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Why isn't it possible to have a political conversation with someone, that doesn't involve the repeated talking points of a celebrity media person?
By Andrew Pollack on 11/09/2008 at 01:38 AM ESTI've had some really interesting conversations lately, but they quickly seem to devolve into a repetitive litany of talking points and off the wall statistics that clearly come from some media personalities research time. Its a shame, because from that point forward I'm not having a conversation with the person in front of me -- or on the discussion site -- I'm playing a game called "combat the out of context research guy talking points."
That bores me.
Anyone who wants to come and talk politics with me here is welcome -- particularly those who hold a different opinion. Bring your own thoughts and opinions though. If I want to hear what Al Franken's or Rush Limbaugh's research teams can come up with to make good sounding talking points, I can turn to their content directly.
re: Why isn't it possible to have a political conversation with someone, that doesn't involve the repeated talking points of a celebrity media person?By Ed Brill on 11/09/2008 at 10:31 AM EST
re: Why isn't it possible to have a political conversation with someone, that doesn't involve the repeated talking points of a celebrity media person?By Erik on 11/09/2008 at 10:46 AM EST
looks like it was categorized as both "Politics" *and* "Lotus Domino" --
http://www.thenorth.com/apblog4.nsf/rss20.xml
http://www.thenorth.com/apblog4.nsf/rss20.xml
An error on my partBy Andrew Pollack on 11/09/2008 at 11:41 AM EST
Blogging when tired, I checked the other box as a matter of habit. Story
categories are a pick list item when I publish. The system was designed so
that eventually I can feed a more newspaper like front page with stories using
subject area based layouts.
categories are a pick list item when I publish. The system was designed so
that eventually I can feed a more newspaper like front page with stories using
subject area based layouts.
re: Why isn't it possible to have a political conversation with someone, that doesn't involve the repeated talking points of a celebrity media person?By Dwight Wilbanks on 11/09/2008 at 01:22 PM EST
I had a conversation Wednesday, that really put things in context for me.
The Person I was talking to seemed to be an intelligent capable person, but, I
was told that Obama was born in Ethiopia and a secret Muslim. I was shocked,
clearly, its not a matter of Obama winning, but, instead McCain loosing the
election by not bringing these facts to light. I wonder how many of the votes
that McCain did get were people that were on the "inside" with these secret
facts.
If the guy had told me that my cat was from outerspace and had come to take him
to the planet zambar, I would not spend any time arguing with him either. I
simply changed the subject. I like a good arguement, thats just not one of
them.
The Person I was talking to seemed to be an intelligent capable person, but, I
was told that Obama was born in Ethiopia and a secret Muslim. I was shocked,
clearly, its not a matter of Obama winning, but, instead McCain loosing the
election by not bringing these facts to light. I wonder how many of the votes
that McCain did get were people that were on the "inside" with these secret
facts.
If the guy had told me that my cat was from outerspace and had come to take him
to the planet zambar, I would not spend any time arguing with him either. I
simply changed the subject. I like a good arguement, thats just not one of
them.
re: Why isn't it possible to have a political conversation with someone, that doesn't involve the repeated talking points of a celebrity media person?By mdmadph on 11/10/2008 at 03:26 PM EST
The way Obama-hating-losers in the US are putting it, they're starting to
believe in Obama's divinity more than anyone else!
According to them, we're talking about a man who is 1) simultaneously a Muslim
and a Christian; 2) simultaneously was born in three different countries; 3) is
a criminal mastermind, having no US citizenship but who has somehow forged
papers so perfectly that the FBI, CIA, and NSA weren't able to discover his
true identity even though you KNOW they were looking; 4) somehow still had
enough time between hiding his true identity to run for President of the US,
and win.
The man is some sort of superhuman. He must never sleep at all.
believe in Obama's divinity more than anyone else!
According to them, we're talking about a man who is 1) simultaneously a Muslim
and a Christian; 2) simultaneously was born in three different countries; 3) is
a criminal mastermind, having no US citizenship but who has somehow forged
papers so perfectly that the FBI, CIA, and NSA weren't able to discover his
true identity even though you KNOW they were looking; 4) somehow still had
enough time between hiding his true identity to run for President of the US,
and win.
The man is some sort of superhuman. He must never sleep at all.
re: Why isn't it possible to have a political conversation with someone, that doesn't involve the repeated talking points of a celebrity media person?By Steve McDonagh on 11/09/2008 at 06:51 PM EST
We call it "whataboutery" and it is the bread and butter of political chats in
Ireland as the myths expounded appear deeper than in fact they are
Ireland as the myths expounded appear deeper than in fact they are
re: Why isn't it possible to have a political conversation with someone, that doesn't involve the repeated talking points of a celebrity media person?By Ben Langhinrichs on 11/10/2008 at 08:53 AM EST
I agree, although I must admit to a certain perverse fun with such people.
When I am in just the right mood, I start spouting back talking points, but a
whole mixture of right and left talking points that may even be
self-contradictory, but sound deep. It is amazing how often I can get someone
from the right to agree to wildly left-wing talking points if they are
sufficiently mixed with right-wing talking points. I am sure it would be
possible to do the opposite, but I am not smart enough to do it that way.
Probably the moral equivalent of feeding the zoo animals when the signs clearly
ask you not to, but I can't resist. I am just a bad person.
When I am in just the right mood, I start spouting back talking points, but a
whole mixture of right and left talking points that may even be
self-contradictory, but sound deep. It is amazing how often I can get someone
from the right to agree to wildly left-wing talking points if they are
sufficiently mixed with right-wing talking points. I am sure it would be
possible to do the opposite, but I am not smart enough to do it that way.
Probably the moral equivalent of feeding the zoo animals when the signs clearly
ask you not to, but I can't resist. I am just a bad person.
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