unremarkable beliefs sharpened by strangers.
You're smitten, and I'm flattered!
It's weird, though.
And it swings the needle back toward a wheelchair/institutionalized theory. No school, military or political enterprise would pay for you to squander attention on my howlingly mundane blog comments, especially as misinterpreted through a translation service. Ask around: I'm not that interesting. (For example, in your culture, the preceding two sentences will be interpreted as confession of shameful weakness, rather than Western expression of sincere humility.)
Suburban residential facility near Bangalore.
Crid at January 18, 2021 6:13 AM
> I imagine narcissists would
> enjoy Lyft as well.
We do! For about five years when flying twice a month and then once a week from LAX, it was a Godsend… It was the golden years for Lyft, before the regulators fucked it up. It arrived in Los Angeles just when it was needed.
Crid at January 18, 2021 6:16 AM
Crid has been plying a theory that Artemis is a non-native user of English. To me he just sounded clinical, with a gloss of erudition. Here's part of a rebuke against Conan the Grammarian, turgid with syllables - 6 months ago:
"In order to really understand the cultural shifts soon to emerge one must simultaneously understand the technological changes soon to take place coupled with a comprehension of the future needs of generations not your own."
But witnesss this recent work:
"You pretend you have this overwhelming belief in American exceptionalism... but if Michael Schumacher showed up at your door you'd be on your knees begging to lick his taint and have him call you his little piggy in German."
There's more meat here, more color. I do believe that the gentle prodding offered on this blog has helped Artemis develop into a more well-rounded writer. CtG, Crid, and others deserve some credit.
Spiderfall at January 18, 2021 9:29 AM
How dare you. We cannot be held accountable.
It's merely his/her updated translation software package.
Besides, it's nonsensical: What does Michael Schumacher have to do with the fact that the United States is far and away the finest nation the Earth has ever hosted, with a culture constituting (essentially) the source code for responsible civilization evermore?
This is one of those things where the weirdness — let alone the weakness — of arguments from overseas shows by comparison exactly how vigorous and cleansing our discourse can be. It's instructive to imagine being in a culture where such parries are respected.
Crid at January 18, 2021 9:43 AM
Spiderfall, To me Artemis’s work oozes copious verbatim plagiarism of Vox, and other progressive pretentious pubs.
I have never seen an original thought or metaphor in it’s writing and never will. Everything has been lifted, even the juvenile insults.
JFW at January 18, 2021 1:23 PM
Crid Says:
"Your insults have been extremely personal..."
As I explained to JD... I started off ignoring you... but you didn't like that much either.
So now I just make fun of you because you are a ridiculous person.
Artemis at January 18, 2021 4:48 PM
Spiderfall,
A good communicator tailors what they write specifically for the audience.
Crid doesn't understand nuance or logic or reason... he is only capable of processing raw emotion and invective.
Artemis at January 18, 2021 4:51 PM
JFW,
Please do me a favor and show me one "original thought" on this blog.
The vast majority of what I see here is just regurgitated propaganda from right-wing ideologs and pundits.
This entire idea that anything I say needs to have never been thought of by any human being on the face of the planet before is a stupid standard.
You've probably never had an "original thought" in your entire life for example.
Artemis at January 18, 2021 4:55 PM
Crid,
I'll also note that in all of this you never once denied that you'd be begging Michael Schumacher to call you a little piggy... just saying.
Artemis at January 18, 2021 4:57 PM
See, that's not an American idiom. Chinese? Indian? Paki?
Institutional wheelchair? Someplace without a lot of people?
Crid at January 18, 2021 5:26 PM
Crid,
This is why I love you guys.
On the one hand I've got JFW telling me that I say nothing "original"... and on the other hand I've got Crid insisting that he cannot identify an existing source for what I am saying.
Since you probably aren't familiar with the term... this is known as "kettle logic". It's where you try and argue two things to try and demonstrate the same point (in this case that I am in some sense unintelligent)... but the arguments are mutually exclusive.
If you identify a source for what I am saying then my thoughts would be original... but if nothing I say is original then you should be able to identify a source.
You cannot have it both ways.
Artemis at January 18, 2021 6:17 PM
Good Lord, there were a lot of people out skiing today. But it was a beautiful sunny day in the mountains.
The response you received [from Sheep Mom] in return was aggressive and dismissive... all the while she tried to describe herself as a victim of an attack that never took place. She preemptively attacked you while claiming to be the victim.
Indeed, Artemis. Right out of the Trump playbook.
JD at January 18, 2021 6:35 PM
Remember how our Narcissist-in-Chief kept insisting Obama was born in Kenya?
JD at January 18, 2021 6:39 PM
> You cannot have it both ways.
Bunny, they're blog comments… We can have it as many ways as we want. You're going to have submit to the 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥™ eventually. Everyone does! Especially foreigners who don't use contractions like normal people.
Crid at January 18, 2021 6:44 PM
To me Artemis’s work oozes copious verbatim plagiarism of Vox, and other progressive pretentious...
Wikipedia: “The Edinburgh printer Archibald Hamilton started publishing The Critical Review in 1756 with Tobias Smollett as its first editor. The content was mainly book reviews, which were often long and favourable, with copious verbatim quotations.”
JD at January 18, 2021 6:50 PM
I imagine narcissists would enjoy Lyft as well.
Certainly a facelyft.
JD at January 18, 2021 6:55 PM
Crid Says:
"We can have it as many ways as we want."
As per usual the implied logical content went straight over your head.
When I say you cannot have it both ways there was the unstated implication that you cannot have it both ways while also be considered sane, rational, and living in reality.
Insane, irrational, and delusional individuals can and do hold mutually exclusive beliefs all the time.
All you are asserting at the moment is that as a deranged lunatic you can and will believe whatever you want.
Bully for you...
Artemis at January 18, 2021 7:12 PM
JD,
Glad you had fun skiing... I haven't had the opportunity to ski in a while, but maybe once the pandemic is over that will change.
As for your analogy to Trump constantly pushing birther conspiracies and later insisting that Obama didn't get good grades (despite him being the editor of the Harvard Law Review while he was in law school... which means he was at the top of his class)... you are right on point.
Whenever these folks cannot actually articulate a reasonable argument they resort to made up accusations.
It is just a symptom of their own insecurities and daddy issues.
Artemis at January 18, 2021 7:24 PM
JD,
Also... one would think that if I had ever been guilty of "copious verbatim plagiarism" someone could have cut and paste the text into a google search and call me out instantly.
I may be overly verbose at times... but I never plagiarize.
Whenever I quote any source I always provide attribution.
Artemis at January 18, 2021 7:29 PM
I have never seen an original thought or metaphor in it’s writing and never will. Everything has been lifted even the juvenile insults.
Yahoo Sports: From looks to the therapist office, it seems like everything has been lifted from the TV series.
JD at January 18, 2021 8:18 PM
Not necessarily. According to harvardlawreview.org:
Obama's appointment to the Law Review was one of those holistic consideration appointments. He was later urged to run and then elected President of the Law Review by his fellow editors, indicating he was well-regarded by them, but that was not a grade-based position.
Conan the Grammarian at January 18, 2021 8:25 PM
Copious Verbatim: Roman Emperor, 25 July 306 – 22 May 337
JD at January 18, 2021 9:24 PM
Here's part of a rebuke against Conan the Grammarian, turgid with syllables
I saw Turgid with Syllables a few years ago.
The opening band was Trampled by Turtles. Great show!
JD at January 18, 2021 10:06 PM
Conan Says:
"Obama's appointment to the Law Review was one of those holistic consideration appointments."
Do you actually have evidence to support this claim... or is this just something you speculate?
Furthermore, is your quote the criteria for the present day... or the criteria back in 1990?
Artemis at January 18, 2021 10:13 PM
Conan,
Once again I don't think you know what you are talking about:
According to the following article he graduated magna cum laude, which usually puts someone in the top 10-15% of their graduating class... needless to say, he did quite well:
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/02/us/02iht-letter02.html
"Mr. Obama graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law, was the editor of the Law Review and later taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago."
Artemis at January 18, 2021 10:21 PM
Grades have not been the primary consideration for selection to the Harvard Law Review since the 1970s.
From the Harvard Crimson:
Conan the Grammarian at January 19, 2021 5:49 AM
American norms are a continuing mystery to Amy's internet guests from around the globe.
Crid at January 19, 2021 5:59 AM
Conan,
That's all well and good, but you still haven't established exactly what the criteria were for in 1990... nor have you established what the criteria were by which Obama was admitted.
You are apparently making a racist assumption that he was some diversity addition without any evidence beyond your own speculation.
Let's even look at the current criteria you just quoted earlier:
"Forty-eight second-year students are invited to join the Review each year. Twenty editors are selected based solely on their competition scores."
20 of the editors are selected based only on their writing competition scores (i.e., grades don't count at all... just the competition scores)... the remainder are selected using both the competition score, grades, and a combination of other factors (which can take into account something like diversity).
It is a real stretch to presume that any of those selected in the categories that include grades are coming from the bottom of the class regardless of who we are talking about.
Furthermore, as I have already demonstrated he was in the top 10-15% of his class per his graduation honors.
Obama did extremely well in law school based on all of the available evidence.
Was he number 1 in his class... the evidence indicates the answer is no... because he would have to have been at least summa cum laude to hold that distinction.
He was still in the top of his class in addition to being the President of the law review.
Your disdain against things like affirmative action therefore have no place in this particular conversation.
Artemis at January 19, 2021 6:44 AM
You're packing a lot of assumptions into that, Artie. Wrong assumptions. I did not indicate a "disdain against things like Affirmative Action," Artie.
By the way, "Affirmative Action" is capitalized as a proper noun when referring to the government program by that name.
And no, I'm not going to give you the specific criteria for being appointed an editor of the Harvard Law Review in 1990. It's enough that I supplied proof that the criteria were not entirely grade-based by then, as you alleged they were.
By the way, Obama was elected president of the Law Review in February of 1990, so his appointment as editor was in 1989, at the end of his first year of law school. And no, I'm not going to supply you with the specific criteria for that year either.
Obama's writing has always been his weakest point as a scholar. So, it makes sense that a good student with less-than-stellar writing skills might be appointed under a criteria other than a good showing in the writing competition. As Politico put it, "As president of the Harvard Law Review and a law professor in Chicago, Senator Barack Obama refined his legal thinking, but left a scant paper trail. His name doesn't appear on any legal scholarship."
I've never alleged Obama got bad grades or was not smart. You'll also note that I said he was "well-regarded" by his fellow editors and voted president of the Law Review, an honor that brought with it myriad opportunities after graduation and would not have been bestowed upon a dunce. The competition for such an honor would have been intense.
You've pigeon-holed me in your mind, Artie, based on your own biases. You're arguing based on those biases and not on what I'm saying.
Conan the Grammarian at January 19, 2021 8:15 AM
Conan,
The only one here arriving with assumptions is you.
"And no, I'm not going to give you the specific criteria for being appointed an editor of the Harvard Law Review in 1990."
Because you don't know what they are... so you are making assumptions.
"By the way, Obama was elected president of the Law Review in February of 1990, so his appointment as editor was in 1989, at the end of his first year of law school. And no, I'm not going to supply you with the specific criteria for that year either."
Because you don't know what they are... so you are making assumptions.
"Obama's writing has always been his weakest point as a scholar... His name doesn't appear on any legal scholarship."
So you have no evidence of his writing ability based on the lack of authorship... therefore you assume that it is a weak point...
"I've never alleged Obama got bad grades or was not smart."
No, you never said it specifically. You simply argued against my correct assertion that he was at the top of his class.
The natural implication was that you were trying to assert that he wasn't or that it wasn't clear if he was.
Needless to say, your entire argument is based on assumptions of facts not in evidence and arguing against a position that you claim you have no stance on.
Nothing you've presented in this latest conversation is anything more than hot air.
Artemis at January 19, 2021 8:37 AM
Conan,
Also, the government appears to disagree with you. Take it up with the labor department.
"By the way, "Affirmative Action" is capitalized as a proper noun when referring to the government program by that name."
https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/hiring/affirmativeact
"For federal contractors and subcontractors, affirmative action must be taken by covered employers to recruit and advance qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans."
"Explains why people with disabilities should be included in affirmative action programs and what contractors' affirmative action obligations are pertaining to outreach and recruitment of people with disabilities."
My usage was completely in line with how the government itself refers to affirmative action programs.
Do you actually know anything?
Artemis at January 19, 2021 8:40 AM
In the phrase you quoted from the DoL, "affirmative action" was not used as a proper noun and, therefore, did not need to be capitalized.
On that very same page, "Affirmative Action" is repeatedly capitalized when referring to the specific government program.
You might want to brush up on your English there, Artie.
Conan the Grammarian at January 19, 2021 9:19 AM
I never did that, Artie. I argued against your assumption that making the Harvard Law Review was proof of his good grades.
As I showed, grades were no longer a significant criteria for all the editor slots beginning in 1981.
That he later graduated magna cum laude was not relevant to that point.
Conan the Grammarian at January 19, 2021 9:27 AM
Conan Says:
"On that very same page, "Affirmative Action" is repeatedly capitalized when referring to the specific government program."
Three problems there Coney.
They specifically say "affirmative action programs"
Secondly... the areas on the website where it is capitalized are are part of titles... the capitalization is not for the purpose you suggest:
"Affirmative Action and People with Disabilities"
"Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination Obligations of Contractors and Subcontractors Regarding Individuals with Disabilities"
Or are you suggesting we should always be capitalizing the phrases "People with Disabilities" and "Nondiscrimination Obligations" and "Subcontractors Regarding"?
The only locations where it is capitalized in the manner you suggest is consistent with how you capitalize titles for laws or other official documents. It isn't treated as you suggest elsewhere.
Here is even the law itself:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/41/60-2.1
"Who must develop affirmative action programs."
"Each nonconstruction contractor must develop and maintain a written affirmative action program for each of its establishments if it has 50 or more employees and"
"When affirmative action programs must be developed. The affirmative action programs required under"
The list goes on and on and on.
Thirdly... I never actually referenced a specific program... this is what I said:
"Your disdain against things like affirmative action therefore have no place in this particular conversation."
The more you pull this nonsense the more convinced I am that you actually know next to nothing about grammar style or rules.
Artemis at January 19, 2021 10:18 AM
Conan,
Also... before you start making stupid comments like this:
"You might want to brush up on your English there, Artie."
You might want to quickly double check that you haven't done exactly the same thing you are presently pitching a fit over:
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2019/03/isnt-donating-a.html
"It used to be that the ethnic kid or the inner city kid was looked upon and dismissed as an affirmative action admission." - Conan the Grammarian at March 26, 2019 5:09 AM
And before you insist it is somehow different because I was talking about a "program" and you were talking about "admission"... I will remind you that all I said was this:
"Your disdain against things like affirmative action therefore have no place in this particular conversation."
I make no reference to program or programs anywhere.
Artemis at January 19, 2021 10:21 AM
Conan,
Being a member of the law review at any law school provides a reasonable inference that the individuals are doing well.
If you want to argue it is not an absolute guarantee... that is fine but utterly nitpicky and meaningless.
Needless to say, Obama was at the top of his class, well regarded by his classmates, and held a prestigious leadership position.
That Trump thought he should question his academic accomplishments was due to his own deep insecurities that he cheated and bought his way into Wharton, where he was generally regarded as dumb as a bag of rocks.
Artemis at January 19, 2021 10:26 AM
Not pitching a fit at all, Artie. I just pointed out that when referring to the specific government program, it was capitalized.
I didn't actually say your usage was incorrect. You just assumed and then went ballistic. You're like a tiny dog when he hears the doorbell: Yap! Yap! Yap! Yap! Yap! Sometimes you ring the doorbell yourself just to see them go nuts.
==========
Never argued he wasn't. I was the one who pointed out that his fellow editors elected him president of the Law Review, Artie.
Conan the Grammarian at January 19, 2021 11:11 AM
Conan Says:
"I just pointed out that when referring to the specific government program, it was capitalized.
I didn't actually say your usage was incorrect."
Why is it whenever I talk with you I feel like I am chatting with an 8 year old who is playing the "i'm not touching you" game?
This is what you said:
"You're packing a lot of assumptions into that, Artie. Wrong assumptions. I did not indicate a "disdain against things like Affirmative Action," Artie.
By the way, "Affirmative Action" is capitalized as a proper noun when referring to the government program by that name."
You changed the capitalization within my quote and then decided to immediately follow up with how "Affirmative Action" should be capitalized.
What are you playing at here?
You weren't simply pointing out anything. You were attempting to correct me on something that didn't need correcting.
Now you're suddenly backing off after I've demonstrated that you were completely off base to begin with.
Just stop it already, you made a mistake.
Stop drawing circles on weather maps.
Artemis at January 19, 2021 11:21 AM
Artie, you're an idiot.
Conan the Grammarian at January 19, 2021 12:58 PM
Conan,
You're is a contraction of the words you and are.
You could have composed that sentence as "Artie, you are an idiot".
Just pointing out how contractions work for you.
Artemis at January 19, 2021 2:57 PM
I wonder what the record is for the number of posts on a thread on Amy‘s blog.
JD at January 20, 2021 10:57 AM
JD,
Meaningful and thoughtful interactions... or nonsense drivel where people are ineffectually searching for issues with punctuation?
Artemis at January 20, 2021 12:37 PM
Artemis, any thread where multiple people have posted on it.
There is a probably a thread somewhere with 500 posts all by the narcissist.
JD at January 20, 2021 8:46 PM
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