patrick.net

Dan8267 says

I have a theory that Shrek and Mars are the same person, but they don't know it.

Oh, that is something to consider...

Dan8267 says

I should have known you faked your own death. The album you released was a dead giveaway.

Ah, ha nice reference.

Obama's a great example. He just won't get on TV and say things that need to be said, like "It is our obligation as a country to provide some minimal level of health care for every citizen, the same way we provide for the common defense."

Obama is in campaign mode now. He's starting to say stuff like this again. I doubt his second term will be any more successful than his first though. He might make an impact if the Democrats get a super-duper majority in both houses. Having a mere super-majority didn't help.

Dan, the Dems didn't have a supermajority in the Senate for that long (between Franken being seated and Scott Brown taking Kennedy's seat), and at any rate what is necessary is a supermajority of *liberal* dems not just dems.

The House is somewhat different since it is strictly majoritarian.

Here's a cool graph:

showing how the more-conservative right-tail of Senate Dems was able to control everything in 2009-2010.

MarsAttacks! says

You say 'tom-ayto', I say 'tom-ahhto' and shrek says 'Obambi'. It's all relative.

You say intensive interrogation. I say torture. You say eugenics. I say genocide. You say high pressured intimate relations. I say rape. Yep, it's all in the wording isn't it?

Here's a little math problem for you.

How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg?

Answer: Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.

MarsAttacks! says

Avoid the forums? Shrek told me it was bad, but I didn't know it was that bad. That's why I started reading them again to see what he was talking about.

Your buddy drove people away due to his constant personal attacks. It's sad that he thought it was "bad" without recognizing that he made it that way.

MarsAttacks! says

He DOES like to say things constructed in 'logical trap's that trick people into thinking he said something that he actually did not. He does it to me all the time. I've gotten better at paying attention to what he actually says as a result.

Cool. We done talking about your friend, now? He was offensive and I certainly hope that he's gone.

MarsAttacks! says

I didn't know I had be on p-net every waking moment just to wait a question from you.

Well, now that you read his question, you could technically answer it.

And the duck takes round one.

Bellingham Bob says

Dan, the Dems didn't have a supermajority in the Senate for that long (between Franken being seated and Scott Brown taking Kennedy's seat), and at any rate what is necessary is a supermajority of *liberal* dems not just dems.

Actually no one owns a seat. One could argue that Coakley might have deserved the seat but she ran a really bad campaign. SNL even joked if she ran for mayor of Berkley against Cheney she'd lose.

I hear you though. In all honestly I would say that the concept at least of a north american liberal is dead. The last liberal president was Nixon. I can make arguments on how Clinton (easily) and Carter were not liberal..they might have tried at first but they weren't.

The problem that the left makes is that they go for people due to popularity rather than those that spent some time. Here's an example. In 2004 unions backed Dean rather than Gephardt. Dean overspent and ran out of cash quickly leading to Kerry to pretty much take the lead.
Kerry frankly didn't really compete well. He actually helped take down BCCI back in the 1980's but didn't even mention it.

In order for any group to gain legitimacy they would have to have a number of wins on their belt. Going after health care is a pretty big goal. The framing should be on more less controversial issues. Who today can only argue that we are winning the war on drugs? Nixon, Reagan, Bush 41...how come democrats don't sponsor decriminalization? It would easily save the government money. Many states have or are moving in this direction.

Some issues you cannot win. Gun control doesn't make that much sense to advocate.it's no longer a major issue...the environment is getting in the same boat.

Some of the terminology can be changed to win various arguments. Same sex marriage should be rephrased to be a "freedom" to marry rather than a "right". Democrats could win in many areas just by changing that.

I think the biggest flaw is that democrats don't "sell" government. If they stand for something they should at least defend it.

MarsAttacks! says

Can you provide a list for me of who is a liberal on this thread and who isn't?

Again, with the labels! You want I should lay down & die?!

Sorry, momentary lapse - I channeled my jewish grandmother.

So... how long are we going to pretend that Mars is not shrek?

IMarsAttacks! says

leoj707 says

So... how long are we going to pretend that Mars is not shrek?

Wow....lot of paranoia here.

Ack! Acck!

It is not paranoia if they are really after you.

Besides, so what if you are shrek what has that got to do with paranoia?

MarsAttacks! says

leoj707 says

It is not paranoia if they are really afer you.

Touché!

So, why are you guys 'after me'? Because I am Shrek's bud? (sorry Elliemae...but it isn't my fault, really!)

Ack! Acck!

Um... you were callin me(us) paranoid, so would it not be then you who is after us?

Hi shrek! I see your exile was only temporary... really temporary.

MarsAttacks! says

Yes, but more like to get them off track of their topic so then he can start having his fun with them.

Isn't this what trolls do?

So are there any nominees for the reincarnated "Shrekgrinch"? Perhaps he has commented already on this one.

I miss shrek. Dueling with shrek was like shooting rabbits with a cannon. Almost too easy. Now I will have to engage with people who are smarter (that would be almost anyone) and where I actually have to think first.

bob2356 says

I miss shrek. Dueling with shrek was like shooting rabbits with a cannon. Almost too easy. Now I will have to engage with people who are smarter (that would be almost anyone) and where I actually have to think first.

I'm all for beating a dead horse, if it allows for closure.

Shrek wasn't stupid - it was obvious that he's functional in society. He claimed to be a programmer of some type; many people who work in the sciences lack the ability to function appropriately in the real world. If I were a professional, I would venture to guess that he has some issues dealing with people in the real world, some type of personality disorder wherein he takes a perverse joy in creating disharmony. Perhaps he's Borderline Personality disorder; I've seen two borderlines clear a room with their behaviors.

But I'm not a professional therapist, so this is pure conjecture.

shooting rabbits with a cannon would be almost impossible. You'd have better luck swatting them with the ram-rod.

shooting rabbits with a Gatlin Gun ... now, that may be effective population control.

Bap33 says

shooting rabbits with a cannon would be almost impossible. You'd have better luck swatting them with the ram-rod.

shooting rabbits with a Gatlin Gun ... now, that may be effective population control.

Maybe it'd be more like catching gophers with M-80's. We used to do that...

I tip my 40 in memory of Shrekgrinch. He was a loyal water-boy for all gentlemen of stature and merit.

Actually, I got one too many complaints about Shrek so I've deleted him for now.

But I'm sure he'll be back in some incarnation.

Then you should delete me too, then you guys can sit around Liberally glad hand each other, void of any counter points to your non sense.

This thread is testament to you guys ALL OF YOU, hypercritical double standards. Patrick you send emails to folks telling them about civility and to be nice. Yet you tolerate this thread, which was started as an instigation to stir up Shrek and get a rise out of him. Now he's deleted.

You guys have fun sucking each others Harry Reid.

elliemae says

I'm all for beating a dead horse, if it allows for closure.

I'm not beating a dead horse, I always thought shrek was hysterical. His postings were nonsense of course, but great fun to poke holes in. The man had something like 10,000 postings and managed to totally avoid presenting a single actual fact even by accident. An admirable accomplishment.

Tenouncetrout says

Then you should delete me too, then you guys can sit around Liberally glad hand each other, void of any counter points to your non sense.

Shrek was a self proclaimed asshole who hijacked every thread. You post your (often unintelligible) comments without personal attacks. You don't hijack every thread, which he did. You aren't nasty, accusing, etc...

Tot, you're not a troll. So far as I can tell, you're a cool guy that I'd hang out with if I were in Florida. We may not have the same views, but you understand the difference between the real world and the interwebs. If you want to leave, that's your choice - but you would be sorely missed.

Shrek, on the other hand, will not. I do hope that he stays gone; if he comes back, it'd be nice if he understood the difference between conversation and trolling.

Yes, this thread is too much, just a personal insult. But it is funny too, IMHO.

I don't really want to be a policeman/parent. I need some better kind of moderation system.

bob2356 says

The man had something like 10,000 postings and managed to totally avoid presenting a single actual fact even by accident.

Maybe he had some facts in there, but I agree that it was really all about his hate for Obama and liberals.

Yes, this thread is too much, just a personal insult. But it is funny too, IMHO.

It's as if some people believe it's a conspiracy. IMHO it wasn't about his beliefs, it was about his approach.

Marcus says

Shrek on the other hand truly seemed hell bent on adding a lot of teabagger Glenn Beck bs to a forum that is (or was) mostly frequented by fairly moderate individuals.

Which is fine. The problem for me was his basic unwillingness to discuss any point beyond a "snort-gurgle-heehee-snort-ah,screwyou" level, and his complete lack of understanding of what constitutes crossing the line between personal and public discussion standards.

Yes, this thread is too much, just a personal insult. But it is funny too, IMHO.

I don't really want to be a policeman/parent. I need some better kind of moderation system.

bob2356 says

The man had something like 10,000 postings and managed to totally avoid presenting a single actual fact even by accident.

Maybe he had some facts in there, but I agree that it was really all about his hate for Obama and liberals.

Patrick, why are you putting up my post as the example of personal insult? My statement may be a little bit (just a teeny tiny bit) of hyperbole, but I did say it was an admirable accomplishment. I will suitably modify my statement. Shrek never presented me with a single fact. Better?

I was the (probably the only) one that said I missed him. I never took him seriously and actually enjoyed jousting with him. I was always amused when he/she/it would present some incoherent jumble of a statement then tell everyone they had a reading comprehension problem. Very funny. I will admit the Obama is responsible for everything from the big bang to toenail fungus schtick got a little old.

bob2356 says

I was the (probably the only) one that said I missed him

You'll have to aim better. Ha!

I don't really want to be a policeman/parent. I need some better kind of moderation system.

Na' I think this thread is working out fine. At least it let's people express their honest feelings.

If nothing else, this thread brings up an important question. Can liberals and conservatives constructively talk with each other in a forum? Also, can either talk with moderates without accusing the moderates of being their polar opposites?

Perhaps elliemae said it best with the animate gif of a guy banging his head against the wall. But perhaps that's the only way to tear down the walls between the left and the right.

Patrick,
It's your field, your ball, and your game. You pick the teams and the rules. That is exactly how it should be. If Schrek don't like it, he can start Schrek.net or whatever.

Oh, my... I disappear for a few weeks and I miss the death of my favorite cartoon character. I'll almost miss the insane borderline/antisocial rantings coupled with endless personal attacks.

Mars Attacks = Shrekgrinch

There is no doubt. People like shrekgrinch don't have friends. They have imaginary friends that are characters in their psyches whom they play when their old characters finally out-stay their welcome. The Internet is swarming with them.

My best professional guess is that people like Shrekgrinch/Mars Attacks don't function anywhere else but on the Internet. The Internet allows them enough anonymity to carry out their desire for connection that they won't get in the real world because most people won't tolerate these people in person for very long.

It's quite sad actually. These are people who have never had a secure primary attachment. There is always a vast gaping hole in their psyches that can't ever be filled.

Oh well. Make no mistake Shrekgrinch/Mars Attacks will always exist in some form on forums like patrick.net. They need these places to feel connected. They will always find their way in and will elude even the best attempts at moderation. Boundaries and limits are anathema to these people. They can't tolerate them.

remember Sim, all there is of Shrek is words on a screen ... a made-up persona .... the creator could just as well be your best friend just having fun roll-playing ... or it could be Bill Clinton killing some time between inturns (lol) .... or, the persona could match the author to a tee .... but, at any rate, the entire blogville area is make believe.

Hey it worked! You said Hey Patrick and I got the comment as an email.

I could ban all partisan references, but that might be too intrusive. I want people to be able to say what they mean, as long as they are polite about it.

On the other hand, I was thinking of automatically substituting words, like "my boyfriend" for "libtard", etc.

I don't know why you guys worry and fuss over people like Shrek, I never really read his posts. Or follow them. I got a bigger rise out of responding to people responding to his posts.

He's not a very creative hater. He couldn't think of anything to call Obama but "Obambi", that got old, I'm sure he bored him self with it, he used it so many times. For example he could have alternated using "Obamadalilama" or "Ob-ba-bop-bow-ba-mow-mow-O-bop-a-ma-ma Git a job job get a job job. Sha na"

On the other hand, I was thinking of automatically substituting words, like "my boyfriend" for "libtard", etc.

LOL

Bap33 says

If Schrek don't like it, he can start Schrek.net or whatever.

Schrek.net sounds like a hacking site. Plus it appears that the domain name is already taken.

MarsAttacks! says

Either way, Shrek definitely seemed to have an impact on the rest of you. No wonder he got a kick out of all of this.

Darn. I was just about thinking that Mars was not Shrek, but only Shrek would say something that self-ego-stroking.

Conservatives destroyed this country 1995-2005.

So I'm a little sensitive about them trolling about with their victory laps now, yes.