Even more Wankery that we find acceptable...

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

While I generally disagree with his politics I think Mr. Savage raises an excellent point.

Now consider this...

Bill Maher and NYT's David Carr the "Middle Places" and "Low-Sloping Foreheads".

I apologise for linking as I seem to be having trouble embedding the video.

Now I would assume that both men in the second video consider themselves to be reasonably intelligent and enlightened men. If accused of being racist or bigoted I would imagine that they would be properly offended.

Which is why I'm going to ask an uncomfortable question, why is it ok to disparage one socio-political/ethnic class as stupid, dangerous, useless, ect... but not another. Would his comments have been more or less offensive had he been talking about "Fags" "Twats" "Spics" "Wops" "Chinks" or *Gasp* "N*ggers"?

Discuss.

Comments

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

And that makes blanket insults directed towards a specific class of people acceptable?

[anfalicious.livejournal.com]

I stand by everyone's right to throw blanket insults at people on the basis of their belief system. It's entirely plastic and an act of free will.

Where belief crosses over with culture it gets more difficult. I think the war on Christmas is more dangerous than the war on God.

[anfalicious.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I figure they're just taking the wrap for the actions of the people they elect to represent them.

[rasilio.livejournal.com]

No it is not and I can prove it.

I challenge you to believe that the opposite of what your current beliefs regarding the existence of a diety for 30 minutes.

Not to think about it, to to say you believe it, but to actually believe it.

The fact we we do not have very much if any conscious control over what we believe and to the extent that we can control it generally takes years to decades of "faking" it before we really change our thought processes with no guarantee during that time that we will ultimately be successful

[bikinisquad3000.livejournal.com]

Oh my, no, that's not how it works. One's beliefs aren't changed simply by deciding to change them; you need some new information from an outside source to convince you that you were incorrect earlier. Asking someone to change their beliefs by sheer act of will, without any info they didn't have before you asked, only proves that that's not the way to do it.

We absolutely have conscious control over whether we willingly risk challenging our beliefs by seeking out more information on Subject X and considering it seriously, or decide instead to ignore or reject anything that might shake our current convictions.

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

"you guys" who exactly?

Just to make sure I understand your position.

What you're saying is that "if my opponents do it, its ok for me to do it".

That is an exceptionaly weak argument.

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

My argument lies in questioning the sincerity of the post's 'uncomfortable question', as evidenced by the example you chose of an off the cuff remark from a relatively unknown culture columnist, as opposed to a long and storied history of vitriolic rhetoric from prominent members of the right wing media.

This community is predominantly Center-Left, if I had written a post about "what an asshole Glenn Beck is" people would have simply nodded and carried on.

A good agitator caters to his audience. ;)

Some of my favorites!

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

I especially like the way that Jonah Goldberg positioned himself to the right of Hitler.

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

Too late

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

People who live in the MidLands are not a protected class, nor are they a specific class. They are homogeneous.

Carr was using that term to reflect a simpler life (which, compared to living in a large city, IS simpler) and a simpler APPROACH to life.

Mahr, a comedian, made a joke about how "his" state is "smarter" than "another state". Yes...and...?

Carr joked about people who live in a particular state. His words were funny, (except to Slope). Oh BooHoo. Tell me a Texas Joke.