Quote:
Originally Posted by erimir
It is very strange that you bring up a perceived slight from almost 10 years ago when you're not even talking to me. ... My opinion of your behavior in those old threads is pretty much the same. I think it's your behavior that has "softened". But the old behaviors still resurface from time to time.
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Not strange at all. I believe that Ari has here made a similar (not identical, but close enough) mistake as you did back then. And I believe the motive that misled him is similar (not identical, but close enough) to the motive that misled you. I think some good may come from drawing his attention to the parallels. You may well feel differently.
I don't believe I have changed at all. My behaviour has changed because my posts here are no longer attacked so frequently, and since you used to be part of that seemingly constant (it felt so to me) barrage, that change in behaviour is at least partly yours. Why the change? I guess because you know me better now than you did then and no longer see me as (for example) a "generic internet contrarian".
I don't agree with all the things Van Jones said.
Hmmm ... I'm not sure I do either, but I haven't listened carefully enough to find anything to disagree with. Also I'm not 'Merkn so I may be missing out on the background knowledge that would generate a cognitive dissonance or two. That's one of the benefits of seeking your feedback (and Ari's, if he can bring himself to give it proper consideration).
I'll add this for now: you follow on with a lengthy analysis of things that, as far as I can tell, Jones doesn't say. As far as I can tell, Jones doesn't argue that it is wrong to disagree with Nazis, or with Trump voters, or even with Republicans. At least he doesn't
in this piece; what Jones has said elsewhere and otherwhen is part of the background I may be missing.
All he seems to me to be saying is that not all attacks on the right are well-thought-out, reasonable, honest and constructive. And he gives a few examples of common attacks that he believes aren't.
Now I don't think you want to argue that his over-arching thesis is wrong. (Maybe Ari does want to say that; I'm not sure yet). So I guess you want to argue that some or all of his examples are wrong.
Feel free ...