What if these threats became real? January 15, 2006 3:52 AM Subscribe
What would happen if someone on MeFi actually took up Smedleyman's disturbing offer to pay for plane fare out somewhere to put a gun to his head and pull the trigger?
Smedleyman isn't really offering. The whole point of Smedleyman's excellent screed was that ParisParamus talks tough and at great length about the virtues of killing, while at the same time managing to always find an excuse never to be the guy pulling the trigger.
Smedleyman's calling (I suspect correctly) ParisParamus a gasbag, who plays at being a cynical worldly-wise macho executioner only so long as he's safely behind his keyboard.
Smedleyman (apparently) has actually seen the elephant -- he has, quite literally, pulled the trigger in defense of his (our) country. He has learned that killing, while sometimes necessary, isn't easy, isn't something to be done out of bluster, isn't to be done blithely out of pique. In other words, Smedleyman has learned that killing and dying are deadly serious occupations.
And so Smedleyman is -- understandably -- dismayed, and insulted, when ParisParamus so frequently and without forethought throws around his grandiose visions of death-dealing, conceived in the safety of a New Jersey townhouse.
Smedleyman knows what it is to pull a trigger. He understands the costs, to the country and to the triggerman. He lives with the consequences of pulling the trigger for his country.
ParisParamus has never pulled a trigger, has never lived with the aftermath of knowing oneself a killer, regardless of the noble reasons behind it. ParisParamus routinely declares that he -- well, his sensibilities are too delicate to allow him to be one of the base and common brutes who actually pull triggers. It's not in his disposition and it tends to ruin one's manicure too.
But that doesn't stop him form saying people like Smedleyman ought to pull triggers! In Iraq! In Afghanistan! In Iran! In Lebanon! in Israel! In Venezuela! If that leads to regrets or guilt or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for the boys pulling the triggers, well, ParisParamus is confident he can live with those costs.
Smedleyman's disturbing offer is just another way of saying that ParisParamus is a hypocrite who doesn't have the balls to do himself what he demands others do for him. And it's a much needed corrective to ParisParamus's empty bravado.
Thanks for that, and for your service, Smedleyman.
posted by orthogonality at 4:27 AM on January 15, 2006
Smedleyman's calling (I suspect correctly) ParisParamus a gasbag, who plays at being a cynical worldly-wise macho executioner only so long as he's safely behind his keyboard.
Smedleyman (apparently) has actually seen the elephant -- he has, quite literally, pulled the trigger in defense of his (our) country. He has learned that killing, while sometimes necessary, isn't easy, isn't something to be done out of bluster, isn't to be done blithely out of pique. In other words, Smedleyman has learned that killing and dying are deadly serious occupations.
And so Smedleyman is -- understandably -- dismayed, and insulted, when ParisParamus so frequently and without forethought throws around his grandiose visions of death-dealing, conceived in the safety of a New Jersey townhouse.
Smedleyman knows what it is to pull a trigger. He understands the costs, to the country and to the triggerman. He lives with the consequences of pulling the trigger for his country.
ParisParamus has never pulled a trigger, has never lived with the aftermath of knowing oneself a killer, regardless of the noble reasons behind it. ParisParamus routinely declares that he -- well, his sensibilities are too delicate to allow him to be one of the base and common brutes who actually pull triggers. It's not in his disposition and it tends to ruin one's manicure too.
But that doesn't stop him form saying people like Smedleyman ought to pull triggers! In Iraq! In Afghanistan! In Iran! In Lebanon! in Israel! In Venezuela! If that leads to regrets or guilt or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for the boys pulling the triggers, well, ParisParamus is confident he can live with those costs.
Smedleyman's disturbing offer is just another way of saying that ParisParamus is a hypocrite who doesn't have the balls to do himself what he demands others do for him. And it's a much needed corrective to ParisParamus's empty bravado.
Thanks for that, and for your service, Smedleyman.
posted by orthogonality at 4:27 AM on January 15, 2006
Yeah, whatever...nice fantasy ya got there.
posted by ParisParamus at 4:57 AM on January 15, 2006
posted by ParisParamus at 4:57 AM on January 15, 2006
meridian, tell me with a straight face you didn't already inately understand the precise meaning of smedleyman's comments (as summarized so well by ortho above). what's the point of this meta?
posted by quonsar at 4:59 AM on January 15, 2006
posted by quonsar at 4:59 AM on January 15, 2006
Sorry Quonsar, I think I knew what he meant (although I didn't know about Smedleyman's background), but my question was more along the lines of what would be the consequences if someone was actually screwed up enough to take him up on the offer and it went ahead? Would MeFi be vilified in the general media and consequently shutdown? Would our past comments be retroactively scrutinised and meaning inferred or taken out of context? What are the consequences of someone requesting another to kill them on a forum such as this? Are requests such as this going too far, even if they are not serious, and taken out of context, it would appear serious.
posted by Meridian at 5:17 AM on January 15, 2006
posted by Meridian at 5:17 AM on January 15, 2006
Yes, MeFi would be vilified.
No, it would not be shut down.
Yes, past comments would be retroactively scrutinized.
Yes, meaning would be inferred or taken out of context.
The consequences of it all are unpredictable.
I hope this answers your questions.
You will need to rephrase the last one, as it is not quite clear what you mean with "too far".
posted by sour cream at 5:26 AM on January 15, 2006
No, it would not be shut down.
Yes, past comments would be retroactively scrutinized.
Yes, meaning would be inferred or taken out of context.
The consequences of it all are unpredictable.
I hope this answers your questions.
You will need to rephrase the last one, as it is not quite clear what you mean with "too far".
posted by sour cream at 5:26 AM on January 15, 2006
And I meant to add, there is a definate risk that the request could later be taken out of context if comments by ParisParamus were deleted by the moderators and hence rendered invisible. Editing an existing chain of comments can subtley change the meaning of the conversion.
posted by Meridian at 5:27 AM on January 15, 2006
posted by Meridian at 5:27 AM on January 15, 2006
Oh come on. It was an obvious rhetorical point-making tactic in what was a wonderfu and thoroughl dismembering of the blustering nonsense of that unutterable ninny ParisParamus. You'll be worrying about GTA making people go kill prostitutes next.
posted by Decani at 5:31 AM on January 15, 2006
posted by Decani at 5:31 AM on January 15, 2006
Decani, apologies. However, what is blatantly obvious to the majority of a group is not always obvious to all, no matter how nonsensical and illogical we think they are. Comments made in anger and interpreted in anger may not always convey the intended message. Editing of threads and comment deletion, if not done carefully, can sometimes add to the misunderstanding. Actually (and feel free to flame me for my stupidity in this) I skipped through the thread and on first reading (and not knowing of the person's background) I was not immediately aware that it was "an obvious rhetorical point-making tactic". Anyway, I've made too much of a fool of myself already with my dumb comments so I had better to to bed now.
posted by Meridian at 5:46 AM on January 15, 2006
posted by Meridian at 5:46 AM on January 15, 2006
I think we can safely establish that:
a) Smedleyman was making a point; &
b) Meridian is wondering what would happen if this actually happened as a point of curiosity rather than for fear that the feds will be combing thru MeFiCentral in the near future.
posted by i_cola at 5:51 AM on January 15, 2006
a) Smedleyman was making a point; &
b) Meridian is wondering what would happen if this actually happened as a point of curiosity rather than for fear that the feds will be combing thru MeFiCentral in the near future.
posted by i_cola at 5:51 AM on January 15, 2006
what would happen? ... matt would be subpoena'd for whatever information he had on the shooter and victim ... the shooter would go to prison ... we would yap about it endlessly ... and the authorities would move on to the next case of some idiot taking the net too seriously
posted by pyramid termite at 5:59 AM on January 15, 2006
posted by pyramid termite at 5:59 AM on January 15, 2006
i_cola: Meridian is wondering what would happen if this actually happened as a point of curiosity rather than for fear that the feds will be combing thru MeFiCentral in the near future.
Well, sure... But Meridian is also making some strange link between 'the potential consequences' of a wholly ridiculous scenario and comment deletion, a topic which is being discussed already right over here.
pyramid termite: what would happen? ... matt would be subpoena'd for whatever information he had on the shooter and victim ... the shooter would go to prison ... we would yap about it endlessly ... and the authorities would move on to the next case of some idiot taking the net too seriously
If Smedleyman is half as clever as he claims, and if ParisParamus isn't the complete fool the majority here claim, the most likely consequences are entirely less melodramatic, I think - there isn't any reason to suspect that the so called authorities would ever suspect I thing.
The significant effects would be much more practical... We would be minus one great contributor, and plus a whole load of emotional turmoil on another. There would be some real world consequences to Smedleyman's family and friends of course. All in all these consequences are far more likely, far more important, and far more terrible than the "someone would go to jail" stuff.
I guess in some sense that is Smedleyman's point...
posted by Chuckles at 6:22 AM on January 15, 2006
Well, sure... But Meridian is also making some strange link between 'the potential consequences' of a wholly ridiculous scenario and comment deletion, a topic which is being discussed already right over here.
pyramid termite: what would happen? ... matt would be subpoena'd for whatever information he had on the shooter and victim ... the shooter would go to prison ... we would yap about it endlessly ... and the authorities would move on to the next case of some idiot taking the net too seriously
If Smedleyman is half as clever as he claims, and if ParisParamus isn't the complete fool the majority here claim, the most likely consequences are entirely less melodramatic, I think - there isn't any reason to suspect that the so called authorities would ever suspect I thing.
The significant effects would be much more practical... We would be minus one great contributor, and plus a whole load of emotional turmoil on another. There would be some real world consequences to Smedleyman's family and friends of course. All in all these consequences are far more likely, far more important, and far more terrible than the "someone would go to jail" stuff.
I guess in some sense that is Smedleyman's point...
posted by Chuckles at 6:22 AM on January 15, 2006
Wow. He totally destroyed Paris. Good show, mighty good show.
posted by wakko at 6:26 AM on January 15, 2006
posted by wakko at 6:26 AM on January 15, 2006
So you're asking what would happen if Matt or I removed the comments that contextualized Smedleyman's comments to the point where someone thought Smedleyman was making a very different suggestion than he was actually making? I think that's unlikely to the point of not needing to be discussed -- sort of like worrying about a power outage happening before you get your "more inside" inside -- but I stopped reading the Iran thread yesterday sometime. I don't know how Matt feels about this scenario, obviously, but Smedleyman seems to have things well under control.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:33 AM on January 15, 2006
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:33 AM on January 15, 2006
Anyway, I've made too much of a fool of myself already with my dumb comments so I had better to to bed now.
Would you be willing to consider flaming out spectacularly instead? Balisong's lameout was very disappointing. I offered him a chainsaw, even. Come on, we'll goad you, you'll froth and rant, it'll be fun.
We never have any fun around here.
posted by languagehat at 6:42 AM on January 15, 2006
Would you be willing to consider flaming out spectacularly instead? Balisong's lameout was very disappointing. I offered him a chainsaw, even. Come on, we'll goad you, you'll froth and rant, it'll be fun.
We never have any fun around here.
posted by languagehat at 6:42 AM on January 15, 2006
what ortho, and others said.
it was an excellent comment, that I flagged as such, and it's probably the definitive answer to PeePee's (and others) constant, cowardly disregard for the value of human life
it'd be nice, for once, if the safe-behind-lines warmongers tried to back up their Internet bullshit with actual real life fighting. but then, they're probably stealing their playbook from their AWOL President and draft-dodging Vice President and Pentagon hawks.
but then, backing up their bullshit would require actual guts. I guess it's easier to call the grieving mother of a KIA soldier "an opportunistic bitch" from the safety of one's own mother's basement
incidentally, Smedleyman is quickly becoming one of MeFi's most interesting users.
posted by matteo at 6:43 AM on January 15, 2006
it was an excellent comment, that I flagged as such, and it's probably the definitive answer to PeePee's (and others) constant, cowardly disregard for the value of human life
it'd be nice, for once, if the safe-behind-lines warmongers tried to back up their Internet bullshit with actual real life fighting. but then, they're probably stealing their playbook from their AWOL President and draft-dodging Vice President and Pentagon hawks.
but then, backing up their bullshit would require actual guts. I guess it's easier to call the grieving mother of a KIA soldier "an opportunistic bitch" from the safety of one's own mother's basement
incidentally, Smedleyman is quickly becoming one of MeFi's most interesting users.
posted by matteo at 6:43 AM on January 15, 2006
Let's not be too harsh to Meridian; he called our attention to Smedleyman's wonderful take-down, which is essentially the last thing we ever need say to or about ParisParamus.
posted by orthogonality at 7:01 AM on January 15, 2006
posted by orthogonality at 7:01 AM on January 15, 2006
Sorry, I can't find my passport.
posted by ParisParamus at 7:38 AM on January 15, 2006
posted by ParisParamus at 7:38 AM on January 15, 2006
I wouldn't have seen it otherwise. Thanks Meridian!
posted by CunningLinguist at 7:43 AM on January 15, 2006
posted by CunningLinguist at 7:43 AM on January 15, 2006
Well said, orthogonality. And Smedleyman.
posted by Miko
Amen.
posted by leftcoastbob at 8:47 AM on January 15, 2006
posted by Miko
Amen.
posted by leftcoastbob at 8:47 AM on January 15, 2006
A little music for the thread (any additional verses or help cleaning up the scansion is welcomed).
To the melody of "The Marines' Hymm":
From the Halls of Montezuma,
to the shores of Tripoli,
ParisP will not be the-ere,
He's got other priorit-eees
Paramus'll send your child-ren,
your fathers and your sons,
To die in "crucial" battles,
that Paris himself shuns!
First to scream and call for killing
Yet he keeps his own hands clean;
When the clash of battle's joined
Paris is nowhere to be seen.
In the heat of far-off desert lands
And taking th' distant seaboard;
You will never find Paris on the job --
Just fighting on his keyboard.
The bloody flag to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
Paris waves in every place and face
But never picks up a gun!
Here's health to you and to our Corps
In which Paris never served;
In many a strife they've fought for life
While PP lost his nerve.
While PP lost his nerve.
While PP lost his nerve.
While PP lost his nerve.
posted by orthogonality at 8:53 AM on January 15, 2006
To the melody of "The Marines' Hymm":
From the Halls of Montezuma,
to the shores of Tripoli,
ParisP will not be the-ere,
He's got other priorit-eees
Paramus'll send your child-ren,
your fathers and your sons,
To die in "crucial" battles,
that Paris himself shuns!
First to scream and call for killing
Yet he keeps his own hands clean;
When the clash of battle's joined
Paris is nowhere to be seen.
In the heat of far-off desert lands
And taking th' distant seaboard;
You will never find Paris on the job --
Just fighting on his keyboard.
The bloody flag to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
Paris waves in every place and face
But never picks up a gun!
Here's health to you and to our Corps
In which Paris never served;
In many a strife they've fought for life
While PP lost his nerve.
While PP lost his nerve.
While PP lost his nerve.
While PP lost his nerve.
posted by orthogonality at 8:53 AM on January 15, 2006
The next comment is to be taken out of context:
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 8:59 AM on January 15, 2006
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 8:59 AM on January 15, 2006
This is the place where I once again call for the creation of metapolitics.metafilter.com as a separate section of the site, and the rest of you ignore me.
Carry on.
posted by LarryC at 9:07 AM on January 15, 2006
Carry on.
posted by LarryC at 9:07 AM on January 15, 2006
Smedleyman says within the same comment: ...well, really I wouldn't be able to with a bullet in my head, but y'know, it's a figure of speech. Any reasonable reading of this comment shows it is a hypothetical situation he is proposing, for argument's sake. If anybody here does not trust the administration of this website, then perhaps they should not contribute. Your $5.00 only gives you the privelege to contribute your comments to be posted subject to review after the fact. If you are uncomfortable with that, get your own blog...
posted by Roger Dodger at 9:08 AM on January 15, 2006
posted by Roger Dodger at 9:08 AM on January 15, 2006
ortho: Genius.
Smedlyman: That was a phenomenal takedown, way to deliver the ultimate bitchslap to somebody who needed it a long time ago.
Yeah, whatever...nice fantasy ya got there.
posted by ParisParamus at 6:57 AM CST on January 15
Come on now. You know you've been intellectually dismembered and humiliated for being the hack you are. And this has nothing to do with your politics, only the personality you've effaced here and the reasoning/logic you use to make your points. Might as well admit it...
posted by baphomet at 9:09 AM on January 15, 2006
Smedlyman: That was a phenomenal takedown, way to deliver the ultimate bitchslap to somebody who needed it a long time ago.
Yeah, whatever...nice fantasy ya got there.
posted by ParisParamus at 6:57 AM CST on January 15
Come on now. You know you've been intellectually dismembered and humiliated for being the hack you are. And this has nothing to do with your politics, only the personality you've effaced here and the reasoning/logic you use to make your points. Might as well admit it...
posted by baphomet at 9:09 AM on January 15, 2006
You just got owned!
Wow. Did he ever. Thanks, Smedleyman!
posted by Manhasset at 9:16 AM on January 15, 2006
Wow. Did he ever. Thanks, Smedleyman!
posted by Manhasset at 9:16 AM on January 15, 2006
it'd be nice, for once, if the safe-behind-lines warmongers tried to back up their Internet bullshit with actual real life fighting.
In that case, shouldn't you be strapping some explosives to yourself and heading to Israel or Iraq?
posted by Krrrlson at 9:55 AM on January 15, 2006
In that case, shouldn't you be strapping some explosives to yourself and heading to Israel or Iraq?
posted by Krrrlson at 9:55 AM on January 15, 2006
I'm surprised Paris doesn't just try and claim to be a victim of age discrimination.
posted by Space Coyote at 9:59 AM on January 15, 2006
posted by Space Coyote at 9:59 AM on January 15, 2006
Yeah. What Metafilter needs is a good old lawsuit.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 10:02 AM on January 15, 2006
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 10:02 AM on January 15, 2006
Hello, gentlemen. I represent Dewey, Cheatham and Howe...
posted by cortex at 10:06 AM on January 15, 2006
posted by cortex at 10:06 AM on January 15, 2006
And yet nobody has taken me up on my offer to fly them out here to have sex with me.
Nobody.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:16 AM on January 15, 2006
Nobody.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:16 AM on January 15, 2006
We're all a little gunshy about chromosomal issues lately, AZ. Don't take it personally.
posted by Gator at 10:32 AM on January 15, 2006
posted by Gator at 10:32 AM on January 15, 2006
"it'd be nice, for once, if the safe-behind-lines warmongers tried to back up their Internet bullshit with actual real life fighting."
Really? I'd prefer to keep guns out of their hands, thanks. But I know what you mean.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 11:10 AM on January 15, 2006
Really? I'd prefer to keep guns out of their hands, thanks. But I know what you mean.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 11:10 AM on January 15, 2006
shouldn't you be strapping some explosives to yourself and heading to Israel or Iraq?
heh. twist a pig's ear, hear it squeal.
look, your bloodthirst used to be at least more entertaining. I admit that the thought of a little fascist in front of a computer somewhere wishing me bodily harm still fills me with mild amusement, but it wears off quickly, and a question remains: which part of my comment hurt you the most -- the 'cowardice' part? that must be it, I guess. sometimes even someone like you must feel like the coward you actually are -- an occasional moment of clarity.
keep fantasizing about me getting hurt: or, as Smedleyman pointed out to PeePee, you're free to come to a meetup and try to do that yourself. if you can, of course.
I'm sure somebody in your local klavern will be happy to raffle off some linen sheets in order to pay for your air fare.
posted by matteo at 11:14 AM on January 15, 2006
heh. twist a pig's ear, hear it squeal.
look, your bloodthirst used to be at least more entertaining. I admit that the thought of a little fascist in front of a computer somewhere wishing me bodily harm still fills me with mild amusement, but it wears off quickly, and a question remains: which part of my comment hurt you the most -- the 'cowardice' part? that must be it, I guess. sometimes even someone like you must feel like the coward you actually are -- an occasional moment of clarity.
keep fantasizing about me getting hurt: or, as Smedleyman pointed out to PeePee, you're free to come to a meetup and try to do that yourself. if you can, of course.
I'm sure somebody in your local klavern will be happy to raffle off some linen sheets in order to pay for your air fare.
posted by matteo at 11:14 AM on January 15, 2006
it wears off quickly
Wears off quickly? You've been jerking off to that comment and reposting it for close to two years now.
Big words, by the way, coming from someone who bravely covered up his face in all those meetup photos.
posted by Krrrlson at 11:28 AM on January 15, 2006
Wears off quickly? You've been jerking off to that comment and reposting it for close to two years now.
Big words, by the way, coming from someone who bravely covered up his face in all those meetup photos.
posted by Krrrlson at 11:28 AM on January 15, 2006
Lest we forget, from the US invading Iran thread:
OK, Mr. Pseudo-Credentialed-I-Was-In-The-Military-To-Not-Have-Any-Student-Loans. Where do you think we should invade, or where do you think I think we should? The Big Three are now Syria, Iran and North Korea. I don't think the last poses enough of a threat, but the other two deserve consideration.
posted by ParisParamus at 9:34 PM EST on January 14 [!]
This was PP's response to Balisong and yet another lame defense of his cowardice (Balisong had mentioned, but hardly trumpeted, his service in the US military). Not that Balisong was a model of coherence last night, but the conversation was generally a decent, if not predictable one. PP did mefi the service of publically letting us all know he's not just a feckless twit, but also a raging fucktard who doesn't give a damn about the real sacrifices made by real people, ever.
PP, on behalf of human beings everywhere, fuck you.
posted by bardic at 11:28 AM on January 15, 2006
OK, Mr. Pseudo-Credentialed-I-Was-In-The-Military-To-Not-Have-Any-Student-Loans. Where do you think we should invade, or where do you think I think we should? The Big Three are now Syria, Iran and North Korea. I don't think the last poses enough of a threat, but the other two deserve consideration.
posted by ParisParamus at 9:34 PM EST on January 14 [!]
This was PP's response to Balisong and yet another lame defense of his cowardice (Balisong had mentioned, but hardly trumpeted, his service in the US military). Not that Balisong was a model of coherence last night, but the conversation was generally a decent, if not predictable one. PP did mefi the service of publically letting us all know he's not just a feckless twit, but also a raging fucktard who doesn't give a damn about the real sacrifices made by real people, ever.
PP, on behalf of human beings everywhere, fuck you.
posted by bardic at 11:28 AM on January 15, 2006
Seriously though, if all I have to do for a free trip to Italy is hurt you, then we can do business.
posted by Krrrlson at 11:32 AM on January 15, 2006
posted by Krrrlson at 11:32 AM on January 15, 2006
(Laughs as Krrrlson looks for someone to "hold him back.")
posted by bardic at 11:33 AM on January 15, 2006
posted by bardic at 11:33 AM on January 15, 2006
What would happen if someone on MeFi actually took up Smedleyman's disturbing offer to pay for plane fare out somewhere to put a gun to his head and pull the trigger?
It would be another example of people that are so poorly educated that they lack even basic comprehension skills. Look at John Lennon commenting on the ridiculousness of their fame and regard by saying that the Beatles are (or was it were) more popular than Jesus. Record burning ensued in protest. People we protesting his modesty because they mistook it for the opposite. quite astounding. But then that leads us to PP who stands a grand example of just that sort of person.
Come on now. You know you've been intellectually dismembered and humiliated for being the hack you are.
I don't think he does. I used to think he was just being intellectually dishonest or using Metafilter as a stage upon which he puts on a performance that would get others banned but not he. Now, I believe clueless is truly an applicable word here. Could be wrong of course. Perhaps I can't believe that someone could be so intellectually dishonest, trite, and small.
And this has nothing to do with your politics, only the personality you've effaced here and the reasoning/logic you use to make your points. Might as well admit it...
Won't happen. He'll just, ahh, argue, that any arguments against him are from Europeans or from leftists. Now who could argue against that!
posted by juiceCake at 11:35 AM on January 15, 2006
It would be another example of people that are so poorly educated that they lack even basic comprehension skills. Look at John Lennon commenting on the ridiculousness of their fame and regard by saying that the Beatles are (or was it were) more popular than Jesus. Record burning ensued in protest. People we protesting his modesty because they mistook it for the opposite. quite astounding. But then that leads us to PP who stands a grand example of just that sort of person.
Come on now. You know you've been intellectually dismembered and humiliated for being the hack you are.
I don't think he does. I used to think he was just being intellectually dishonest or using Metafilter as a stage upon which he puts on a performance that would get others banned but not he. Now, I believe clueless is truly an applicable word here. Could be wrong of course. Perhaps I can't believe that someone could be so intellectually dishonest, trite, and small.
And this has nothing to do with your politics, only the personality you've effaced here and the reasoning/logic you use to make your points. Might as well admit it...
Won't happen. He'll just, ahh, argue, that any arguments against him are from Europeans or from leftists. Now who could argue against that!
posted by juiceCake at 11:35 AM on January 15, 2006
In that case, shouldn't you be strapping some explosives to yourself and heading to Israel or Iraq?
Wanting peace in Iraq and an end to Israeli occupation can hardly be described as "warmongering."
posted by scarabic at 11:59 AM on January 15, 2006
Wanting peace in Iraq and an end to Israeli occupation can hardly be described as "warmongering."
posted by scarabic at 11:59 AM on January 15, 2006
scarabic writes "Wanting peace in Iraq and an end to Israeli occupation can hardly be described as 'warmongering.'"
Apparently it can be, if you're ParisParamus. PP has 'leet skillz.
Myself, I'm waiting for him to describe "War" as "Peace" and "Freedom" as "Slavery".
posted by orthogonality at 12:07 PM on January 15, 2006
Apparently it can be, if you're ParisParamus. PP has 'leet skillz.
Myself, I'm waiting for him to describe "War" as "Peace" and "Freedom" as "Slavery".
posted by orthogonality at 12:07 PM on January 15, 2006
Mr T writes "Don't forget 'Ignorance is Strength'!"
PP constantly demonstrates that.
posted by orthogonality at 12:20 PM on January 15, 2006
PP constantly demonstrates that.
posted by orthogonality at 12:20 PM on January 15, 2006
astro zombie, that's because you live in freezing-ass MINNESOTA.
posted by By The Grace of God at 12:37 PM on January 15, 2006
posted by By The Grace of God at 12:37 PM on January 15, 2006
Wanting peace in Iraq and an end to Israeli occupation can hardly be described as "warmongering."
Given how liberally matteo dispenses accusations of anything from racism to murder fetishism, I wonder why it irks everyone so much when he receives similar treatment. Besides, dismissing any commentary directed against terrorism or Muslim religious extremism as the work of xenophobic Zionazis from the Likud division of the KKK is a funny way to "want peace."
Anyway, I'm sure you're familiar with matteo's posting history and his love of disingenuous debate. If it weren't for his non-political contributions, he'd be the mirror image of Paramus. If you find his style of discourse appropriate, it certainly makes little sense for us to argue about it.
posted by Krrrlson at 12:38 PM on January 15, 2006
Given how liberally matteo dispenses accusations of anything from racism to murder fetishism, I wonder why it irks everyone so much when he receives similar treatment. Besides, dismissing any commentary directed against terrorism or Muslim religious extremism as the work of xenophobic Zionazis from the Likud division of the KKK is a funny way to "want peace."
Anyway, I'm sure you're familiar with matteo's posting history and his love of disingenuous debate. If it weren't for his non-political contributions, he'd be the mirror image of Paramus. If you find his style of discourse appropriate, it certainly makes little sense for us to argue about it.
posted by Krrrlson at 12:38 PM on January 15, 2006
This wouldn't be another whiny, pissy, "Oh noes they're going to shut down Metafilter because someone said something that isn't [G] Rated whatever shall we do?" thread is it? Oh dear.
Americans discussing Iran sounds like the Masai discussing snow.
ParisParamus doubly so.
Man, even the liberals in that thread display the indoctrination they've been drilled with in relation to Iran. "Oh we need to find a diplomatic solution" - solution to what? The Iranians are dealing with this shit on their own. It seems, some times, they're the only reasonably large country in the region without nuclear weapons, let alone civillian nuclear power. People give up. If your government causes shit over there, I'm going to be real pissed off.
posted by Jimbob at 2:29 PM on January 15, 2006
Americans discussing Iran sounds like the Masai discussing snow.
ParisParamus doubly so.
Man, even the liberals in that thread display the indoctrination they've been drilled with in relation to Iran. "Oh we need to find a diplomatic solution" - solution to what? The Iranians are dealing with this shit on their own. It seems, some times, they're the only reasonably large country in the region without nuclear weapons, let alone civillian nuclear power. People give up. If your government causes shit over there, I'm going to be real pissed off.
posted by Jimbob at 2:29 PM on January 15, 2006
People tend to get riled up when you talk about ruthless, unscrupulous religeous fundamentalists getting their hands on nuclear weapons.
And Iran shouldn't have the bomb, either.
posted by squirrel at 4:04 PM on January 15, 2006
And Iran shouldn't have the bomb, either.
posted by squirrel at 4:04 PM on January 15, 2006
Big words, by the way, coming from someone who bravely covered up his face in all those meetup photos.
well, it's nice to know that simply going out to have a good time with fellow mefites can come back to haunt you if krrrlson's around.
posted by shmegegge at 4:08 PM on January 15, 2006
well, it's nice to know that simply going out to have a good time with fellow mefites can come back to haunt you if krrrlson's around.
posted by shmegegge at 4:08 PM on January 15, 2006
I guess it's easier to call the grieving mother of a KIA soldier "an opportunistic bitch" from the safety of one's own mother's basement
Pretty much, matteo. There is no courage in trolling.
posted by Rothko at 4:10 PM on January 15, 2006
Pretty much, matteo. There is no courage in trolling.
posted by Rothko at 4:10 PM on January 15, 2006
ParisParamus hasn't been affected by this before and I suspect he'll continue on not reacting to all this waving of the pitchforks, etc.
What is obvious is that he has a very strong effect on many here and he enjoys this ability to get you all riled up.
The solution is obvious as well.
posted by stirfry at 5:08 PM on January 15, 2006
What is obvious is that he has a very strong effect on many here and he enjoys this ability to get you all riled up.
The solution is obvious as well.
posted by stirfry at 5:08 PM on January 15, 2006
stirfry writes "The solution is obvious as well."
We crate PP up and send him airmail to Baghdad?
posted by orthogonality at 5:10 PM on January 15, 2006
We crate PP up and send him airmail to Baghdad?
posted by orthogonality at 5:10 PM on January 15, 2006
Now, I believe clueless is truly an applicable word here. Could be wrong of course. Perhaps I can't believe that someone could be so intellectually dishonest, trite, and small.
I believe absolutely that ParisParamus is deliberately and maliciously so. His goal is not political, he is not motivated by politics. His goal is personal: he is motivated to harm MetaFilter.
I do not know what his motivation is. I suspect it's a crappy little power trip, "ohh, look, I can make these people dance" number. It could be a sad addiction to attention-seeking, of pretending to be a puppet-master, of believing himself to be an equal contrary intellectual. Whatever. The result is all the same: he gets his jollies by being a jerk.
There is no obvious solution. My own response is this: I am extraordinarily selective of those of his posts to which I respond, I absolutely refuse to engage in any sort of call-and-response game with him, and I abuse him in MeTa at will.
ParisParamus is pathetic, broken individual to whom I would nominally wish to support in some manner, but must in this situation conclude he needs changes in his off-line life before he can belong to an on-line community. It would be best for him to leave.
posted by five fresh fish at 9:26 PM on January 15, 2006
I believe absolutely that ParisParamus is deliberately and maliciously so. His goal is not political, he is not motivated by politics. His goal is personal: he is motivated to harm MetaFilter.
I do not know what his motivation is. I suspect it's a crappy little power trip, "ohh, look, I can make these people dance" number. It could be a sad addiction to attention-seeking, of pretending to be a puppet-master, of believing himself to be an equal contrary intellectual. Whatever. The result is all the same: he gets his jollies by being a jerk.
There is no obvious solution. My own response is this: I am extraordinarily selective of those of his posts to which I respond, I absolutely refuse to engage in any sort of call-and-response game with him, and I abuse him in MeTa at will.
ParisParamus is pathetic, broken individual to whom I would nominally wish to support in some manner, but must in this situation conclude he needs changes in his off-line life before he can belong to an on-line community. It would be best for him to leave.
posted by five fresh fish at 9:26 PM on January 15, 2006
Americans discussing Iran sounds like the Masai discussing snow. - Jimbob
(Just thought that needed repeating. Thanks.)
posted by raedyn at 7:25 AM on January 16, 2006
(Just thought that needed repeating. Thanks.)
posted by raedyn at 7:25 AM on January 16, 2006
stirfry writes "The solution is obvious as well."
We crate PP up and send him airmail to Baghdad?
Staple a flag to his butt and mail him to Iran.
posted by rxrfrx at 7:33 AM on January 16, 2006
We crate PP up and send him airmail to Baghdad?
Staple a flag to his butt and mail him to Iran.
posted by rxrfrx at 7:33 AM on January 16, 2006
PP's posts, and similarly the US foriegn policy, seem to come from a poerspective of a bully. I have no doubt he'd find it easy to kick a man while down, but not to knock him down to begin with, unless he was significantly smaller. Perhaps that's what 9/11 did to a lot of people: made them feel so desperately insecure that they need to beat up whomever they can in a desperate attempt to regain their sense of self, even if those attacks occur necessarily by proxy.
"Seriously though, if all I have to do for a free trip to Italy is hurt you, then we can do business."
Seriously, Matteo, if all I have to do for a free trip to Italy is to let you beat me up, then we can do business. I loved Italy.
posted by klangklangston at 7:55 AM on January 16, 2006
"Seriously though, if all I have to do for a free trip to Italy is hurt you, then we can do business."
Seriously, Matteo, if all I have to do for a free trip to Italy is to let you beat me up, then we can do business. I loved Italy.
posted by klangklangston at 7:55 AM on January 16, 2006
"Americans discussing Iran sounds like the Masai discussing snow."
Yabbut, one time I tried to talk about Iran with a twentysomething woman whose family came to the states when the revolution happened. And it was weird because her perspective on it was an almost cliched, very biased point of view from what seemed like what you'd expect from the displaced professional class who were cozy with the Shah.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 8:07 AM on January 16, 2006
Yabbut, one time I tried to talk about Iran with a twentysomething woman whose family came to the states when the revolution happened. And it was weird because her perspective on it was an almost cliched, very biased point of view from what seemed like what you'd expect from the displaced professional class who were cozy with the Shah.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 8:07 AM on January 16, 2006
Thanks, orthogonality.
The attention however is a bit much. It is nice, but anyone can run the risk of becoming a cult of personality. And something like this gives PP and myself an undue amount of attention.
It’s the trading of good ideas that matter. Shaping and honing our ideas and worldviews through communication. Not something like this.
Whatever cautions about leaping to war, I must admit the comment was somewhat disruptive.
Thank you for the kind words though.
posted by Smedleyman at 8:07 AM on January 16, 2006
The attention however is a bit much. It is nice, but anyone can run the risk of becoming a cult of personality. And something like this gives PP and myself an undue amount of attention.
It’s the trading of good ideas that matter. Shaping and honing our ideas and worldviews through communication. Not something like this.
Whatever cautions about leaping to war, I must admit the comment was somewhat disruptive.
Thank you for the kind words though.
posted by Smedleyman at 8:07 AM on January 16, 2006
Who does a guy have to shoot to get a little peace and quiet around here?
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 8:28 AM on January 16, 2006
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 8:28 AM on January 16, 2006
fandango_matt writes "This is sort of how I picture MetaFilter users reacting to PP."
No, that's how I am when I'm compiling Java code.
posted by orthogonality at 11:05 AM on January 16, 2006
No, that's how I am when I'm compiling Java code.
posted by orthogonality at 11:05 AM on January 16, 2006
Thanks, orthogonality.
The attention however is a bit much. It is nice, but anyone can run the risk of becoming a cult of personality. And something like this gives PP and myself an undue amount of attention.
It’s the trading of good ideas that matter. Shaping and honing our ideas and worldviews through communication. Not something like this.
Whatever cautions about leaping to war, I must admit the comment was somewhat disruptive.
Thank you for the kind words though.
*blinks*
Smedleyman, first for the Paris takedown post, and subsequently for your modesty and your positive vision for this site, I would like to nominate you Mefite of the Month.
No, you don't have to pose for the calendar (unless you want to).
posted by jokeefe at 12:06 PM on January 16, 2006
The attention however is a bit much. It is nice, but anyone can run the risk of becoming a cult of personality. And something like this gives PP and myself an undue amount of attention.
It’s the trading of good ideas that matter. Shaping and honing our ideas and worldviews through communication. Not something like this.
Whatever cautions about leaping to war, I must admit the comment was somewhat disruptive.
Thank you for the kind words though.
*blinks*
Smedleyman, first for the Paris takedown post, and subsequently for your modesty and your positive vision for this site, I would like to nominate you Mefite of the Month.
No, you don't have to pose for the calendar (unless you want to).
posted by jokeefe at 12:06 PM on January 16, 2006
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"So come and kill me then. You're a lawyer. You apparently know international law as well. I'd be happy to pay for plane fare out somewhere and you can put a gun to my head and pull the trigger. My e-mail is posted and we can discuss the hows and wheres. I'm sure you can arrange whatever security you feel comfortable with, whatever legalities need to be dispensed with, avoided, etc. - I'll sign whatever you wish. If you really think we're the mefi-scum that we are and you honestly want to kill those who help "Islamofascists" with this talk of ours or whatever and avoid danger in doing so come and take my life and you can see what it is you're talking about first hand. You don't have to sign up for anything. You don't have to do a damn thing but pull a trigger."
posted by Meridian at 3:53 AM on January 15, 2006