Rambling op-ed + dubious science + completely unrelated links + grinding axe

December 31, 2003 1:33 PM

Rambling op-ed + dubious science + completely unrelated links + grinding axe = bad post.
posted by PrinceValium to Etiquette/Policy at 1:33 PM (25 comments total)

Even though I contributed to that thread, I am inclined to agree.
posted by Blue Stone at 1:37 PM on December 31, 2003

me too...where's the hatchet? (although it could have been a better post if more than just the oped was presented--there are plenty of supporting links pro and con on redlining and discrimination in insurance--something that affects almost all of us in one way or another)
posted by amberglow at 1:45 PM on December 31, 2003

PrinceValium, et al, I completely disagree. The opinion held by the original poster will obviously be unpopular, however, no less valid. He/She wasn't trolling nor were they inflammatory. Teenage males are discriminated against when dealing with car insurance. Insurance rates do differ between men and women. Finally, race does play a role in determining rates. Sexuality is fair play, whether or not I agree with the premise.
posted by BlueTrain at 2:09 PM on December 31, 2003

from monju in the thread: "Well, obviously this "study" is complete bunk. The larger issue, discrimination in insurance, is important and worth discussing."

I tend to agree with the above and think it is an ok discussion, even though the linked story is crap and townhall.com hosts the guy that earlier quoted a metafilter post waaaaaay out of context.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 2:22 PM on December 31, 2003

there are plenty of supporting links pro and con on redlining and discrimination in insurance-

Some of them posted by amberglow in the discussion in question. : ) A fine example of walk along with talk.
posted by namespan at 2:52 PM on December 31, 2003

thanks namespan--and a happy new year to you! (i'm making a resolution tonight to do more of that) : >
posted by amberglow at 2:56 PM on December 31, 2003

Some parts of the discussion have been superb. My opinion went from "they shouldn't discriminate based on sexuality" to "they damn well should -- the entire business is about discrimination!"

The discussion is better than the FPP.
posted by five fresh fish at 4:24 PM on December 31, 2003

Thought it was a great discussion despite the lame link.
posted by IshmaelGraves at 5:20 PM on December 31, 2003

I completely agree with FFF -- I ended up with an entirely different perspective than I started out with. The FPP was crap, but the discussion is good, particularly the contributions from amberglow.
posted by LittleMissCranky at 7:50 PM on December 31, 2003

Maybe gay people die earlier: (that's a fair argument to have) actuaries need to make arguments based on whether or not early death benefits vs. prolonged geriatric illness costs are in balance. That is not what they do, currently.
posted by dash_slot- at 8:03 PM on December 31, 2003

In light of the questionable sources used by the columnist, I would agree that it was a weak FPP (despite the sometimes interesting dialogue that followed). I felt that the question he posed was worthy of discussion but, in retrospect, I'm disappointed that I did not look further into the sources used by the columnist. A useful lesson for me.

I was not trolling. In fact, I hesitated to make the post on the eve of a new year feeling that it might not be in the proper spirit of the day.
posted by treywhit at 8:34 PM on December 31, 2003

Butt fucking without a condom is high risk in the AIDS tainted homosexual community.
Cowering behind appropriated slogans of civility will not make it go away.
But, perhaps MetaFilter is not the best place to air out the backside of responsibility.
posted by the fire you left me at 10:29 PM on December 31, 2003

A post not unlike the Winnebago mentioned by Dr. Williams.
posted by hama7 at 6:01 AM on January 1, 2004

Perhaps MetaFilter is not the best place to air out the backside of your brain, the fire you left me.

I agree with the consensus: lame post, great discussion (with particular kudos to amberglow, and a happy new year to you too!).
posted by languagehat at 7:53 AM on January 1, 2004

So the post ends up being similar to a Britney Spears album. Everyone agrees it sucks but it sells a million copies and everyone has an opinion about it.
posted by treywhit at 8:12 AM on January 1, 2004

I don't have any opinion on Britney's albums; I've never heard one.
posted by mischief at 8:18 AM on January 1, 2004

mischief, Here's my opinion on Britney's albums, based only upon seeing their covers (and never hearing them):
First album: Kiddie Porn
Second Album: She's only good looking from certain angles.
Third album: Dumb ho.
As regards this discussion, I thought the both the FPP and the discussion were darned interesting, and exposed me to many different points of view on a topic I hadn't given much thought to. In this case, the end (interesting discussion) justified the means (dubious- to-some front page post).
posted by Faze at 9:27 AM on January 1, 2004

Makes me wonder then what you would say of Tina Turner.
posted by mischief at 9:56 AM on January 1, 2004

mischief, Here's the lowdown on Tina Turner: One of the least talented singers on earth, but a woman who has been with a lot of grit and survival skills. She has no African-American fan base, since she can't really sing, she just screams, and is sort of a female uncle tom (in the cliche sense) figure. She is patronized by tone-deaf whites, for whom she epitomizes big-leg savage sexiness, and in turn compliments white people by wearing straight hair wigs. I wish her all the best, but there is not a single song she has ever recorded that virtually any other African-American singer couldn't sing better. Ike Turner, who pulled her out of an audience at random, and more or less molded her into his foil, was the real talent in the family -- despite being rotten s.o.b. You asked.
posted by Faze at 7:25 AM on January 2, 2004

You never, ever do anything nice and easy, do you, Faze?
posted by adamgreenfield at 8:10 AM on January 2, 2004

Faze is my music critic of choice - fearless and honest. I couldn't agree more though, as happens with all good critics, I hadn't thought about it before I read what he has to say.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 8:26 AM on January 2, 2004

What Miguel said.

(Did I just say that?)
posted by dhoyt at 8:42 AM on January 2, 2004

Faze: ...and you got all that from a record cover? ;-P
posted by mischief at 8:54 AM on January 2, 2004

Ike Turner, who pulled her out of an audience at random, and more or less molded her into his foil, was the real talent in the family -- despite being rotten s.o.b.

Do you think Aline Kaminsky or Harvy Pekar's wife have the slightest idea of what their husbands do? In Kaminsky's case, she had some kind of vague, animal-like instinctual recognition that it might be important (after all, it makes SOME money), and that it's made her husband famous (which is what SHE wants to be), but outside of that, she doesn't have a clue. She comes very close to being the Linda McCartney of comic-dom.

Unfortunately for us, while we were still adoring their successful selves, the pressure became too much for them, and they went on -- with the exception of Paul -- to embrace failure in various forms: Ringo as a drinker, George by making crappy music, and Lennon by handing over his soul and talent to a wicked prostitute.

Share the misogyny.
posted by y2karl at 10:26 AM on January 2, 2004

...and VendettaFilter rears its head.
posted by dhoyt at 10:34 AM on January 2, 2004