Re: [CGUYS] Off topic-political
A few nights ago PBS ran a great program on Watergate 30 Years After. They interviewed many of the primary players looking at events from the perspective that 30 years provides. One of the interesting points was that those involved in the Nixon crimes were people of high personal virtue -- they didn't smoke, didn't drink, didn't chase the opposite sex, etc. But they had no morals when it came to the public sphere. There seemed to be no limits to what they would do to win a political battle. One reporter noted how those in the administration would just lie and lie and lie with absolutely no compunction. If caught in a lie they would just lie some more. They bribed, they bullied, they falesly prosecuted, they blackmailed, they burgled, they ruined people's lives. Watching the show I sadly noted that those were the good old days. It is worse today. As you see from the snippet below, you just can't engage Jeff in any serious discussion. Evil, stupid and/or ignorant, dishonest, sleazy indeed. And so very sad. He is a smart guy, but isn't willing to work with it. No, no Rev, you've got it all wrong. Your side is brilliant, honest, forthright, righteous, of the highest ethics and above reproach. The other side is evil, stupid and/or ignorant, dishonest, sleazy and always up to something no good. This discussion is not really off topic. This is an attempt to examine a decisionmaking process that is central to any discussion of how we use technology. It is key to thinking about DMCA, net neutrality, defective software security, false market statistics, etc. If we can't honestly examine the data, we can't honestly come to valid conclusions, and we can't effectively plot a future course. * == QUICK LIST-COMMAND REFERENCE - Put the following commands in == * == the body of an email send 'em to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] == * Join the list: SUBSCRIBE COMPUTERGUYS-L Your Name * Too much mail? Try Daily Digests command: SET COMPUTERGUYS-L DIGEST * Tired of the List? Unsubscribe command: SIGNOFF COMPUTERGUYS-L * New address? From OLD address send: CHANGE COMPUTERGUYS-L YourNewAddress * Need more help? Send mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * List archive at www.mail-archive.com/computerguys-l@listserv.aol.com/ * RSS at www.mail-archive.com/computerguys-l@listserv.aol.com/maillist.xml * Messages bearing the header X-No-Archive: yes will not be archived
[CGUYS] Off topic-Political
I gave some insights based on sociological studies, researched and confirmed facts, and scientific polls, and you offer platitudes, talking points, and untruths. In the passed 12 years, the political middle has been pushed further and further to the right. I live in a part of PA considered to be the Alabama of PA. I know what these people think, they are happy to talk about it, and what they use to shape their reality. Rush Limbaugh is involved. And they don't just think he's funny. They believe what he says, though some won't admit it. In order to maintain a degree of relative metal health, we all seek to find a reality we can live in. Others are belligerently ignorant, in an effort to hide fear. There has been considerable study of this behavior. If you are curious, check out this book, which can be read online: http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~altemey/ I'm just touching on some of what can be learned about what is happening to our society and why. This is scary stuff, but it's important. I suspect that a lot of people don't have the time or inclination to find out if what they hear is true. It is to your credit that you do try. Many people who watch Fox do not know that they are right leaning, sometimes radically so. These people are not stupid. They just don't know any better, for a host of different reasons. Knowing what our country has become, such ignorance is almost unforgivable. At this point polls are showing that most people who choose to watch Fox are right wing ideologues. In the last few years, even NPR has been penetrated by the right. Several of the media I mentioned previously are not out to make money. They are subsidized by radical right wing millionaires. They are part of the Republican noise machine. If you are curious, check out http://www.motherjones.com/news/qa/2004/09/09_400.html * == QUICK LIST-COMMAND REFERENCE - Put the following commands in == * == the body of an email send 'em to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] == * Join the list: SUBSCRIBE COMPUTERGUYS-L Your Name * Too much mail? Try Daily Digests command: SET COMPUTERGUYS-L DIGEST * Tired of the List? Unsubscribe command: SIGNOFF COMPUTERGUYS-L * New address? From OLD address send: CHANGE COMPUTERGUYS-L YourNewAddress * Need more help? Send mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * List archive at www.mail-archive.com/computerguys-l@listserv.aol.com/ * RSS at www.mail-archive.com/computerguys-l@listserv.aol.com/maillist.xml * Messages bearing the header X-No-Archive: yes will not be archived
