Who would win in a Noam Chomsky/Ralph Nader battle royal? November 17, 2001 8:56 PM Subscribe
Who would win in a Noam Chomsky/Ralph Nader battle royal?
Cliche kitty could kick Ralph's butt, for goodness sakes.
Noam's the Nader of the post-War on Whatever world, alan. No one's mentioned Nader in a good long time 'round these parts, that I've noticed, although he was indeed a cause celebre way back when.
This too shall pass.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:05 PM on November 17, 2001
Noam's the Nader of the post-War on Whatever world, alan. No one's mentioned Nader in a good long time 'round these parts, that I've noticed, although he was indeed a cause celebre way back when.
This too shall pass.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:05 PM on November 17, 2001
As any true wrestling fan knows, a battle royal, by definition, involves more than two participants. jeesh!
posted by jpoulos at 9:14 PM on November 17, 2001
posted by jpoulos at 9:14 PM on November 17, 2001
No one's mentioned Nader in a good long time 'round these parts, that I've noticed, although he was indeed a cause celebre way back when.
Oh, Stavros, how could you?
I mentioned him on Friday.
posted by iceberg273 at 9:18 PM on November 17, 2001
Oh, Stavros, how could you?
I mentioned him on Friday.
posted by iceberg273 at 9:18 PM on November 17, 2001
jpoulos, they'd both be able to pick 18 members (9 each) of the metafilter mob to back them up.
posted by alana at 9:24 PM on November 17, 2001
posted by alana at 9:24 PM on November 17, 2001
Whoops. Sorry, icey. That's what I get for skimming MeFi.
I am shamed and have brought dishonour to Clan Wonderchicken, and will now go and commit MeFiSeppuku.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:25 PM on November 17, 2001
I am shamed and have brought dishonour to Clan Wonderchicken, and will now go and commit MeFiSeppuku.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:25 PM on November 17, 2001
I am shamed and have brought dishonour to Clan Wonderchicken, and will now go and commit MeFiSeppuku.
Wait! It's not that bad! I forgive you!
As any true wrestling fan knows, a battle royal, by definition, involves more than two participants.
A duel then. But what weapon? Syntactic trees? Corvairs?
posted by iceberg273 at 9:28 PM on November 17, 2001
Wait! It's not that bad! I forgive you!
As any true wrestling fan knows, a battle royal, by definition, involves more than two participants.
A duel then. But what weapon? Syntactic trees? Corvairs?
posted by iceberg273 at 9:28 PM on November 17, 2001
But what weapon?
Morphemic idiolects at twenty paces!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:37 PM on November 17, 2001
Morphemic idiolects at twenty paces!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:37 PM on November 17, 2001
I can see it now.
Nader grabs a folding chair from the crowd, crashes it over Chomsky's head, The Noamster's teeth flying out in a Peckinpah rainbow arc of blood.
Heh.
I'm having vision's of Ken Clean-Air System beating up a schoolgirl. I can hardly even watch that Monty Python. Too too funny. Right up there with the Nay-vee sketch.
posted by Kafkaesque at 9:58 PM on November 17, 2001
Nader grabs a folding chair from the crowd, crashes it over Chomsky's head, The Noamster's teeth flying out in a Peckinpah rainbow arc of blood.
Heh.
I'm having vision's of Ken Clean-Air System beating up a schoolgirl. I can hardly even watch that Monty Python. Too too funny. Right up there with the Nay-vee sketch.
posted by Kafkaesque at 9:58 PM on November 17, 2001
Who would win in a Noam Chomsky/Ralph Nader battle royal?
posted by alan to metafilter-related at 8:56 PM PST
Sorry to crash this MeFi love fest, but how exactly is this post metafilter-related?
posted by Rastafari at 10:34 PM on November 17, 2001
posted by alan to metafilter-related at 8:56 PM PST
Sorry to crash this MeFi love fest, but how exactly is this post metafilter-related?
posted by Rastafari at 10:34 PM on November 17, 2001
Sorry to crash this MeFi love fest, but how exactly is this post metafilter-related?
By being what it is...
The Comedy Human, if nothing else.
Hwy, Leonids!
posted by y2karl at 12:03 AM on November 18, 2001
By being what it is...
The Comedy Human, if nothing else.
Hwy, Leonids!
posted by y2karl at 12:03 AM on November 18, 2001
Rastafari, I assumed it was an oblique reference to this, which is the second Chomsky thing in a coupla days, and the Nader reference is to a similar Naderama many moons ago. The implicit question : was the thread such a good idea?
At least that's what I figured.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 12:11 AM on November 18, 2001
At least that's what I figured.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 12:11 AM on November 18, 2001
'scuse me, there, Matt. Why hasn't the majority of this jocular and pointless crap been scrubbed? 'Lotta it be comin' from those who seem to have a prob with idle banter from others and all. Yet here...
posted by Wulfgar! at 1:10 AM on November 18, 2001
posted by Wulfgar! at 1:10 AM on November 18, 2001
Banish banter,
vanquish palaver,
go for the jocular,
earnest cadaver.
(From the title song "Die, Stimless Freeper" from the album "Earnest Cadaver's Greatest Hits")
posted by Opus Dark at 4:26 AM on November 18, 2001
vanquish palaver,
go for the jocular,
earnest cadaver.
(From the title song "Die, Stimless Freeper" from the album "Earnest Cadaver's Greatest Hits")
posted by Opus Dark at 4:26 AM on November 18, 2001
i got 3 bucks on the skinny guy with large hair and talks a little funny.
posted by clavdivs at 7:01 AM on November 18, 2001
posted by clavdivs at 7:01 AM on November 18, 2001
What Wulfgar! said. If there really was a point, something in the original post should have indicated what it was. Oblique references make bad threads, and this is one, top to bottom.
posted by rodii at 8:20 AM on November 18, 2001
posted by rodii at 8:20 AM on November 18, 2001
Sorry Rodii, I'll rephrase that in Approved Metafilter™ for you.
Ralph Nader is a popular metafilter progressive. Noam Chomsky. Who else is a popular metafilter progressive?
posted by alana at 11:19 AM on November 18, 2001
Ralph Nader is a popular metafilter progressive. Noam Chomsky. Who else is a popular metafilter progressive?
posted by alana at 11:19 AM on November 18, 2001
Thanks, Alan. Now that I know what your point was, I'm curious why you made it, and why in MetaTalk.
posted by rodii at 12:55 PM on November 18, 2001
posted by rodii at 12:55 PM on November 18, 2001
Closer the first time rodii. I was just poking fun at the way Chomsky has replaced Ralph as the defacto spokesperson for the new young left. Closer the first time rodii. I was just poking fun at the way Chomsky has replaced Ralph as the de facto spokesperson for the new young left metafilterite.
The second post was mocking the unimaginative posting style of a few active members.
posted by alana at 4:14 PM on November 18, 2001
The second post was mocking the unimaginative posting style of a few active members.
posted by alana at 4:14 PM on November 18, 2001
alan: I think the time has come for MetaFilter to adopt Harold Pinter, the most intelligent and infuriating lefty in the universe. Not only would he make mincemeat of Chomsky and Nader but he's anti-American as well. Perfect, no? Plus he's rich, famous, happily married, takes no shit from anyone and is probably the greatest playwright alive. Yes, he writes very well., which not even Momma Chom and Momma Nay could say for their sons.
And, to add insult to injury, he's often right on the button, even for old crusties like me, grrr...
posted by MiguelCardoso at 4:33 PM on November 18, 2001
And, to add insult to injury, he's often right on the button, even for old crusties like me, grrr...
posted by MiguelCardoso at 4:33 PM on November 18, 2001
The second post was mocking the unimaginative posting style of a few active members.
Have you ever mocked a posting style? Whose? Has your propensity for mockery ever rendered you unintelligible?
posted by rodii at 4:52 PM on November 18, 2001
Have you ever mocked a posting style? Whose? Has your propensity for mockery ever rendered you unintelligible?
posted by rodii at 4:52 PM on November 18, 2001
See, "Chomksy Chomksy Chomsky!" doesn't roll off the tongue. But I'm so proud to contribute something lasting to society..
AND LO, IT WAS WRITTEN, that in the months approaching November, left-leaning MeFiers shall flock around the knobbed knees of a famous liberal activist, and LO, the right-wingers shall quake with fury and rage as their enemies approach to smiteth.
posted by solistrato at 5:21 PM on November 18, 2001
AND LO, IT WAS WRITTEN, that in the months approaching November, left-leaning MeFiers shall flock around the knobbed knees of a famous liberal activist, and LO, the right-wingers shall quake with fury and rage as their enemies approach to smiteth.
posted by solistrato at 5:21 PM on November 18, 2001
Miguel, having seen him at the Cheltenham Literary festival a couple of years back you should add that Pinter is personally offensive, obnoxious and famed for the most uses of the word 'fuck' in a single play/poem/rant of any serious writer. Ever.
Oh, go and read 'American Football'. Nasty, nasty piece. Sorry, his air of self satisfaction just rubs me up in totally the wrong way. Why can't such a gifted man be less, well, misanthropic?
Having said that he'd lick a Chomsky Nader tag team in any hardcocre event. If chairs/tabels/office detritus were outlawed he might have more trouble. In fact I would pay good money (after bad) to see just such a fight. Maybe Chnader (snappy name, no?) could get some help from the centre? Anyone? Come on, Pinter's going down.
I'm getting far too into this
posted by nedrichards at 5:47 PM on November 18, 2001
Oh, go and read 'American Football'. Nasty, nasty piece. Sorry, his air of self satisfaction just rubs me up in totally the wrong way. Why can't such a gifted man be less, well, misanthropic?
Having said that he'd lick a Chomsky Nader tag team in any hardcocre event. If chairs/tabels/office detritus were outlawed he might have more trouble. In fact I would pay good money (after bad) to see just such a fight. Maybe Chnader (snappy name, no?) could get some help from the centre? Anyone? Come on, Pinter's going down.
I'm getting far too into this
posted by nedrichards at 5:47 PM on November 18, 2001
But Chomsky doesn't win by wit or brilliance. He just plows on with his turgid qualifications, subordinate clauses, indirect proofs and hypotheticals until his opponents are willing to commit seppuku just to see an end to it. Not even Harold Pinter-scale obnoxiousness can withstand the imperturbable Mr. C. He is a force of nature, just like...seepage.
Maybe Chnader (snappy name, no?)
"Chowder"
posted by rodii at 6:22 PM on November 18, 2001
Maybe Chnader (snappy name, no?)
"Chowder"
posted by rodii at 6:22 PM on November 18, 2001
This is getting more and more like Celebrity Deathmatch.
(Triple tag team? Pinter, Nader and alan v. Stoppard, Chomsky and rodii?
MTV's accepting suggestions....)
posted by mattpfeff at 6:23 PM on November 18, 2001
(Triple tag team? Pinter, Nader and alan v. Stoppard, Chomsky and rodii?
MTV's accepting suggestions....)
posted by mattpfeff at 6:23 PM on November 18, 2001
oops, I guess rodii wouldn't get along well with Big C. Maybe rodii, Nader and Stoppard v. Pinter, Chomsky and alan, then....
posted by mattpfeff at 6:26 PM on November 18, 2001
posted by mattpfeff at 6:26 PM on November 18, 2001
OK, OK, here is Pinter's 1992 poem(from the above link)about the Gulf War, proving nedrichards's point and, er, not a million miles from his current attitude to the the bombing campaign in Afghanistan, as revealed today to the BBC World Service. Enjoy!
American Football
(A Reflection upon the Gulf War)
Hallelullah!
It works.
We blew the shit out of them.
We blew the shit right back up their own ass
And out their fucking ears.
It works.
We blew the shit out of them.
They suffocated in their own shit!
Hallelullah.
Praise the Lord for all good things.
We blew them into fucking shit.
They are eating it.
Praise the Lord for all good things.
We blew their balls into shards of dust,
Into shards of fucking dust.
We did it.
Now I want you to come over here and kiss me on the mouth.
Harold Pinter
posted by MiguelCardoso at 6:52 PM on November 18, 2001
American Football
(A Reflection upon the Gulf War)
Hallelullah!
It works.
We blew the shit out of them.
We blew the shit right back up their own ass
And out their fucking ears.
It works.
We blew the shit out of them.
They suffocated in their own shit!
Hallelullah.
Praise the Lord for all good things.
We blew them into fucking shit.
They are eating it.
Praise the Lord for all good things.
We blew their balls into shards of dust,
Into shards of fucking dust.
We did it.
Now I want you to come over here and kiss me on the mouth.
Harold Pinter
posted by MiguelCardoso at 6:52 PM on November 18, 2001
That qualifies as poetry nowadays? Man, that sounds more like one of Stephen King's excursions into verse.
posted by darukaru at 7:10 PM on November 18, 2001
posted by darukaru at 7:10 PM on November 18, 2001
Whoa there. I've met the big C and he's a perfectly nice guy. I'm just talking about his style of argument. He's actually fairly witty in a very, very dry, very underplayed way. There's an odd whiff of William S. Burroughs to him somehow. But you would never confuse him with, say, someone you'd want to have on "Politically Incorrect."
I know next to nothing abut his political work, except what I've gotten secondhand. But I know his linguistic work very well. If you're not sick of this topic already, here's what I wrote about him on MeFi earlier today.
posted by rodii at 7:41 PM on November 18, 2001
I know next to nothing abut his political work, except what I've gotten secondhand. But I know his linguistic work very well. If you're not sick of this topic already, here's what I wrote about him on MeFi earlier today.
posted by rodii at 7:41 PM on November 18, 2001
"There's an odd whiff of William S. Burroughs to him" please...there is little comparison.
posted by clavdivs at 7:41 AM on November 19, 2001
posted by clavdivs at 7:41 AM on November 19, 2001
They both cut you up?
posted by MiguelCardoso at 11:06 AM on November 19, 2001
posted by MiguelCardoso at 11:06 AM on November 19, 2001
please...there is little comparison.
I just mean the physical presence--the austere, almost emaciated look and the dry, monotone, sarcastic voice.
posted by rodii at 12:00 PM on November 19, 2001
I just mean the physical presence--the austere, almost emaciated look and the dry, monotone, sarcastic voice.
posted by rodii at 12:00 PM on November 19, 2001
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
Chomsky! Chomsky! Chomsky!
Nadir! Nadir! Nadir!
posted by iceberg273 at 9:04 PM on November 17, 2001