An example of a dishonest ad hominem attack (several, in fact)

Ray Bradbury said, ""

Wednesday, April 13, 2005

An example of a dishonest ad hominem attack (several, in fact)

Speaking of ad hominem attacks, the blog Yeah Whatever responded to my criticism of the 2020 constitution movement:

Tom the Pooklekufr at hamstermotor thinks fuck the poor. Tom is not poor. If he was, or felt himself in danger of becoming poor, he'd be all for a government that protected the poor as well as the rich. As is so often the case, Tom's "fisking" of progressive ideas is simplistic. Tom says of Roosevelt: 'His concept of rights was one of "positive rights," or the idea that my right to property must be "gained" at the expense of your own property. In the 19th century, you'd be gutted like a catfish for saying something that evil.' Get the fishknife out, Tom, because that is exactly right. Five-sixths of the world is scrabbling in the dirt so that you have the property you are so keen on having protected. It's not quite a zero-sum game but if we had had a level playing field, you guys would be fucked. Keeping it not level is what your protecting your rights amounts to. Anyway, why waste time on this nonsense? If you're a regressive rightist, you'll agree with every word. If you are a humanist or, erm, think, you'll recognise it straight off the bat as the same old antihuman bollocks.

How many qualities and positions does this writer attribute to me? How much evidence does the writer provide for these qualities and positions I allegedly possess?

How many of my logical fallacies does this writer point to as evidence of my "simplistic" arguments?

How many premises does this writer provide for the statement "keeping it not on level is what your protecting your rights amounts to," and where does this writer find basis in my statements advancing the concept of equal freedom, for the assertion that equal freedom is not "keeping it level"?

How many arguments are present, as opposed to assertions? I admit I do not flesh out my arguments as well as I would like, and make far too many assertions, but I usually try to include at least one premise in an argument.

In that same post, Carpe Bonum, Sortapundit, and others are given a similar treatment.

I'll post a couple other sections from that blog:

Keith at Sortapundit is mad and he's not going to take it any more. He asks whether a cameraman who films the insurgents in Iraq isn't as bad as the insurgents themselves. Well no, Keith, your point is entirely bogus. Sorry to have to say it. Here's why. Our side has journos "embedded". They ride with the marines, they go on patrol, blah blah. So basically you're saying that the goose's sauce is no good for the gander. Okay, yes, the marines are on "our" side. But news is supposed not to be partial, right? The Bushistas have been able to kill thousands of thirdworlders largely because the press has not shown the truth. They retain support because the news has been onesided. Keith thinks it will save lives to show only one side of the story. Keith's wrong. On a broader note, our "free" press is not free if it is required to restrain itself. Is "victory" in Iraq worth surrendering our freedoms for? (Irony meter on, Keith.)

Gaijin Biker at Riding Sun didn't like the Pulitzer-winning photographs. He is rather unhappy that there are no photos of heroic Americans. He asks whether the famous picture of the marines' raising the flag on Iwo Jima would win today. Surprisingly, I find I sympathise with Gaijin Biker. The invasion of Iraq was a Bad Thing. Those in power lied to us and continue to lie. But does that mean we should lie back? I have no sympathy for soldiers. I think you need to be a special kind of arsehole to join the army – whose purpose is to kill and maim other people, let's not forget – and I'm not afraid to say so (not for me the ridiculous kneejerk promilitarism that all Americans must show unless they want to be accused of being a "traitor"). But they have had triumphs. They have been brave. They have been cheered as well as abused. Why honour those who hate them? They are also killers, many of them. As with so many things in this life, it is not black and white and neither should be our depiction of it.

Andy at The Charlotte Capitalist is not a fan of Rick Warren. He "fisks" The purpose-driven life in eight (fairly short) parts. I've never been a great fan of "fisking" because I'm a great fan of Robert Fisk, whose intellect and acuity dwarf those of most, if not all, of his detractors. And I wasn't totally convinced that Warren was any more than grazed by Andy's onslaught. You need to punch him with reasoning, Andy, not slap him like a girl. Next time get the robot chick to do it.

Heh.

Posted by: Tom "The Pooklekufr" Treloar at April 13, 2005 19:52 EST | Permalink | comments (8) |
philosophy, discoveries, fiskings
Comments open but moderated. I reserve permission to kill spammers on sight.

Comments:

#1 13 April 2005 - 21:09

Here's my take on it.

My Post

- Travis

Anonymous

#2 13 April 2005 - 21:13

I'm betting he's also a monitor at the Democratic Underground. When you can't find fault in the point, attack the person.

Anonymous

#3 14 April 2005 - 06:53

I'm guessing he's never been poor either, if he was, he would have a different idea of property rights. See, I was poor, dirt to be exact, that white trash spoof I do every Weds. not too far off the mark. What I have now, I worked very, very hard to get, and earned it on my own without the 5/6ths of the world's population doing it for me. When you are poor, you are proud of what you earn. No one gave it to me, I'm guessing what he has, he didn't earn, hence his asinine opinion. Oh, and you better believe that I am protecting what is mine. I earned every square inch of it with my own hard work, ain't no body gonna touch it. He can kiss my pretty ass, it don't get more human than that!

Oddybobo

#4 14 April 2005 - 07:47

Man, you would think that people with ideas such as Dr. Zen would be unable to read or write. What part of get your own stuff do you not understand?

How could anyone actually read Atlas Shrugged or The Fountainhead and not be moved? Oh and Ann Coulter has no good ideas? These folks should be locked up.

Anonymous

#5 14 April 2005 - 09:51

"I have no sympathy for soldiers. I think you need to be a special kind of arsehole to join the army – whose purpose is to kill and maim other people, let's not forget – and I'm not afraid to say so (not for me the ridiculous kneejerk promilitarism that all Americans must show unless they want to be accused of being a "traitor")."

So much for being for "the little guy" which is probably a good label for most of the men and women enlisting in our armed forces. I think you have to be a special kind of hole in order to trash a group of men and women that are putting it all on the line to defend his right to shoot his mouth off.

But I have noted that many people holding similar opinions both fear and envy the warriors.

Mr. Fu

Anonymous

#6 15 April 2005 - 19:38

I am not rich. I commute five hours round trip each day to a job that does not put me in the top 20% of America's earners. However, I guess I am not "poor." And as Oddybobo says, I'll bet this guy ain't poor either, which is why he probably feels the need to spout off about others hating poor people and wanting to screw them over...he most likely has typical leftwing guilt about having when others don't have. Why the hell can't he just donate his time and/or money to something if he feels so strongly about it?

PamelaMeister

#7 16 April 2005 - 09:51

Pamela, you'd be surprised at where you are. The top 1 percent of the wealthy, starts off at $373,000. This means many small business owners are in there. The top 20 percent starts at just $117,000. This is any family where both spouses earn over $60,000 gross.

"Top 20 percent!" encompasses more people than you'd think.

Pooklekufr

#8 17 April 2005 - 19:22

Well what do you know? I'm in the top 20%...just barely. Who'd have thunk it, what with all my current financial woes? Thanks Tom...you made me feel a whole lot better (not!). ;-)

PamelaMeister

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An example of a dishonest ad hominem attack (several, in fact)

Posted by: Tom "The Pooklekufr" Treloar at April 13, 2005 19:52 EST | Permalink | comments (8) |
philosophy, discoveries, fiskings
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An example of a dishonest ad hominem attack (several, in fact)

Posted by: Tom "The Pooklekufr" Treloar at April 13, 2005 19:52 EST | Permalink | comments (8) | postCountTB('442374'); philosophy, discoveries, fiskingsComments open but moderated. I reserve permission to kill spammers on sight.

My Other Blogs

Recent comments

About this blog

About me

What I'm Reading

What I'm Watching

Who I'm Listening to

Blog Policy

Testimonials

Archives

Categories

Fellow Mo'Timers

GeekBloggers

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Editorials: Individual Rights, Economics, Politics, and Islam

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Fun stuff

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Libertarian and Economist Posse

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American Flag League

Life, Liberty, and Property

The AllianceAlternate Blogroll

Counter

Posted by: Tom "The Pooklekufr" Treloar at April 13, 2005 19:52 EST | Permalink | comments (8) |
philosophy, discoveries, fiskings
Comments open but moderated. I reserve permission to kill spammers on sight.

The Alliance
Alternate Blogroll