In his blog, Chuck says he's not going to delete me even though he thinks I'm politically wrong on pretty much everything. We still may move (Michelle and I) just because we don't want to see Chuck put in that position between us and his deeply hypocritical friend (who has apparently deleted his own blog for now in a fit of childish pique), even if his friend is totally misguided. We'll see. I left this response in Chuck's comments:
Posted by Observer at September 19, 2003 07:54 AMSomeday when you have the spare time (yeah right) and the mental energy to lose the blinders for a while, Chuck, you would be welcome to actually come over and have a discussion in my blog. There's a reason I'm kicking Doc's ass.
(Cue patriotic background music.)
It is because I am curious enough about the issues that I investigate things on my own rather than relying on what talk radio tells me. It is because I keep an open mind and can therefore choose the best among competing ideas rather than the one idea that happens to be endorsed by some interpretation of the Bible or some conservative blowhard or what Uncle Ron spouted off about last Thanksgiving. It is because I have the capacity to change my mind and admit when I am wrong.
It is because I have the facts, the logic, the intellectual integrity, a broad understanding of our constitution and its history, and the best interests of the greatest country in the world on my side. And I am absolutely 100% determined to see to it that mean-spirited, dumbass conservatives don't lead America into the gutter.
People like Doc *ALWAYS* resort to illogic, avoidance of issues, name-calling and a variety of other debating tactics that any accomplished high school debate team member could demolish (and I wasn't even on the debate team). It's the old: If the law is on your side, pound the law. If the facts are on your side, pound the facts. If neither is on your side, pound the table.
I respect conservatives who are intelligent and have principles. For example, if you are deeply pro-life, so much that the issue is everything you vote for, then I totally respect your vote and your opinion. Likewise if you are totally in favor of dismantling the New Deal and the Great Society because of some sort of libertarian philosophy (but I will insist you be consistent about it, which means disagreeing with just about everything else the Republicans do).
We can agree to disagree, respectfully. But I will always happily take the battle to conservatives who think and reason like Doc. Not because I expect to change any minds but because it is simply my duty as a proud American. Because I love America and I want it to be great.
And though Doc may attempt out of desperation to make it personal, it isn't. It's just politics. You have to keep a perspective (which I think you and Lauren do) about that sort of thing.
Comments on entries can only be made in pop-up windows while those entries are still on the main index page. Sorry for the inconvenience this causes, but this blocks about 99.99% of the spam the blog receives.
I think you two are ready for your own place anyway! We pay $35 for maindrault.com and $10/month for hosting with php. I'm sure you get $10/month worth of entertainment out of writing, or you would have quit by now.
It's a shame I missed that "doc" fellow, but I have Republican relatives for giggles. Except these days it isn't so funny.
Posted by: Shamhat on September 19, 2003 05:00 PMYou suck. You're dead.
Wait for it.
LOL! At what point does Doc eventually get it that you don't react to this kind of baiting? Lord, you'd think he'd figure it out by now!
Posted by: Perkusi on September 19, 2003 09:47 PMOrrrrrr, maybe, just maybe, there is a little light at the end of this tunnel and Doc is actually poking fun at himself. Since I don't really know, I can hope that's it.
Posted by: Perkusi on September 19, 2003 09:49 PMBut nonetheless, I'm making sure you get at least a few more comments on this thread, since the number of comments is the measure of a good blog, apparently. At least Doc insinuated as much in another discussion.
Posted by: Perkusi on September 19, 2003 09:50 PMwow... physical threats?
Posted by: Justmary on September 19, 2003 10:32 PMPathetic and sad.
I mean, what am I supposed to do, call the cops on the poor slob? Is posting public death threats on a blog even illegal? He's probably just drunk. Either way, not worth responding to at any level.
For his own good, he needs to put his blinders on, because if he's mad now and insists on continuing to read this blog, it's only gonna get worse. If he's got such serious anger management issues, he should just go live his own life.
I'm here to inform and have fun, not get into stupid flame wars (though I admit they can be fun for a while).
Posted by: Observer on September 19, 2003 11:04 PMComment posters on more widely-read blogs like Eschaton deal with this kind of stuff all the time. The most common response is just:
Smarter trolls, please.
Posted by: Observer on September 19, 2003 11:24 PMwell i was enjoying the one sided debate... =)
Posted by: eyeball on September 20, 2003 04:40 AMAww man, now I missed all the fun. :( I always thought Doc was a satire which I would have found really witty! I mean, it's so over the top, how could it be anything but a joke? Now if he's indeed real, I don't know whether to laugh or cry. :o ;)
Posted by: Conny on September 20, 2003 08:03 AM