tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post6916900054472289529..comments2023-09-15T04:27:57.129-04:00Comments on Commentarama: Utopia Forgotten: The Left's Intellectual CollapseAndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-49023508924460257622011-06-02T06:22:30.755-04:002011-06-02T06:22:30.755-04:00darski, Agreed. From what I can see, I see nothin...darski, Agreed. From what I can see, I see nothing these days on their side except a desire to tear others down. I see nothing constructive.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-50266557764769023622011-06-02T02:30:05.725-04:002011-06-02T02:30:05.725-04:00<<. . . actually, I’m not even sure most lef...<<. . . actually, I’m not even sure most leftists want what you have. I get the feeling, they just don’t want you having it.>><br /><br />I think you have it all said in that one bit. May God have mercy on their souls.darskinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-67913753869511836512011-06-01T21:14:32.504-04:002011-06-01T21:14:32.504-04:00Euripides, Good question! However you did it, con...Euripides, Good question! However you did it, congrats!<br /><br />That's good that your school is relatively conservative. That makes a huge difference. I started in an ultra-conservative engineer school in upstate New York (Rensselaer) and I enjoyed the experience a lot, except for the engineering part. From there, I came home to the U of Colorado at the People's Republic of Boulder and I found that HIGHLY annoying. I could easily see teaching at the NY school as a joy, but "teaching" (read= indoctrinating) at Boulder would drive me insane. In fact, I butted heads with my professors all the time. I didn't want to be a pain in the ass, but I couldn't sit there and let them lie to me when I was paying for the privilege.<br /><br />That's ridiculous that anyone would call your blog hate-speech. So much for believing in the free exchange of ideas!AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-75052634152953698522011-06-01T18:53:30.224-04:002011-06-01T18:53:30.224-04:00Andrew: I wonder how I got through a history PhD a...Andrew: I wonder how I got through a history PhD at UCLA while remaining conservative. It's a marvel considering my dissertation chair was an avowed marxist from the Frankfurt School.<br /><br />I live and teach in a fairly conservative place in Arizona. There are enough conservatives in my department to balance out the radical left. None of my students have ever complained about being "indoctrinated" although some have tried to get me in trouble by complaining about my blog as "hate speech."<br /><br />It wouldn't be funny in a different department, say in English.Euripideshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02405637531928318155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-39593986130164202292011-06-01T17:59:20.703-04:002011-06-01T17:59:20.703-04:00Euripides, All excellent points. I've had my ...Euripides, All excellent points. I've had my share of hateful, strident leftist professors. We had one guy who showed us home movie of him picking beans for the Sandinistas and who turned his Intro to Sociology class (required) into an anti-Bush/Reagan rant.<br /><br />The thing about them becoming the power elite is very true. It's funny how all their talk about never stifling debate, etc. etc. only applied when they were trying to work their way up. Now that they're on top, it's all speech codes and re-education.<br /><br />How do you get along where you teach? Do they know you're a conservative?AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-19499316755918761392011-06-01T17:53:19.330-04:002011-06-01T17:53:19.330-04:00Andrew: One reason leftists have become so odious ...Andrew: One reason leftists have become so odious is that this generation grew up listening to idiot leftist professors. OK, two reasons: and because they are now the power elite. Um, three reasons: and that leftist dogma doesn't admit any other ideology can exists. OK, four reasons....Euripideshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02405637531928318155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-6570026022824756412011-06-01T16:56:55.207-04:002011-06-01T16:56:55.207-04:00Thanks Writer X! There have just been a whole ser...Thanks Writer X! There have just been a whole series of incredible comments that I've seen lately in articles and in the comment sections of articles that are so borderline insane that it finally got to me and I had to point it out.<br /><br />I agree, this is evidence that they have nothing to offer. If they had anything to offer, they would have done so. But they didn't. Instead, they skipped straight to character assassination. That's shameful.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-79283927281113664462011-06-01T16:54:42.270-04:002011-06-01T16:54:42.270-04:00Euripides, My scorn is earned, trust me. Like I s...Euripides, My scorn is earned, trust me. Like I say in the article, there was a time I knew good leftists -- people who were calm and rational and could talk like adults. I didn't agree with them on much, but we could still agree to disagree. Not anymore. Leftists these days are just so incredibly nasty and they say nothing. So what's the point in even listening to them?AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-35730898548179415722011-06-01T16:49:47.195-04:002011-06-01T16:49:47.195-04:00Excellent article, Andrew. Whenever I hear hysteri...Excellent article, Andrew. Whenever I hear hysterical rants from the Left (which is quite often, lately), it's a clear signal that the argument, whatever it is, is weak.Writer Xnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-35376324785965865372011-06-01T16:40:54.496-04:002011-06-01T16:40:54.496-04:00Don't hold back your feelings. Tell us what yo...Don't hold back your feelings. Tell us what you really feel about leftists.<br /><br />"They have lost any semblance of a philosophy and have devolved into a subspecies of retarded human that feeds on spite, excretes arrogance, and revels in ignorance and hypocrisy, all the while self-righteously claiming moral and intellectual superiority."<br /><br />Oh. You did. And I agree with that.Euripideshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02405637531928318155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-41924655357094537832011-06-01T15:26:43.843-04:002011-06-01T15:26:43.843-04:00Bev and T_Rav, We should take up a collection to b...Bev and T_Rav, We should take up a collection to buy Biden a six month vacation in the middle/end of 2012... since nothing's happening! ;-)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-79565340851647582692011-06-01T15:25:16.677-04:002011-06-01T15:25:16.677-04:00Thanks Jed! It's always glad to hear I'm ...Thanks Jed! It's always glad to hear I'm not alone in my opinions!<br /><br />You know, it's funny. On the one hand, I am almost happy the left has become this way because they've become toxic and we no longer face any danger that America will fall for their policies -- we just need to get Obama out of office.<br /><br />On the other hand, I can't help but feel that it would be a lot nicer world if they hadn't gone insane and weren't out there acting like trolls all over the place.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-39867856739895811532011-06-01T15:12:55.347-04:002011-06-01T15:12:55.347-04:00I love it! Obama 2014!
Best part is, if we say it...I love it! Obama 2014!<br /><br />Best part is, if we say it often enough, Joe Biden will actually start believing it and then repeat it at every turn.T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-88602795872685604792011-06-01T15:06:35.330-04:002011-06-01T15:06:35.330-04:00Patti - I was thrilled yesterday that some Lib on ...Patti - I was thrilled yesterday that some Lib on HuffPo yesterday was reminding people to vote for Obama in 2014! Obama 2014! I (and several others) jumped on it- Obama 2014! Obama 2014! <br /><br />Spread the word. We can do a little sloganeering too, ya' know...BevfromNYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14953050916932306270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-297746546539646752011-06-01T15:00:16.288-04:002011-06-01T15:00:16.288-04:00fine examples, Andrew. Your point is very similar ...fine examples, Andrew. Your point is very similar to the arguments of William Voegeli in "Never Enough" and is absolutely correct in my view.Tennessee Jedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10604275115906776992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-51835191955172677572011-06-01T14:36:18.209-04:002011-06-01T14:36:18.209-04:00T_Rav, I don't recall how they reacted to Cain...T_Rav, I don't recall how they reacted to Caine. But I know that they've been very, very nasty to Andrew Lloyd Webber, who is a conservative in theater -- one of about five.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-75899152559418830912011-06-01T14:05:39.775-04:002011-06-01T14:05:39.775-04:00Andrew, the Guardian piece puts me in mind of a co...Andrew, the Guardian piece puts me in mind of a couple years ago, when Michael Caine made similar comments about taxation, to the effect that he might consider moving to America if things across the pond got any worse. I don't know what sort of response that got from the Left in Britain; maybe considering his prestige and all, they didn't go after him the same way, but nothing's for certain anymore.T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-63901152811895746362011-06-01T13:23:24.397-04:002011-06-01T13:23:24.397-04:00Patti, LOL! You're probably right, though you...Patti, LOL! You're probably right, though you may be giving them too much credit. I figure they'll start with "you racist" and then proceed to wish my death to my relatives and pets and then finally an eternity of suffering to me. And I'll laugh, because that's all the leftist has in his little intellectual quiver. :-)<br /><br />But I am serious, if any leftist wants to come explain what their ultimate goal is, then I am happy to listen.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-69891534914940813992011-06-01T12:52:08.302-04:002011-06-01T12:52:08.302-04:00andrew: PEW PEW PEW! you be shootin' up the j...andrew: PEW PEW PEW! you be shootin' up the joint. oh how i hope some leftist stumbles in here and gives. you. what. for. wouldn't that be delicious?! <br /><br />they would open with something like this: do you know what your problem is?! your problem is you like to base your logic on facts and not *feelings*. blahblahblahYOURACIST!blahblahblahOBAMA2012!blahblahblahetal.<br /><br />and then the rest of us would lol before we tore them a new logic hole.Notawonkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15388997298014397980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-91530317084590652642011-06-01T12:51:55.016-04:002011-06-01T12:51:55.016-04:00Bev, Very true. Slogans are highly effective for ...Bev, Very true. Slogans are highly effective for brainwashing because they are generally vague and meaningless and yet they appear to have specific meaning and they are highly memorable. And, sadly, it's usually hard to explain the morality or the logic behind something, but it's very easy to turn it into a silly bumpersticker. So you get a lot of bumpersticking arguing in politics.<br /><br />Take the example of "Believe the Children" -- perhaps the most idiotic bumpersticker of them all. What does it really mean? It means nothing. But it sure sounds like it does. So you get people to line up behind it because it sounds innocuous and so gosh darn nice... but what does it mean? No one ever asks that question.<br /><br />And that really bothers me. People need to learn to look past the ads and slogans and start asking hard questions. Sometimes, I suspect that would could open work camps in this country and as long as we called them "Happiness Camps," no one would ask what's really going on -- and those who did would be accused of being opposed to "giving people their fair share of happiness."AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-91501484495966981072011-06-01T12:43:35.522-04:002011-06-01T12:43:35.522-04:00Bev, That's true. The anonimity of the intern...Bev, That's true. The anonimity of the internet has played a big role in this. For one thing, it's a lot safer to say these things when no one can see you. Thus, you get more of them. For another, it becomes a vicious circle. If you get attention by being nasty, and everyone knows this. Then more and more people will be nasty. That reduces the attention you get. So you need to get even nastier to keep getting attention. At the same time, when you're in a room full of people who are running around saying "death to XXX!" you get numb to it and saying something like "I hope XXX suffers" becomes a lot easier and doesn't even sound extreme to you anymore -- and leftists do live in bubbles.<br /><br />But to me, the real key is that the left is not moderating these people. They are actively encouraging them. For all the anger they heave at Fox, Fox never allows nasty or slanderous comments by their guests. MSNBC almost requires it. So when you see everyone on TV doing it.... and the websites you visit are spinning out of control and no one stops it (or they even actively encourage it).... it doesn't take much to establish a new lower level of normal.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-88537387751594657722011-06-01T12:38:14.702-04:002011-06-01T12:38:14.702-04:00Andrew, the simplest way to get people to brainwas...Andrew, the simplest way to get people to brainwash people and to change their minds without them knowing it is by "sloganeering".<br /><br />Don't Mess With Texas<br />Click It or Ticket<br />Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute<br />and the visual of a single tear from a Native American...and our all time favorite -<br />Hope and ChangeBevfromNYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14953050916932306270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-59326528526536065842011-06-01T12:36:40.021-04:002011-06-01T12:36:40.021-04:00T_Rav, They did. I saw a lot of "fat" a...T_Rav, They did. I saw a lot of "fat" and "fat bitch".<br /><br />I don't think it's a coincidence that the nastiness is on the leftist paper and not the conservative paper. The right really hasn't gone off the cliff like the left has. There are a few on the right on certain issues who are crazy, but for the most part, the right just doesn't engage in the raw hate the left specializes in these days.<br /><br />What's more interesting to me is that the article written by the Guardian is itself rather nasty, sarcastic and full of false logic. I find this interesting because it means that it's not just a few crazy trolls being nasty, but this is being actively encouraged by their opinion leaders -- hence Olbermann's worse person award to dehumanize his opponents and Schultz calling Ingraham a "slut." That's not language that opinion leaders would have even considered using a decade ago, but now it's common place. Look at Pelosi calling Bush "stupid," that was a first. They've decided that they can say anything now and they are actively encouraging their readers to follow suit. Hence, the comments in the Guardian article are 100% vile.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-68448310660287918092011-06-01T12:34:28.803-04:002011-06-01T12:34:28.803-04:00Of course the other obvious point is that now ever...Of course the other obvious point is that now everyone can comment about everything at any time of the day or night anonymously. So that allows for one to say anything without fear of retribution except from some other anonymous commenter. <br /><br />What one may have thought or said in one's own private Idaho, is now splashed all over the internet at lightening speed for all to read. It is enpowering to make a statement and have people respond. It makes one feel that they are being listened to. That's pretty addictive and enbolding. <br /><br />And of course it also sets people like Adele up for ridicule for commenting about her tax situation too.<br /><br />And Rep. Andrew Weiner (D/NY) allegedly send pictures of his crotch to his Twitter buddies. Or some hacker...BevfromNYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14953050916932306270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-44242590444606608572011-06-01T12:14:27.784-04:002011-06-01T12:14:27.784-04:00Andrew, I had just come across the Adele story las...Andrew, I had just come across the Adele story last night. I think it's telling that it was the Guardian article and comments which were so full of sneering and nastiness (being Britain's biggest left-wing newspaper) while the Telegraph counterpiece was supportive of her but in a restrained, sensible way. Honestly, I'm a little surprised that the commenters didn't throw out some weight jokes (come to think of it, they probably did and I just didn't read down far enough).T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.com