Comments on: Giving the Blogosphere a Bad Name http://poliblogger.com/?p=9931 A rough draft of my thoughts... Tue, 16 Nov 2024 04:25:28 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Gerry http://poliblogger.com/?p=9931&cpage=1#comment-604169 Gerry Wed, 10 May 2024 17:19:40 +0000 http://poliblogger.com/?p=9931#comment-604169 Fair enough, then the links to decorum are the more relevant. The mark of the moderate style is the call to be reasonable and not to raise one's voice. Appropriate for someone in power, for example a judge addressing the court, but here in the rough and tumble of civic debate to call for moderation is to call for silence from someone who feels oppressed. You can argue it isn't a good strategy, but when you dismiss the speaker because of it is a debate limiting move. Fair enough, then the links to decorum are the more relevant. The mark of the moderate style is the call to be reasonable and not to raise one’s voice. Appropriate for someone in power, for example a judge addressing the court, but here in the rough and tumble of civic debate to call for moderation is to call for silence from someone who feels oppressed. You can argue it isn’t a good strategy, but when you dismiss the speaker because of it is a debate limiting move.

]]> By: Dr. Steven Taylor http://poliblogger.com/?p=9931&cpage=1#comment-603203 Dr. Steven Taylor Wed, 10 May 2024 16:01:36 +0000 http://poliblogger.com/?p=9931#comment-603203 Actually, no: I wasn't trying to debate levels of funny. I was actually agreeing with you that Colbert is/can be funny. All I was trying to point out was that I wasn't defending Cohen because I was anti-Colbert. And my issue with vitriol and anger is with Digby, not Colbert (just to make sure I'm being clear). Actually, no: I wasn’t trying to debate levels of funny. I was actually agreeing with you that Colbert is/can be funny. All I was trying to point out was that I wasn’t defending Cohen because I was anti-Colbert.

And my issue with vitriol and anger is with Digby, not Colbert (just to make sure I’m being clear).

]]> By: Gerry http://poliblogger.com/?p=9931&cpage=1#comment-603112 Gerry Wed, 10 May 2024 15:40:01 +0000 http://poliblogger.com/?p=9931#comment-603112 So, are we going to debate levels of funny? That isn't really the point, is it? Ok, I'll have to post a couple of specific links, The first addresses the issue of why some find it funny and some do not without getting into degree. http://www.wealthbondage.com/2006/04/what_are_you_la.html This one addresses the ussue of decorum and good manners. http://www.wealthbondage.com/2006/05/good_manners_as.html Ok, one more on decorum in philanthropy: http://www.gifthub.org/2006/05/destitute_advoc.html Tutor addresses the issue of vitriol and anger as well. You are right that it is a weak instrument. Satire is better, but few have the skill to pull it off. Colbert was masterful in presenting his satire with the targets in the room and not letting them see him sweat. The hushed response of the audience is telling (see first link). So, are we going to debate levels of funny? That isn’t really the point, is it?

Ok, I’ll have to post a couple of specific links, The first addresses the issue of why some find it funny and some do not without getting into degree.

http://www.wealthbondage.com/2006/04/what_are_you_la.html

This one addresses the ussue of decorum and good manners.

http://www.wealthbondage.com/2006/05/good_manners_as.html

Ok, one more on decorum in philanthropy:

http://www.gifthub.org/2006/05/destitute_advoc.html

Tutor addresses the issue of vitriol and anger as well. You are right that it is a weak instrument. Satire is better, but few have the skill to pull it off. Colbert was masterful in presenting his satire with the targets in the room and not letting them see him sweat. The hushed response of the audience is telling (see first link).

]]> By: Dr. Steven Taylor http://poliblogger.com/?p=9931&cpage=1#comment-603075 Dr. Steven Taylor Wed, 10 May 2024 15:28:46 +0000 http://poliblogger.com/?p=9931#comment-603075 For what it is worth, I find Colbert to be funny and even found some of his WHCD routine to be funny. It wasn't as funny as many thought it was. It certainly wasn't so funny as to justify the praise (and the bile against those who criticize) that it has received in some quarters. The truth may not always be polite, and you may have a point on the triangulation issue (although the truth of the matter is, pure ideology doesn't sell too well in US politics), but vitriol and anger as a regular mode of behavior rarely accomplishes anything. Indeed, it is typically counter-productive. For what it is worth, I find Colbert to be funny and even found some of his WHCD routine to be funny. It wasn’t as funny as many thought it was.

It certainly wasn’t so funny as to justify the praise (and the bile against those who criticize) that it has received in some quarters.

The truth may not always be polite, and you may have a point on the triangulation issue (although the truth of the matter is, pure ideology doesn’t sell too well in US politics), but vitriol and anger as a regular mode of behavior rarely accomplishes anything. Indeed, it is typically counter-productive.

]]> By: Gerry http://poliblogger.com/?p=9931&cpage=1#comment-603072 Gerry Wed, 10 May 2024 15:21:46 +0000 http://poliblogger.com/?p=9931#comment-603072 The truth is not left or right and it doesn't have good manners. The left is justiviably insensed at being triangulated off the playing field by supposed liberals. All of you who did not find Colbert at all funny need to get lessons in satire. If you want to understand this better, you will read the posts and comments at Wealth Bondage. This message provided as a public service to the humor impared. The truth is not left or right and it doesn’t have good manners. The left is justiviably insensed at being triangulated off the playing field by supposed liberals.

All of you who did not find Colbert at all funny need to get lessons in satire. If you want to understand this better, you will read the posts and comments at Wealth Bondage.

This message provided as a public service to the humor impared.

]]> By: Dr. Steven Taylor http://poliblogger.com/?p=9931&cpage=1#comment-603071 Dr. Steven Taylor Wed, 10 May 2024 15:09:30 +0000 http://poliblogger.com/?p=9931#comment-603071 A fair point. And I concur: the usage of "enemy" as a common noun to describe those with whom we disagree politically has become far too commmonplace of late. A fair point.

And I concur: the usage of “enemy” as a common noun to describe those with whom we disagree politically has become far too commmonplace of late.

]]> By: ts http://poliblogger.com/?p=9931&cpage=1#comment-603069 ts Wed, 10 May 2024 14:35:45 +0000 http://poliblogger.com/?p=9931#comment-603069 Amazingly, Cohen falls into the same trap, albeit not quite as extreme, when he says this - "Now, though, that gullibility is being matched by war critics who are so hyped on their own sanctimony that they will obliterate distinctions, punishing their friends for apostasy and, by so doing, aiding their enemies." It has become commonplace to characterize someone whose views differ from your own as your enemy. That makes it easier to justify the kind of vitriol he is experiencing. Amazingly, Cohen falls into the same trap, albeit not quite as extreme, when he says this – “Now, though, that gullibility is being matched by war critics who are so hyped on their own sanctimony that they will obliterate distinctions, punishing their friends for apostasy and, by so doing, aiding their enemies.”

It has become commonplace to characterize someone whose views differ from your own as your enemy. That makes it easier to justify the kind of vitriol he is experiencing.

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