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

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

PrinceValium — Wed, 31 Dec 2003 13:33:17 -0800

Rambling op-ed + dubious science + completely unrelated links + grinding axe = bad post.

By: Blue Stone

Blue Stone — Wed, 31 Dec 2003 13:37:47 -0800

Even though I contributed to that thread, I am inclined to agree.

By: amberglow

amberglow — Wed, 31 Dec 2003 13:45:07 -0800

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)

By: BlueTrain

BlueTrain — Wed, 31 Dec 2003 14:09:27 -0800

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.

By: mathowie

mathowie — Wed, 31 Dec 2003 14:22:54 -0800

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.

By: namespan

namespan — Wed, 31 Dec 2003 14:52:19 -0800

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.

By: amberglow

amberglow — Wed, 31 Dec 2003 14:56:44 -0800

thanks namespan--and a happy new year to you! (i'm making a resolution tonight to do more of that) : >

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Wed, 31 Dec 2003 16:24:42 -0800

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.

By: IshmaelGraves

IshmaelGraves — Wed, 31 Dec 2003 17:20:46 -0800

Thought it was a great discussion despite the lame link.

By: LittleMissCranky

LittleMissCranky — Wed, 31 Dec 2003 19:50:13 -0800

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.

By: dash_slot-

dash_slot- — Wed, 31 Dec 2003 20:03:55 -0800

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.

By: treywhit

treywhit — Wed, 31 Dec 2003 20:34:42 -0800

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.

By: the fire you left me

the fire you left me — Wed, 31 Dec 2003 22:29:45 -0800

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.

By: hama7

hama7 — Thu, 01 Jan 2004 06:01:49 -0800

A post not unlike the Winnebago mentioned by Dr. Williams.

By: languagehat

languagehat — Thu, 01 Jan 2004 07:53:08 -0800

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!).

By: treywhit

treywhit — Thu, 01 Jan 2004 08:12:30 -0800

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.

By: mischief

mischief — Thu, 01 Jan 2004 08:18:12 -0800

I don't have any opinion on Britney's albums; I've never heard one.

By: Faze

Faze — Thu, 01 Jan 2004 09:27:58 -0800

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).

By: mischief

mischief — Thu, 01 Jan 2004 09:56:21 -0800

Makes me wonder then what you would say of Tina Turner.

By: Faze

Faze — Fri, 02 Jan 2004 07:25:39 -0800

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.

By: adamgreenfield

adamgreenfield — Fri, 02 Jan 2004 08:10:31 -0800

You never, ever do anything nice and easy, do you, Faze?

By: MiguelCardoso

MiguelCardoso — Fri, 02 Jan 2004 08:26:47 -0800

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.

By: dhoyt

dhoyt — Fri, 02 Jan 2004 08:42:48 -0800

What Miguel said.

(Did I just say that?)

By: mischief

mischief — Fri, 02 Jan 2004 08:54:23 -0800

Faze: ...and you got all that from a record cover? ;-P

By: y2karl

y2karl — Fri, 02 Jan 2004 10:26:49 -0800

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.

By: dhoyt

dhoyt — Fri, 02 Jan 2004 10:34:50 -0800

...and VendettaFilter rears its head.