patrick.net

kentm says

you’ve been reading extensively in an attempt to prove something that you feel emotionally

I agree with KentM that you get overly emotional when debating, like where you claimed I called you a bigot or above where you overtly attacked me on issues that I was attempting to get your views on.

I am not calling all whites bigots just because a group of individuals left the Dems in 1964 based on the Civil Rights act or how the Christian Right has no solutions to poverty other than to go to Mexico and build missions to make themselves feel good.

kentm says

Another way this plays out is in the way you relentless attack the Democratic party to a fault for minor and invented issues but let glaring missteps by the Republicans swoosh by

...and again here, I agree with Kentm in that you blast Obama for his attempts to repair society. Even where he may be failing, he is at least using pragmatism to make those decisions or at least it seems. Where as George Bush put us into a 10 year 1T war that benefitted no one, at least Obama spent 1T on infrastructure.

Do you also blast Bush for the fact that his team mis-managed the war?

shrekgrinch says

But frankly, Obama doesn’t deserve much. He’s not the ’smartest guy in the room’ and when evaluating him against his OWN WORDS and PROMISES (which were way over the top for any politician), he’s a guaranteed target.

Try visiting http://whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com/ to see what he has accomplished. I am not saying that all of these pieces of legislation were the best so read em and formulate your own opinion.

shrekgrinch says

And now it is my time to ask you a question: WHAT WILL MAKE BLACKS HAPPY? I mean, what? I am looking for a concrete, definitive answer. ‘Reparations’ for slavery? I believe someone once said that would only make Cadillac the #1 car dealer in America….oh yes, Cedric the Entertainer in ‘The Barbershop’ (I love those Barbershop movies).
I submit to you that blacks themselves don’t even know the answer to that one themselves. But I’d like to hear your view, for sure.

I'd dare say that blacks would like to be viewed as individuals who have some commonalities, and many differences. And, shekgingrich, believe it or not many black people don't think that Cedric is the funniest guy in the world. Many do. There are black geeks and black intellectuals and all sorts of black people.

The one thing about which most black people (and white people ) that I know share a common opinion: the civil rights movement began in 1950 (approx) and it's sad that it took another 55 plus years to have a black president elected.

So many people dislike our president - but it takes some major balls to run for president these days - especially if you're not one of the insider good ol' boys. I hope many things for my kids - prosperity, wisdom, the ability to travel and most of all good health - but I wouldn't wish a presidency on them.

I like President Obama, and respect him and his wife & kids for the life they're living and example they're setting for all Americans.

elliemae says

The one thing about which most black people (and white people ) that I know share a common opinion: the civil rights movement began in 1950 (approx) and it’s sad that it took another 55 plus years to have a black president elected.

It's sad, but also very surprising that we have a black president SO SOON. My guess is that most people thought we would have a woman president before a black president. It might be 2350 before we have a jewish or asian president. 3350 before we see a gay president.

We've come a long way baby.

Actually, as I think about it more, I think we will have an asian american president within the next 50 years.

elliemae says

The one thing about which most black people (and white people ) that I know share a common opinion: the civil rights movement began in 1950 (approx) and it’s sad that it took another 55 plus years to have a black president elected.

I dont know if SAD is the right word here, because the political power will push the community forward. Black people and poor people need financial power moreso....so that we can influence decisions made in Hollywood. The owners of radio, tv and cable networks are popularizing the stupidity of the ghettos across the world, making it cool to sag, gang bang, talk ignorantly...

....while the educated masses (Bill Cosby, Cornel West, etc.) amongst the black community protest
....while the deaf, dumb and blind (followers of Snoop, Ice Cube) amongsts the black community shuck and jive
....while the children within the community latch on to the cultures of stupidity represented in the music and television shows.
....while the sellouts (Snoop, Ice Cube, Jay Z, Beyonce) of our community get rich off selling stupidity to our people.

We only thought that achieving political power would be the solution, Obama has proven that no help is coming in the near future for the poor....so they will have to strap up their boots and educate themselves if they want to improve their lot in life.

shrekgrinch says

marcus says

The whole point was to give you a taste of your pointless responses to people.

My responses aren’t pointless. That’s your problem.

And…you STILL didn’t do a good job of it. (nice try, though…I can see you put some effort into it)

Actually I put about 40 seconds of effort into it (plus maybe 3 minutes to see whether I thought Binary Economics is a well thought out Model.)

Kent on the other hand clearly did put a lot of care in to a very thoughtful analysis. Kent, I thought you were right on the money.

Maybe from a manipulation standpoint we can understand Shrek. He wants to say what he wants to say, and he hates having it challenged. For him a conversation isn't about a back and forth, which might lead to mutual agreement on the truth. (this is why his referring to his competence as an engineer at finding bugs is so fascinating).

No he does not want to ever reach agreement, nor does he want to disagree with a lack of emotion in a way that might overturn or at least amend your viewpoint (see Troy). He wants to hold forth on whatever topic, and if you challenge him, he would like to make you regret that you tried (but not because you are wrong). He wants you to see it as futile.
Even he says:
shrekgrinch says

If I am SUCH an asshole, then why do you bother to respond to me or even engage me in this discussion at all?

As I said it's manipulation. If you think about how tough a time this guy is going to have, you should feel for him. I'll leave it at that.

shrekgrinch says

Scott Adams the other day dropped a nice Dilbert cartoon that totally backs me up. It’s so close to what is going on on this thread it is scary. I wonder if he is a patrick.net forum participant?

Maybe you're right. I guess the reason that people give up arguing with you long before getting to the heart of the matter is because of your towering and intimidating intellect. It's not because you for some reason(via insults and obnoxiousness) cause them to quit it, before we are able to drill down to the truth.

My mistake.

I didn't get the last square of the cartoon. Is it your clarity that makes you so angry ? OR should it be my clarity making me angry. I mean it, I actually didn't get that part. Is it your clarity that makes me angry ?