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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
There lies a problem. I believe Glenn when he describes the obsessive nature of Art's actions. I think it best, but I am no doctor, that Art James (bebop/GC) take a vacation from here at least --- and for his own good as well as for the good of Glenn's comment section.
I intend to do likewise, or at least cut way back. After all, it is a place for Glenn's work and there should be continual new voices and perspectives. The regulars here sometimes begin to think it is a chat room and they are looking for ... whatever.
Art, if you are reading this please let someone here know by e-mail if you are OK. You could post a few items over at Jebbie's place and he could put you on your own page if you need to communicate; assuming he would do so. But most of all, try to remember wu-wei in this matter. No?
This strikes me as the likely origin for the word. Israel's existential threat is the way it explains how it can be the most powerful military power in the region, with the most thorough diplomatic shield in the history of the UN, and a first world economy and standard of living, and still somehow be in danger of complete collapse at all times.
normbreyfogle
Try not to take it so hard. There are few here who haven't been nipped a time or two by the persona that is Kitt.
-- karr(sic)
Can't say that I know what Karr(sic) means by that exactly, but it was funny. Probably even true. Anyway, I don't have any animosity towards Normbreyfogle. If it seems that way, well heck.
Or write it for that matter. That is what google is for!
J'aime l'odeur de ma propre farts
http://www.google.com/language_tools
"The benefit of having a very smart, informed and active comment section can't be overstated."
--- Glenn Greenwald
Some of us who caucus off in another room have been discussing bop's plight; and it seems, based on some back and forth among us, that Glenn is struggling with more than just the bop.
Now somehow bop got caught in Glenn's crosshairs and bop got his back up, and, with fair warning from Glenn, would not back down. Would that be a writer's pride at work? Well, what else is new? No matter; it's Glenn's place.
This is speculation only, but Glenn's larger struggle may be with other commenters who are: blowhards, hijackers, ad hominem slashers, sandbaggers, political hitters, diversionists, sidetrackers, obfuscators, and any number of oppositionistas who could be clogging the message here.
What is Glenn harping on? What is the message? Why nothing much really, except that the rule of law must be protected, even in extraordinary times - especially in "times that try men's souls." Hey, no biggie.
But, with the attention Glenn is getting, as an expert in the arcana of constitutional law, and as the torture issue seems not ready to die just yet - even as power changes this month - there is blowback on the issue.
So the bop is banned, perhaps, within some larger confusion about how to keep this comment section strong, and as much as possible, on point.
Maybe Glenn is asking for some help here in setting up an internal procedure (The Board of UT Peer Reviewers?) to keep things straight and focused, by members of the "very smart, informed and active comment section."
How to work that out?
All writers have an obligation to keep themselves in check, on point, and brief, especially in what is, in essence, a debate format. Bombast and excessive length wear out after a while.
Ever hear of pre-post editing? Several times?
Is a discussion possible without it turning in to a writing workshop? There's no time for that here.
Maybe we can include bop too. His colorful metaphors and poetics have, up until recently, added a lot of flavor to the threads; and I'm sensing that he is missed. But he should cut his stuff too, like the rest of us, to keep it sharp.
Nice! Well put!
Hey, if I'm gonna lambaste posters I don't agree with, I gotta be say nice things about posters who they put in a real good post, from which I get naches aplenty.
Lest the impression I am a sourpuss becomes general.
ondelette@3:39
I think I'm also worried, perhaps more, at the research to delete memories. Although I know it's being done with the best of intentions (to alleviate PTSD), you can see why it might best be regulated. Given what Lt.Col. Vandeveld says about BSCT psychologists and their ethics, and all.
You may find this interesting--
http://volokh.com/posts/1202910881.shtml
(see sig)
Before Haig could convey the fact that the patient was able to hear every word being said (the intercom was only working in one direction), the pathologist revealed that the patient had a very bad form of cancer and said so without the kind of kid gloves he might have used if he thought the patient were awake.
The patient began shrieking, “Oh, my God. Oh, my God. My kids.” At this point, the story gets really interesting. The anesthesiologist decided to inject the patient with an anesthetic called propofol. In addition to its anesthetic effects, propofol “erases” (that’s a direct quote) the patient’s memory of events that precede it by a few minutes. Here’s what happened next...
The implications are large when we start thinking about torture and specifically the Yoo memorandum.
I'm not entirely sure why, but I feel funny weighing in on Glenn's excluding bebop-o.
But, in for a penny, in for a 2¢ plain:
I'm still seriously pissed off at "Common Dreams" inexplicably banning a bunch of us without notice or explanation. I wrote a dandy of a letter to Craig "Heckuva Job Brownie II" Brown, CD's Executive Director; unsurprisingly, I was not afforded the courtesy of a reply.
So I'm hardly objectively pro-banning. But it's one thing to miss good old bebop-o, and another thing to wheedle Glenn to please let him back in the house just one more time... please?
I respect bebop-o too much to really whale on this, but there's something a tad... askew... about any commenter, once banned, cranking out long stream-of-consciousness repetitive screeds. Does anyone doubt Glenn's brief description of the burdensome volume of post-banned comments?
And the banning was occasioned by bebop-o's determined flouting of civility and good manners; it felt like a squatter obstinately refusing to vacate the premises after setting a series of small fires in the corners.
I've said it before; I've said it again: I've been screwed over by technology-assisted, petty, precious, asshole-moderated comments sites. Glenn has always shown remarkable patience and tolerance, and a humane, deft touch in censoring/controlling the comments threads.
It would be unfortunate if, as happens in such conflicts, Glenn somehow becomes the "bad guy". Glenn hasn't harshly condemned bebop-o or shown anything but good will towards him; the prospects of bebop-o's future access is strictly between him and Glenn, IMO.
That doesn't mean that the dearly departed persona non grata ought to be ignored or forgotten. But I urge restraint in second-guessing, noodging, or guilt-tripping Glenn.
Best wishes, bebop-o, sincerely.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Once seen as a lunatic fringe, reactionary anti-women groups are courting respectability
Salon headlines in your mailbox
