Letters to the Editor
drdave39
Published Letters: 27
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Irrational Opponents...
[Read the article: Majority of Israelis want to negotiate with Hamas]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Glenn-
as always, wonderful work. The issue is not whether we or Isreal should negotiate with Hamas- it is that the question is framed in such a way that nothing can change!
The mindset of the neo-cons (both in the US and in Isreal)in terms of dealing with opponents can be summed up as:
"admit you are the bad guys. You are wrong, and you know it. You know the difference between good and evil, and you choose to be evil. We are good and our only motive in destroying you is altruism (well, and the billions of dollars we self-righteously deserve...). ONCE YOU ADMIT YOU ARE WRONG WE CAN TALK (about how you will surrender without a fight)".
The concept that there are other points of view totally escapes them. I am a pretty fair psychologist (and Jewish by the way) and I can tell you, the ONLY way to get people to change is by convincing them that you understand and accept as valid their worldview as a starting point. Then you can get them to look at where things aren't working for them, and suggest incremental changes consistent with your now-shared worldview. The authoritarian "I'm the doctor, do what I tell you" model is utterly ineffective, producing at best passive and sullen token changes that never last.
These folks really are spoiled, petulant children in adult bodies. Scary.
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Signal to Noise Ratio...
[Read the article: Shocking new revelation: Unchecked government powers get abused]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I am not a regular here, but it is my favorite sourec of solid, critical thinking on what I beieve to be the most important issues of our time. I am disturbed bt the increasing amount of pointless, personal "gotcha" exchanges. If I want to read that crap I'll hang out on MySpace! Let's get back the high signal to noise ratio that characterized this place...
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No S**t....
[Read the article: Tucker Carlson unintentionally reveals the role of the American press]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'm a psychologist, and earlier in my career I didn't buy into the idea of "Freudian slips", the concept that people subconsciously let slip out a statement that reveals their true feelings. Unlike right wing authoritarians, I have leaned that I CAN be wrong. Carlson's comments pretty well prove it. Glenn, I agree completely that "success" in our pseudo-journalistic class is defined as "the ability to be spoon-fed sound bites at the pleaure of the powerful". My only question is how much of this is due to financial incentives, job security, etc. vs. a self-selection process where the perpetual hangers-on wih the cool group in high school rise to the top... as science has demonstrated, s**t floats!
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An idea- discuss the rules first???
[Read the article: Tucker Carlson unintentionally reveals the role of the American press]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]An earlier poster pointed out the different levels of agreed-to degrees of confidentiality in an interview. I couldn't help but compare them to my profession (psychologist). Before I actually talk to a new patient they must sign (and hopefully read!) a document that lays out the framework of confidentiality in their treatmnt, and the specific exceptions to it (if the reveal abuse of a child, risk of serious harm to self or others, if I am served with a court order for production of their records, etc.) I review these points in person as well. Can I dream about being handed a menu of choices from "deep background" to "on the record" by my interviewer, choose and sign my choice, then sue his/her butt off if they don't respect it???
There's a foot of snow on the ground- good day for daydreaming.
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I agree with Elephantman???
[Read the article: Tucker Carlson unintentionally reveals the role of the American press]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Well, not really, but there is a legitimate point- are the "media" equally syncopant in their treatment of the Dems vs Repubs? Would the same "gotcha" standard be applied to a McCain staffer? Based on the continuing disparity between McCain's lobbying ties vs. Obabma's real estate deals, I would have to say not...Let's not even bring up Swiftboat vs. GWB National Guard attendance...
It's ugly and destructive to our democracy when anyone does it, but it NOT "balanced" left to right. If it was, there would be a Right-Wing version of Media Matters (they've got the money!) showing misquoting, taking out of context in a way that penalizes Repubs, etc.
Elephants never forget. They do, however, produce mass quantities of elephant poop.
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Paradox...
[Read the article: I Like to Watch]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I am a psychologist who has had psychoanalytic training. I had to move past it in order to truly help people. I love/live for the show because it captures the paradox that doomed analysis so perfectly:
Your training says to divorce yourself from human reactions and emotions. Once you get into the trenches, you discover that your patients hit a wall they cannot pass until you become a real, emotional creature.
Has anyone else noticed that the only real breakthroughs that Paul's patients achieve is when his reserve cracks- when he becomes real to them? Think of Alex, seeing Paul in the role of his distant, emotion-proof father. Only when Paul showed genuine anger could Alex take the next step. It's called the therapeutic paradox- doing the right thing, for the wrong reason!
See you at 9:30 EST...
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Talkers..
[Read the article: House Democrats reject telecom amnesty, warrantless surveillance]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Robert Heinlein said it best:
"There are makers, fakers, and takers. No exceptions"
"Put not your faith in princes. Since they don't produce, they must steal".
I still miss him...
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Aycharaych/Heinlein/Motorcycles...
[Read the article: House Democrats reject telecom amnesty, warrantless surveillance]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]30 years on 2 wheels myself- it crtainly taught me how dumb the "average" driver realy is...
Starship Troopers is not a pro-fascist screed- it simply speaks to the issue of how we balance selfishness with loyalty to a group. Heinlein actually anicipated much of the current theorizing from evolutionary biology in this regard. Remember, to vote or hold elected office you weren't required to be a combat veteran- you simply had to volunteer and accept that it might cost your life- i.e. putting the group's welfare ahead of your own. If GWB had been a conscientious objector and spent Viet Nam in a leper hospital as an aide, that would be acceptable to me...
Ever read "Gulf"? It anticipated much of what we discuss here in terms of why the little man can't tell the difference between an unattracive truth and a prettily packaged lie...