The Maelstrom of Violence

[Eric the Green]

(07-01-2017, 06:42 AM)Bob Butler 54 Wrote:

(06-30-2017, 11:56 PM)Eric the Green Wrote:

(06-30-2017, 02:41 PM)Bob Butler 54 Wrote:

(06-30-2017, 12:50 PM)Eric the Green Wrote: The late night comics tell the truth. The NRA lies. Truth is an adequate defense against libel, and against "demonizing."

I disagree.  The late night comics seem to think that the more left spin you put on an issue, the more their audience will accept it, and the more 'funny' it is.

The right wing has all the radio talk shows, and other right-wing outlets. I am so glad that the left at least has a few late-night comics. They are all brilliant, and they tell the truth. It's not spin; it's just the facts, and the humor pretty much writes itself given the activities and behavior of the right. And laughing at least relieves some of the tension, which otherwise may lead some to violence (as we have begun to see). Telling the truth with a smile and a laugh, can be effective communication too. They get things across quite well.

Not truth.  Using a comic format, one is allowed to exaggerate or lie, laugh, then exaggerate or lie again...  and again... and again.  Very funny, but there is a butt to every joke.  A smile or a laugh involves the showing of teeth.  From way way back in hunter gatherer days, that was a threat display.  It has evolved into a threat that isn't a threat display.  It's a way of putting people down.

They are good at telling a blue audience what they want to hear, and confirm the red audience that there is a prejudiced irrational vast conspiracy that is not listening and is out to disparage them.  So long as the red folk are being bombarded by hate and prejudice they will respond with hate and prejudice.

Can't argue, though, that in political pundit radio and other formats, the red faction doesn't do similar things.

They don't do similar things at all. They have no humor, and no truth. It's just utter propaganda. You can listen to Alex Jones, and then claim the two sides are the same? I know that, although you don't practice it yourself, that you have an idealistic view that you can look at both sides the same. It just does not work today. There may be grains of truth on all sides, but the preponderance is clear. The blue comics mix facts with humor. If you listened to Oliver, Meyers or Colbert you would know that.

Quote:

Quote:I would not debate about the NRA. Case closed.

Your mind is also closed.

There's no use arguing with me about the NRA, you know that; and personal attacks on me like that are not even arguments, let alone communication. You know that; you won't admit it. Just drop it. I will not argue with Nazis, and I will not argue with the KKK, or the NRA either.

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(06-30-2017, 11:56 PM)Eric the Green Wrote:

(06-30-2017, 02:41 PM)Bob Butler 54 Wrote: This is not in any way an endorsement of the unraveling memes.  Still, a good size part of the country still believes in the unraveling memes.  (Borrow and spend.  Trickle down.  Spend on the military.  Cut domestic services.  The government is the problem.)  There is a delusion that all one has to do is find politicians who will implement the unraveling memes properly.  Lots of luck with that.  Trump is flailing about.  Bush 43 was a disaster.  His father wasn't much better.  It's the economy, stupid.  The unraveling memes haven't worked and aren't apt to work.  Their time, if they ever had a time, is past.

Well, pretty good grist for the comic mill, then, isn't it? It has gone so far past ridiculous that it's an amazingly easy target.

There is that line from Simon and Garfunkel's 'The Boxer'.  

Paul Simon Wrote:I am just a poor boy though my story's seldom told
I have squandered my resistance for a pocketful of mumbles,
Such are promises, all lies and jest,
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest, hmmm

Sure, lefties can tell lefties what they want to hear and think it is true and funny.  They can create and live in their bubble universe.  They can be so out in left field that the right folk feel justified in turning their minds off.  Do you wonder why folk like Galen aren't listening?  It's in part the constant bombardment of lies and ridicule.

It's because he believes the lies. It's up to him to see the truth. I'm not optimistic that he ever will. The ridicule comes from him.

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(06-30-2017, 11:56 PM)Eric the Green Wrote:

(06-30-2017, 02:41 PM)Bob Butler 54 Wrote: In the meanwhile, there are demons on either flank thinking there is nothing wrong with demonizing.  It sure feels different if one is the one being demonized, no?

Better communication is always something to try, in the right context at least. It's also up to the right-wing to stop being demons. I don't see that happening until the 4T is over, at least; assuming they lose it that is.

It is equally up to both wings to stop being demons.  Start with the guy in the mirror.

You know that's not true. One side is the demon.