Limbaugh, Remove Foot insert the Other

[RandFan]

Emotion? Hulk not control by emotion!!!!!

You insult Hulk! Hulk complete rationalist!!!!!

Now you pay!!! Hulk SMASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, ok.

 

[Lurker]

Hey, I dislike Limbaugh as much as the next liberal but I wouldn't watch him die. I think most of the comments here are hyperbole, nothing more.

Lurker

 

[Mephisto]

Hey, I dislike Limbaugh as much as the next liberal but I wouldn't watch him die. I think most of the comments here are hyperbole, nothing more.

Lurker

Heheh, you don't know me very well. I've watched better men die, and there are soldiers in Iraq who will watch better men die TODAY. Okay, maybe I wouldn't just watch him die, I might run around in circles whispering, "somebody please do something."

 

[Ladewig]

Heheh, you don't know me very well. I've watched better men die, and there are soldiers in Iraq who will watch better men die TODAY. Okay, maybe I wouldn't just watch him die, I might run around in circles whispering, "somebody please do something."

Well, if that's your position, the least you could do is take some photos so that the rest of us could enjoy the moment - besides you could sell them to a tabloid.

 

[Mephisto]

Well, if that's your position, the least you could do is take some photos so that the rest of us could enjoy the moment - besides you could sell them to a tabloid.

And I thought I was the only callous one here.

 

[marksman]

It's internet balls and nothing more. Everyone knows I'm the only real person in the internet and therefore anything I say is both taken completely seriously and is absolutely unable to offend anybody. (And when I say "everyone" I mean "Me", since nobody else exists.)

That's the hypocrisy of hyperbole on fora like these. On the one hand, ostensibly you think you're here to exhange ideas, which, in theory requires the assumption that there are people out there in cyberspace who could be persuaded by argument. On the other hand, people feel free to make outrageous emotion-laden statements that no rational person could ever think would be persuasive, and in fact, is very likely to alienate the very people assumed to exist in the second sentence.

What this leads me to believe, is, even on a forum of self-identifying skeptics, who are supposed to be driven by reason over emotion, emotion is just too strong. I find it sad.

If it weren't for people like Randfan and others who appear to try to keep their emotions in check on this forum even in the most emotional discussions, I'd have stopped posting here long ago (which I suppose wouldn't be so heartbreaking for most people, but I'd miss it).

 

[Ryan O'Dine]

For my part, I’m always left wanting when the villain of a story, after living decades on caviar and champagne off the backs of the brutally treated slaves, finally -- in the last 15 seconds of act III -- gets blown away by the hero with the uzi.

99.999...% of his life is reward, and somehow a sudden death at the hands of the “Good Guy” balances the universe?

There are worse things to wish on Limbaugh than death. I, personally, wish him a day when he feels all the shame he ought to have been feeling all along.

 

[Mephisto]

It's internet balls and nothing more. Everyone knows I'm the only real person in the internet and therefore anything I say is both taken completely seriously and is absolutely unable to offend anybody. (And when I say "everyone" I mean "Me", since nobody else exists.)

That's the hypocrisy of hyperbole on fora like these. On the one hand, ostensibly you think you're here to exhange ideas, which, in theory requires the assumption that there are people out there in cyberspace who could be persuaded by argument. On the other hand, people feel free to make outrageous emotion-laden statements that no rational person could ever think would be persuasive, and in fact, is very likely to alienate the very people assumed to exist in the second sentence.

What this leads me to believe, is, even on a forum of self-identifying skeptics, who are supposed to be driven by reason over emotion, emotion is just too strong. I find it sad.

If it weren't for people like Randfan and others who appear to try to keep their emotions in check on this forum even in the most emotional discussions, I'd have stopped posting here long ago (which I suppose wouldn't be so heartbreaking for most people, but I'd miss it).

No one is completely devoid of emotions. Stoicism has never made anyone correct, nor has scientific deduction. There are people I hate for what I believe they have done, and I reserve the right to read of their mishaps with great pleasure. Rein in your emotions if you feel you must, but that is only one path among many.

 

[RandFan]

Heheh, you don't know me very well. I've watched better men die, and there are soldiers in Iraq who will watch better men die TODAY. Okay, maybe I wouldn't just watch him die, I might run around in circles whispering, "somebody please do something."

See, I don't know if you are being serious or not. No one has made an argument why Limbaugh deserves death and apparently few if any really want that. Hell, I've given more reasons than anyone else why the guy deserves ridicule and scorn. But it looks like for most it's just hyperbole.

While I probably wouldn't watch the man die without giving aid I can at least make an argument as to why I would likely smile if I found out Phelps got hit by a bus. If you are serious Mephisto tell me why, if not then don't reply and I'll get it.

 

[Tricky]

For my part, I’m always left wanting when the villain of a story, after living decades on caviar and champagne off the backs of the brutally treated slaves, finally -- in the last 15 seconds of act III -- gets blown away by the hero with the uzi.

99.999...% of his life is reward, and somehow a sudden death at the hands of the “Good Guy” balances the universe?

I agree completely, in fact in a recent movie remake of... uh... I guess I'd better go into spoiler mode:

...The Count of Monte Christo, one of my favorite books from childhood, the ending was sweet and appropriate revenge. In the damn movie, he just kills the villian. I wanted to find the director and punch him in the nose for ruining a great story.

 

[marksman]

No one is completely devoid of emotions.

I never said they were. I just said that baring one's emotion in a political discussion forum seems antithetical to the presumed point of a discussion forum.

In my real life, I bare my emotions plenty. I vent to my wife, to my friends, etc. but I'm not trying to convince my wife of anything. I'm not looking to my friends to inform me of facts. My personal life is not a skeptics' forum.

Stoicism has never made anyone correct, nor has scientific deduction.

I didn't think the point of this forum was to be be correct in all things at all times, but to discuss, share ideas and come to conclusions through skepticism.

If you're not a fan of scientific reasoning, why are you here? Aren't there plenty of fora out there where you can knock heads with rabid republicans without ever being expected to defend yourself rationally?

 

[Mephisto]

See, I don't know if you are being serious or not. No one has made an argument why Limbaugh deserves death and apparently few if any really want that. Hell, I've given more reasons than anyone else why the guy deserves ridicule and scorn. But it looks like for most it's just hyperbole.

While I probably wouldn't watch the man die without giving aid I can at least make an argument as to why I would likely smile if I found out Phelps got hit by a bus. If you are serious Mephisto tell me why, if not then don't reply and I'll get it.

First off, you'd be hard pressed to convince me that "deserving death" is the issue. We all die. Maybe I'm saying that Limbaugh would be better off NOT having me present when his time comes.

Regarding why I wouldn't lift a finger . . . I think this summed it up nicely.

No, I would let him die for the harm he has done to the people of this country directly and indirectly.
Obviously I am not Mephisto - he may have a different specific reason.

Which brings me to another point, I wasn't the only person here who voiced a similar opinion.

If I saw Rush Limbaugh drowning 100 feet from shore, I would throw him a rope 55 feet long. I would then remind him as he drowns that I at least went more than halfway ....

Charlie (the world would be better off without him) Monoxide

Why are you not asking similar questions of Charlie?

 

[RandFan]

Regarding why I wouldn't lift a finger . . . I think this summed it up nicely.

? "Harm"? What harm?

Which brings me to another point, I wasn't the only person here who voiced a similar opinion.

You're not the only person I asked and I have made the question in general to everyone. I'd be happy if Charlie would explain himself.

But come on, you want the guy dead. Surely you can think of at least one non-lame reason? I assume you are pro-death penalty, right? Hey if you can take pleasure from Limbaugh's death then surely you can take pleasure from the death of people who premeditate and kill others, right? Cool.

Why are you not asking similar questions of Charlie?

Ok, Charlie, what harm?

This just convinces me more that your objections are ideologically based. Democrats do good and Republicans do harm.

And this is a skeptics forum?

If it's hyperbole then cool. But why is this such a difficult question for anyone to answer?

 

[Mephisto]

I never said they were. I just said that baring one's emotion in a political discussion forum seems antithetical to the presumed point of a discussion forum.

As though emotions never flare in most of the Palestinian/Israel threads? I don't think you've ever made this point in other threads, have you?

You're right and the discussion in question was whether or not, Rush Limbaugh is an insensitive idiot who frequently says things he shouldn't. You won't begrudge me the same luxury, will you?

I didn't think the point of this forum was to be be correct in all things at all times, but to discuss, share ideas and come to conclusions through skepticism.

Fine, then quit making value judgements of things I've said and discuss whether Rush Limbaugh should be skeptical of any aid I might give him.

If you're not a fan of scientific reasoning, why are you here? Aren't there plenty of fora out there where you can knock heads with rabid republicans without ever being expected to defend yourself rationally?

Is this specifically a forum for scientific reasoning? I don't think politics is ever quite as precise. If scientific reasoning is superior over a passionate response why do so many educated people still support Limbaugh or Bush or even war?

 

[Mephisto]

But come on, you want the guy dead.

If your first assumption is wrong how tight can the rest of your argument be?

I never said I wanted Limbaugh dead, I said I wouldn't lift a finger to help him.

 

[Charlie Monoxide]

First off, you'd be hard pressed to convince me that "deserving death" is the issue. We all die. Maybe I'm saying that Limbaugh would be better off NOT having me present when his time comes.

Regarding why I wouldn't lift a finger . . . I think this summed it up nicely.



Which brings me to another point, I wasn't the only person here who voiced a similar opinion.



Why are you not asking similar questions of Charlie?

Rush Limbaugh is just a noise-making talking head on the radio. Apparently some people like him and advertisers see value in paying him millions in ad revenue. He's an embodiement of the American dream.

Like Letterman said of Bill O'Reilly, "60% of what you say is crap", I would say 90% of what I post is humor (sarcasm and cynicism).

If there was a situation where Rush was in peril and I was able to help him out, I'm sure I would help him out.

Charlie (no organ donations though) Monoxide

 

[senorpogo]

No one has yet attempted to clarify the "harm" that Rush has done to the people of this country. What is this harm?

 

[Tricky]

Frankly, I'd do all I reasonably could to save Limbaugh's life, then I'd make sure it was known how much I opposed his beliefs. It would be of greater benefit to the country to have Limbaugh humiliated by a caring liberal than to have him die. It would be horrible to see a headline like "Limbaugh drowns while Demoncrat refuses to lift a finger."

 

[RandFan]

If your first assumption is wrong how tight can the rest of your argument be?

I never said I wanted Limbaugh dead, I said I wouldn't lift a finger to help him.

That sounds like a distinction without a difference to me. How do you think the two premises differ?

 

[Lurker]

What harm has Rush done? I would say he has helped polarize the country moreso than other people have. He continuously fills the airwaves with an "us vs them" meme where he and his cohorts are the sole good guys. He continuously mischaracterizes the other side of the debate and gets his facts wrong, thus making his listeners more ignorant. He ridicules the other side and marginalizes those who disagree with him, thus providing lessons for his listeners to do likewise which keeps true debate from occurring. He continually lampoons those who look at complex issues and see shades of grey in them as Rush simplifies everything to a soundbyte summary despite the issue not being conducive to such simplification. He is anti-science with his regard to anything that casts the Republican party on the wrong side of scientific consensus. His ridicule of this only makes it harder for true scientists to be heard.

That's a start. I don't think it is worthy of death, but he ain't helping IMO.

Lurker