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Author Topic:   How to let people show their ... stupidity?
RAZD
Member (Idle past 1405 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 1 of 54 (597643)
12-22-2010 9:02 PM


It is somewhat amazing that people are so willing to show their incompetence when it comes to grasping the situation/s.
This thread is not intended to debate the relative merits of the positions described (there's the issue of stupid people not being able to comprehend that they are stupid after all), but rather to showcase examples, hopefully in a humorous vein (and most of these people are vain as well).
Two recent examples come to hand:
Category: Muckraker - TPM – Talking Points Memo
quote:
Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips has a dream: "No more Methodist Church."
Phillips explains that he was formerly a member of the church, but he left because it's "the first Church of Karl Marx," and "little more than the "religious" arm of socialism."
"The Methodist church is pro-illegal immigration," he continues. "They have been in the bag for socialist health care, going as far as sending out emails to their membership "debunking" the myths of Obamacare. Say, where are the liberal complaints on the separation of church and state?"
"In short, if you hate America, you have a great future in the Methodist church," he says.
Judson seems to have a little problem with what the freedom of religion is all about and what the constitution says.
Then there's this one:
Category: Muckraker - TPM – Talking Points Memo
quote:
Former Tea Party Express chairman and "accidental" racist Mark Williams is really happy about the recently announced CNN-Tea Party Express Republican debate: "That a respected international, serious news organization like CNN, CNN Political Director Sam Feist and even the potential presidential candidates recognize that the Tea Party is anything but racist and were willing to fight to join simply thrills me."
"I feel completely vindicated, this is an absolute vindication of both the Tea Party and Mark Williams," Mark Williams said.
Mark Williams resigned from his position with the Tea Party Express over the summer, after making a number of racist remarks that caused a stir within his group and the tea party movement.
Among his remarks: He called President Obama "our half white, racist president" and an "Indonesian Muslim turned welfare thug." He also referred to Allah as a "monkey god" and Islam as "a 7th Century death cult coughed up by a psychotic pedophile."
And, in an episode that brought Williams' career with the Tea Party Express to a close, he referred to the NAACP and pondered the "absurdity of a group that calls blacks 'Colored People' hurling charges of racism."
Williams posted about his "vindication" on his website MarkTalk.com, and though he emphasizes that he apologized for his remarks, he also is sure to point out that what he said was true:
What this CNN/TPX agreement proves is that what I said was right but reinforces in my own mind that it was said stupidly. Because I said it stupidly I left myself wide-open to demagogues and race baiters-exploiters who were only just too happy to do their best to destroy the Tea Party with my words as their weapon.

Here's a hint for Mark: if your mouth is open, you are probably going to say it stupidly - it seems you just can't help it.
Now I could probably browse TPM – Talking Points Memo - Breaking News and Analysis for days for more entertainment ...
... but I'll end with this one:
http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/...t-tell-video.php
quote:
Rep. Barney Frank Owns Conservative Reporter Over DADT
A conservative reporter from right-leaning CNS News thought he would play gotcha journalist and ask gay Congressman Barney Frank about gay and straight soldiers showering together. Big mistake. Huge. Barney totally eviscerates the guy and exposes him as a fool.
Thank you Barney for being so Frank.
Enjoy.

we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand
Rebel American Zen Deist
... to learn ... to think ... to live ... to laugh ...
to share.


Join the effort to solve medical problems, AIDS/HIV, Cancer and more with Team EvC! (click)

Replies to this message:
 Message 2 by Coyote, posted 12-22-2010 9:16 PM RAZD has replied
 Message 6 by Percy, posted 12-23-2010 11:05 AM RAZD has seen this message but not replied
 Message 7 by jar, posted 12-23-2010 11:16 AM RAZD has seen this message but not replied
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Coyote
Member (Idle past 2106 days)
Posts: 6117
Joined: 01-12-2008


(1)
Message 2 of 54 (597646)
12-22-2010 9:16 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by RAZD
12-22-2010 9:02 PM


Balance
Let's have an example of liberal stupidity just to balance things out:
Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., was questioning Admiral Robert Willard about the Navy's plans to relocate 8,000 personnel and their families to Guam. After noting at some length that the island is narrow, Johnson says "My fear is that the whole island will become so overly populated it will tip over and capsize."
Link and video

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by RAZD, posted 12-22-2010 9:02 PM RAZD has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 3 by Theodoric, posted 12-22-2010 9:27 PM Coyote has not replied
 Message 4 by RAZD, posted 12-22-2010 9:37 PM Coyote has not replied
 Message 8 by bluescat48, posted 12-23-2010 1:18 PM Coyote has not replied
 Message 10 by Taz, posted 12-23-2010 2:49 PM Coyote has replied
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Theodoric
Member
Posts: 9076
From: Northwest, WI, USA
Joined: 08-15-2005
Member Rating: 3.7


Message 3 of 54 (597649)
12-22-2010 9:27 PM
Reply to: Message 2 by Coyote
12-22-2010 9:16 PM


Re: Balance
Ever hear of saying something ridiculous for effect.
quote:
Here’s a formal response from Johnson, via his spokesman:
I wasn’t suggesting that the island of Guam would literally tip over, said Johnson. I was using a metaphor to say that with the addition of 8,000 Marines and their dependents — an additional 80,000 people during peak construction to the port on the tiny island with a population of 180,000 — could be a tipping point which would adversely affect the island’s fragile ecosystem and over burden its already overstressed infrastructure.
Having traveled to Guam last year, I saw firsthand how this beautiful — but vulnerable island — is already overburdened, and I was simply voicing my concerns that the addition of that many people could tip the delicate balance and do harm to Guam.
Source

Facts don't lie or have an agenda. Facts are just facts

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RAZD
Member (Idle past 1405 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 4 of 54 (597650)
12-22-2010 9:37 PM
Reply to: Message 2 by Coyote
12-22-2010 9:16 PM


Re: Balance
Hi Coyote
LOL, that's a winner, does he think islands are like icebergs? .. and of course it has as much to do with how politicians get elected (people have to vote for them ... yes?) in general, as it is fairly evidently that it has little to nothing to do with the intelligence of the majority of the candidates.
Remember, this guy voted for Obamacare! He knows what's best for you.
Not sure what that has to do with intelligence though (and I'm glad he did vote for it, so I don't see the problem there) ...
... or is it just another example of a disturbingly typical logical fallacy argument:
Person X is says something that appears stupid
Person X supports Y
Therefore Y must be stupid?
Seems your source is also capable of making questionable comments.
Enjoy.
Edited by RAZD, : ...

we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand
Rebel American Zen Deist
... to learn ... to think ... to live ... to laugh ...
to share.


Join the effort to solve medical problems, AIDS/HIV, Cancer and more with Team EvC! (click)

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
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Theodoric
Member
Posts: 9076
From: Northwest, WI, USA
Joined: 08-15-2005
Member Rating: 3.7


Message 5 of 54 (597652)
12-22-2010 10:20 PM
Reply to: Message 4 by RAZD
12-22-2010 9:37 PM


Washington Examiner
Yeah nothing biased about the Washington Examiner.
quote:
When it came to the editorial page, Anschutz’s instructions were explicit he wanted nothing but conservative columns and conservative op-ed writers, said one former employee.
And recently the paper’s politics have become more pronounced while adding a stable of writers plucked from conservative outlets and think tanks, including chief political correspondent Byron York (National Review), senior political analyst Michael Barone (American Enterprise Institute, Fox News) and investigative reporter David Freddoso (National Review, author of The Case Against Barack Obama).
From Politico.com
quote:
The Examiner's editorial page is heavily conservative; it is headed by Mark Tapscott, with American Spectator senior editor Quin Hillyer serving as its associate editor. The paper's national political coverage, which also appears in Examiner papers in Baltimore and San Francisco, was previously headed by Bill Sammon, a former Washington Times reporter who has written several books praising George W. Bush. (Sammon is now the deputy managing editor for Fox News Channel's Washington bureau.[1]) Chris Stirewalt, who has been described as "a true conservative voice"[2], is the Examiner's political editor. Mary Katherine Ham, former managing editor of the conservative Townhall.com, briefly served as the Examiner's online editor for a few months in 2008 [3] before joining the Weekly Standard.[4] Matthew Sheffield, executive editor of the Media Research Center blog NewsBusters, is in charge of the Examiner's website.[5] Byron York, formerly of National Review, joined the paper in February 2009.[6]
[url=Washington Examine - SourceWatch[]Source[/url]
What kind of reputable news organization would put this comment in an article on their website?
quote:
Remember, this guy voted for Obamacare! He knows what's best for you.

Facts don't lie or have an agenda. Facts are just facts

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Percy
Member
Posts: 22391
From: New Hampshire
Joined: 12-23-2000
Member Rating: 5.2


Message 6 of 54 (597687)
12-23-2010 11:05 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by RAZD
12-22-2010 9:02 PM


RAZD writes:
... but I'll end with this one:
http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/...t-tell-video.php
quote:
Rep. Barney Frank Owns Conservative Reporter Over DADT
A conservative reporter from right-leaning CNS News thought he would play gotcha journalist and ask gay Congressman Barney Frank about gay and straight soldiers showering together. Big mistake. Huge. Barney totally eviscerates the guy and exposes him as a fool.
Thank you Barney for being so Frank.
Amazing that so stumbling a speaker could become an on-air reporter. What a country!
--Percy

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by RAZD, posted 12-22-2010 9:02 PM RAZD has seen this message but not replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 7 of 54 (597688)
12-23-2010 11:16 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by RAZD
12-22-2010 9:02 PM


On CNS news
I think it is really telling that CNS News home page proudly states "The Right News. Right now."
What a statement.

Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!

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bluescat48
Member (Idle past 4189 days)
Posts: 2347
From: United States
Joined: 10-06-2007


Message 8 of 54 (597697)
12-23-2010 1:18 PM
Reply to: Message 2 by Coyote
12-22-2010 9:16 PM


Re: Balance
That just goes to show that the the right doesn't have a monopoly on stupidity. There are wing-nuts on both sides.

There is no better love between 2 people than mutual respect for each other WT Young, 2002
Who gave anyone the authority to call me an authority on anything. WT Young, 1969
Since Evolution is only ~90% correct it should be thrown out and replaced by Creation which has even a lower % of correctness. W T Young, 2008

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Taz
Member (Idle past 3291 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 9 of 54 (597699)
12-23-2010 2:41 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by RAZD
12-22-2010 9:02 PM


Personally, I'm all for Barney Frank as president. May be then we'll have some common fucking sense in the white house for once.

This message is a reply to:
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Taz
Member (Idle past 3291 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 10 of 54 (597701)
12-23-2010 2:49 PM
Reply to: Message 2 by Coyote
12-22-2010 9:16 PM


Re: Balance
Coyote, there's such a thing as quote mining people while still quote people word for word. Suppose we are talking about the issue of straight and gay soldiers showering together. You oppose to it. In real life, I know that I have the tendency to say something ridiculous to prove my point. In such a situation, I would probably say "yup, gay and straight soldiers showering together will cause mass orgies in the shower rooms just like the kind of mass orgies that are going on right now in the gym."
Would you, then accuse me of actually believing that gay and straight people, when showering together, will result in mass orgies?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 2 by Coyote, posted 12-22-2010 9:16 PM Coyote has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 11 by RAZD, posted 12-23-2010 3:24 PM Taz has replied
 Message 12 by Coyote, posted 12-23-2010 3:24 PM Taz has replied

  
RAZD
Member (Idle past 1405 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 11 of 54 (597702)
12-23-2010 3:24 PM
Reply to: Message 10 by Taz
12-23-2010 2:49 PM


topic
Hi Taz, let's lighten up a bit (holiday season after all)
The thread is to highlight stupid things stupid people say, not to debate the finer points of stupidity thus exposed.
There's plenty of canon fodder. Let's have some more examples.
Enjoy.

we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand
Rebel American Zen Deist
... to learn ... to think ... to live ... to laugh ...
to share.


Join the effort to solve medical problems, AIDS/HIV, Cancer and more with Team EvC! (click)

This message is a reply to:
 Message 10 by Taz, posted 12-23-2010 2:49 PM Taz has replied

Replies to this message:
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Coyote
Member (Idle past 2106 days)
Posts: 6117
Joined: 01-12-2008


Message 12 of 54 (597703)
12-23-2010 3:24 PM
Reply to: Message 10 by Taz
12-23-2010 2:49 PM


Re: Balance
Coyote, there's such a thing as quote mining people while still quote people word for word.
The link includes a video, and the silly comment comes well into it.
I don't think that is quote mining.
Who don't you watch the video and see if you don't agree?

Religious belief does not constitute scientific evidence, nor does it convey scientific knowledge.

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
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Taz
Member (Idle past 3291 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 13 of 54 (597709)
12-23-2010 3:52 PM
Reply to: Message 12 by Coyote
12-23-2010 3:24 PM


Re: Balance
Yes, I did watch it.
Taking into context of what he said, he did directly talk about the environmental impact of placing too many people on the island. My point still stands. If you're just out looking to mock someone, then yes you could interpret that to mean that this guy is such a dumbass that he thinks an island can capsize. Or you can take it into the context of the environmental impact it may have by placing too many people on the island.
Again, there is such a thing as quote mining someone while still quoting him word for word. In other words, you can quote him word for word but interpret his statement out of context.
If I were to say gay and straight soldiers showering together will cause mass orgies in the military just like the mass orgies we already see between gay and straight people in the gym, would you think me of such a dumbass that I actually believe gay and straight soldiers showering together will cause mass orgies between gay and straight soldiers?
BTW, I notice that you conveniently left out the parts that he talked about the environmental impact of having that many people being placed on the island. All you did was talked about that one statement he said out of context. I also noticed that your avatar is a wolf. So, are you a sheep in wolf's clothing? In other words, are you a creationist pretending to be a geologist? Because in my short life I have only seen creationists take people's words out of context like that. If you want to play this game, I can certainly play, too.

This message is a reply to:
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Taz
Member (Idle past 3291 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 14 of 54 (597710)
12-23-2010 3:59 PM
Reply to: Message 11 by RAZD
12-23-2010 3:24 PM


Re: topic
RAZD writes:
The thread is to highlight stupid things stupid people say, not to debate the finer points of stupidity thus exposed.
Yes, the thread is about stupid things stupid people say. It's not about quote mining people in order to make them look stupid.

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
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 Message 18 by Panda, posted 12-23-2010 8:46 PM Taz has replied

  
Coyote
Member (Idle past 2106 days)
Posts: 6117
Joined: 01-12-2008


Message 15 of 54 (597713)
12-23-2010 4:18 PM
Reply to: Message 14 by Taz
12-23-2010 3:59 PM


Re: topic
Taz, because of you I'm abandoning this thread.
From your posts it looks like we will only be allowed to poke fun at the silly sayings of those on the right.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 14 by Taz, posted 12-23-2010 3:59 PM Taz has replied

Replies to this message:
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