#TwitterGulag: How It Works, and How to Avoid It

It’s really not difficult
Wingnuts • Views: 38,465
Gulag via Shutterstock

The right wing mass hallucination known as #Twittergulag is still a hot thread on Twitter this morning; the paranoia shows no sign of subsiding, and why should it? There’s nothing more fun to wingnuts than imagining themselves as victims of a massive secret conspiracy.

As we’ve noted before, Michelle Malkin’s fake news site twitchy.com has been issuing “Hijack Alerts,” telling right wingers to go and hijack Twitter threads started by liberals or Obama supporters, with abusive, nasty tweets. (They call this “free speech,” of course.)

The thing is, Twitter gave everyone a tool to use when this kind of harassment behavior takes place; it’s called the “Block and Report” button. And it’s pretty hilarious to see these wingnut idiots jump into threads, issue insults and moronic negativity all over the place like badly house-trained puppies — then whine like obnoxious crybabies about being imprisoned in a “Gulag” when their accounts are reported for spam and suspended.

When wingnuts are successful in getting Twitter to reinstate their accounts, they will often go to the #TwitterGulag thread and announce that they’re free at last from the oppressive liberal concentration camp. And this gives us a way to see exactly why they ended up getting suspended in the first place.

Here are two wingnut Twitter users who announced today that they had been sprung from the Gulag, along with the tweets they sent right before their accounts were suspended.

First, Abraham MF Lincoln, whose profile description is, “The man who freed the Democrat’s slaves.”

His triumphant cry of freedom:

And what he was tweeting right before this:

Second, Jon Force, who describes himself as, “Ardent Capitalist, Conservatarian and admirer of Breitbart the Great.#Twittergulag refugee.” Mr. Force also thought it would be a great idea to spam the #DefineObamaInOneWord thread.

His triumphant cry of freedom:

And what he was tweeting right before this:

I can’t imagine why anyone who was enjoying the #DefineObamaInOneWord thread would be upset to see this deluge of stupidity in their timelines, can you? If you hover over the dates at lower left of each tweet, you can see the full timestamps, which reveal that all of these tweets were sent out firehose-style in just a few minutes, some of them just seconds apart.

This is what the wingnut #TwitterGulag crowd is calling “free speech” — an attempt to virtually shout down conversations started by liberals, with stupid comments and insults. Twitter created the “Block and Report” feature for exactly this kind of behavior, and guess what? When harassed, people will correctly use the tools given to them to complain about that harassment. This is no “plot” or “scheme,” it’s a completely predictable outcome if you act like an abusive moron on Twitter.

So, dear wingnuts, if you want to avoid having your Twitter account suspended, the solution is dead simple: don’t act like massive jerks, jump into threads where you’re not welcome, and piss everybody off.

UPDATE at 6/11/12 12:27:51 pm

One reason why I’m pointing out these easy-to-understand facts about #TwitterGulag is that there’s currently a conspiracy theory going around the right wing blogs, identifying one of the ringleaders of the secret plot to silence them as… yours truly.

Here’s one of the latest attempts to make me the super-villain of their persecution fantasy: Twittergate: TwitterGulag’s Commandant Neal Rauhauser and His Attempt to Silence Conservatives | the Trenches.

As recently reported on The Trenches, #TwitterGulag is a system exploit used by Leftists in efforts to quell free speech and association in the online world. The most recent spat of #TwitterGulag suspensions seems to originate from Little Green Footballs’ Charles Johnson (@lizardoid). As those following and collecting evidence of that apparent collaboration noted, Johnson seemed to gain knowledge of #TwitterGulag from Leftist operative Neal Rauhauser.

Do I even have to say that this is a completely made-up Looney Tunes fairy-tale?

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177 comments
1 Kragar  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 11:48:33am

I was expecting magnets to be involved.

2 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 11:58:55am

If you are not capable of explaining yourself with logical, reasoned arguments, but think that short insults will suffice, do not be surprised when people dismiss what you have to say.

3 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 11:59:03am
"#DefineObamaInOneWord Week"

Week?

OMG. No, the US does not need teachers.

4 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 11:59:43am

re: #3 b_sharp

Week?

OMG. No, the US does not need teachers.

Maybe he really does think that Obama is seven days?

No, no, that won't work.

5 Bulworth  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 12:00:52pm
The thing is, Twitter gave every user a tool to use when this kind of harassment behavior takes place; it’s called the “Block and Report” button.

So it would appear that Twitter is the Twitter gulager. What's a reichwinger to do? //

6 Kronocide  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 12:03:33pm

Wingnuts are so PC!

(Persecution Complex)

7 dragonath  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 12:10:41pm

I know this is massively off topic, but I found another Turtledove "alternatitive history" book cover and it is truly awesome:

Abraham "MF" Lincoln is wearing a tiara and military uniform... flanked by Lee, Grant and Sherman.. and he gazes through a magic crystal ball plotting destruction of the United States of America and RAWR DRAGONS

Image: 395px-Peachtree.jpg

8 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 12:12:57pm

re: #7 Be Zorch, Daddio

I know this is massively off topic, but I found another Turtledove "alternatitive history" book cover and it is truly awesome:

Abraham "MF" Lincoln is wearing a tiara and military uniform... flanked by Lee, Grant and Sherman.. and he gazes through a magic crystal ball plotting destruction of the United States of America and RAWR DRAGONS

Image: 395px-Peachtree.jpg

Okay, just to clarify--that's a crown.

Tiaras are worn by princesses and little girls in those horrid beauty pageants.

9 jamesfirecat  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 12:13:44pm

re: #7 Be Zorch, Daddio

I know this is massively off topic, but I found another Turtledove "alternatitive history" book cover and it is truly awesome:

Abraham "MF" Lincoln is wearing a tiara and military uniform... flanked by Lee, Grant and Sherman.. and he gazes through a magic crystal ball plotting destruction of the United States of America and RAWR DRAGONS

Image: 395px-Peachtree.jpg

That's not even close to what the book is about but points for creativity.

10 dragonath  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 12:14:17pm

re: #8 Mostly sane, most of the time.

And the pope!

11 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 12:15:15pm

re: #10 Be Zorch, Daddio

And the pope!

No, no, if there are no rhinestones or diamonds involved, it's not a tiara.

That's a...hat thing. A big hat thing.

12 Kragar  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 12:24:07pm

re: #10 Be Zorch, Daddio

And the pope!

The Catholic hierarchy is based on hat size.

Jesus wears one of those big foam cowboy hats and God himself wears a giant sombrero, with entire universes as the dangly balls encircling the outside.

13 ShaunP  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 12:25:34pm
#DefineObamaInOneWord Narcissist

A quibble, but I really hate when people throw around "narcissist" so willy nilly. It is an actual thing, with a definition. A true narcissist would need to aggressively defend against every single accusation and insult. They are defined by the image that they create. Any chink in that armor would literally result in a breakdown. A truly narcissistic individual could never be POTUS; he'd never get anything else done but challenge his critics...

Not that the rest of the list is any less ridiculous, but it's just a nitpick of mine that people use the word and don't even know what it means...

The more you know...

14 Kronocide  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 12:28:48pm

#Twittergulag #DefineTwitterGulagInOneWord Whaaambulance

15 HappyWarrior  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 12:35:30pm

re: #14 Kronocide

#Twittergulag #DefineTwitterGulagInOneWord Whaaambulance

#Crycirclejerk#

16 The Ghost of a Flea  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 12:36:43pm

Do they come back from Twitter gulag with bitchin' tattoos that chronicle their misdoings? Presumably there would be a prominent troll motif.

17 Charles Johnson  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 12:39:23pm

Update above:

One reason why I'm pointing out these easy-to-understand facts about #TwitterGulag is that there's currently a conspiracy theory going around the right wing blogs, identifying one of the ringleaders of the secret plot to silence them as... yours truly.

Here's one of the latest attempts to make me the super-villain of their persecution fantasy: Twittergate: TwitterGulag's Commandant Neal Rauhauser and His Attempt to Silence Conservatives | the Trenches.

As recently reported on The Trenches, #TwitterGulag is a system exploit used by Leftists in efforts to quell free speech and association in the online world. The most recent spat of #TwitterGulag suspensions seems to originate from Little Green Footballs’ Charles Johnson (@lizardoid). As those following and collecting evidence of that apparent collaboration noted, Johnson seemed to gain knowledge of #TwitterGulag from Leftist operative Neal Rauhauser.

Do I even have to say that this is a completely made-up Looney Tunes fairy-tale?

18 Shiplord Kirel  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 12:39:42pm

I guess if you spam a fundy board you get sent to Jesus camp.

19 Kragar  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 12:41:24pm

How Rick Joyner Fed the Multitudes with Just One Dish of Casserole

God apparently doesn't have time to deal with the destruction of the environment, war, political corruption, bigotry, racism or any other ill plaguing mankind but he does have time to make a tasty casserole.

20 Kronocide  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 12:43:17pm

OMG, what freakin morons. I have more respect for people who obsessively watch Toddlers and Tiaras.

21 The Ghost of a Flea  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 12:44:03pm

re: #18 Shiplord Kirel

I guess if you spam a fundy board you get sent to Jesus camp.

Also if you post on a fundy board, look at a fundy board...let's face it--their plan is Jesus Camp for everyone.

22 Decatur Deb  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 12:45:51pm

Isn't it a time for Twitter to come out about this gibberish, if only out of corporate self-interest?

23 Charles Johnson  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 12:45:53pm

re: #20 Kronocide

[Embedded content] OMG, what freakin morons. I have more respect for people who obsessively watch Toddlers and Tiaras.

That's what I'm talking about. They have a full-blown conspiracy theory going about me. All I need is a fluffy white cat, a monocle, and a volcano lair.

24 Decatur Deb  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 12:46:29pm

...

25 Kronocide  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 12:50:39pm

Charles, you are the Most Powerful Irrelevant Man I know.

26 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 12:53:18pm

re: #20 Kronocide

[Embedded content] OMG, what freakin morons. I have more respect for people who obsessively watch Toddlers and Tiaras.

The thing about T&T is that you feel like such a good parent for never subjecting your poor daughter to that.

27 Kragar  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 12:55:40pm

re: #23 Charles Johnson

That's what I'm talking about. They have a full-blown conspiracy theory going about me. All I need is a fluffy white cat, a monocle, and a volcano lair.

You mean you don't have those?

28 Mattand  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:01:49pm

How to avoid the Twitter Gulag:

Don't spam.

29 Mattand  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:02:17pm

re: #23 Charles Johnson

That's what I'm talking about. They have a full-blown conspiracy theory going about me. All I need is a fluffy white cat, a monocle, and a volcano lair.

Don't forget the Nehru jacket.

30 jamesfirecat  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:03:04pm

re: #29 mattand

Don't forget the Nehru jacket.

And a lazer in space!

31 Kronocide  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:05:05pm

Moron either confuses the terms 'use' and 'abuse' or he's a liar trying to stir the pot. This is a Twitter user who's online persona evolves around mockery and antagonism of another Twitter user.

32 Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:05:19pm

re: #30 jamesfirecat

And a lazer in space!

Varek has the space weapons. Charles has something scarier - the colonisation lizards!
;)

33 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:09:27pm

these people really are hemorrhoids on the ass of the internet.

34 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:11:16pm

O/T but There they go again... Team Romney is now circulating a HEAVILY edited video to claim Obama was cheering the fact that gov't payrolls had gone down under his administration...

35 Charles Johnson  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:11:49pm

re: #31 Kronocide

That's one of the main idiots from the stalker blog.

His account has been suspended at least 4 times now, because of his behavior - not because I exerted my secret mind control power. A major asshole, systematically harassing everyone I talk with on Twitter.

36 Shiplord Kirel  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:11:50pm

re: #23 Charles Johnson

That's what I'm talking about. They have a full-blown conspiracy theory going about me. All I need is a fluffy white cat, a monocle, and a volcano lair.

Here ya' go, chief, complete with suitably sinister monocle and fat cat.

37 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:13:43pm

re: #36 Shiplord Kirel

but where are the sharks with freaking lasers on their freaking heads?

38 Shiplord Kirel  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:14:39pm

re: #37 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance

but where are the sharks with freaking lasers on their freaking heads?

They're lurking in the moat around the Twitter gulag.

39 HappyWarrior  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:14:44pm

re: #34 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance

O/T but There they go again... Team Romney is now circulating a HEAVILY edited video to claim Obama was cheering the fact that gov't payrolls had gone down under his administration...

More edited videos? These guys should be in film school not on campaigns.

40 Eventual Carrion  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:16:09pm

re: #23 Charles Johnson

That's what I'm talking about. They have a full-blown conspiracy theory going about me. All I need is a fluffy white cat, a monocle, and a volcano lair.

And dolphins with frickin' "lasers" on their heads.

41 Charles Johnson  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:19:12pm

re: #31 Kronocide

By the way, it's not against Twitter's terms of service to let people know about the "Block and Report As Spam" feature. It's a public feature, right there in the popup menu, and Twitter has no policy that says you're not allowed to mention it.

And one of the reasons it exists is because of obsessed freaks like "XCitizen10".

42 The Ghost of a Flea  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:19:44pm

re: #32 Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste

Varek has the space weapons. Charles has something scarier - the colonisation lizards!
;)

The fear factor of the latter hinges on whether that's colonization as in colony or the anatomical part colon with a process suffix.

Addendum: from a fashion standpoint, I'd think Charles would be better suited to a Dr. No look than the iconic Blofeld ensemble. It's sort of like having summer versus winter hair, but with villainy.

No, I stand corrected--CJ clearly needs to affect the Scaramanga. Christopher Lee trumps Donald Pleasance, if only slightly. Also...free little person and animatronic death maze.

43 allegro  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:24:42pm

re: #22 Decatur Deb

Isn't it a time for Twitter to come out about this gibberish, if only out of corporate self-interest?

Didn't they already do that? I thought I saw something here about it but haven't paid that much attention to the whole bruhaha.

44 erik_t  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:25:01pm
Now if that's NOT in your face fascism - then I don't know what is...

No. No, I don't suppose you do.

45 Mattand  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:26:15pm

re: #42 The Ghost of a Flea

The fear factor of the latter hinges on whether that's colonization as in colony or the anatomical part colon with a process suffix.

Addendum: from a fashion standpoint, I'd think Charles would be better suited to a Dr. No look than the iconic Blofeld ensemble. It's sort of like having summer versus winter hair, but with villainy.

No, I stand corrected--CJ clearly needs to affect the Scaramanga. Christopher Lee trumps Donald Pleasance, if only slightly.

Superflous third nipple will do it every time.

46 iossarian  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:26:20pm

re: #34 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance

O/T but There they go again... Team Romney is now circulating a HEAVILY edited video to claim Obama was cheering the fact that gov't payrolls had gone down under his administration...

Trying to understand what's good and bad from a Republican standpoint is just a waste of time now. Government can't create jobs, except it can, except it's bad when it does, except when a Democrat says something that sounds like that, it's good again.

47 erik_t  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:27:07pm

re: #34 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance

O/T but There they go again... Team Romney is now circulating a HEAVILY edited video to claim Obama was cheering the fact that gov't payrolls had gone down under his administration...

Who's excited to vote for a lying liar who loves to lie so that he can win a campaign? I bet I know a few suspects!

48 Daniel Ballard  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:32:47pm

Seems right on topic-Kudos for aggressive anti stalker policy and more for this-

Thank Twitter For Standing Up For User Rights
from the they-earned-it dept

We recently wrote about Twitter's decision to stand up for a user in court, fighting against a court ruling that said that a user has no proprietary interest in their own tweets and info, such that those users cannot contest a government attempt to subpoena information from Twitter. This is not the first time that Twitter has aggressively stood up for its users' rights against government excess -- in a world where that's quite rare. When the government comes calling, most companies roll right over. In response to this, the folks over at Fight for the Future have put together a petition page, asking people to sign up to thank Twitter. If they get 50,000 people to sign, they'll present Twitter with a medal for defending the internet (these medals are awesome).

Given that internet petitions are often done in protest of something or against something, I really like this idea of effectively getting people to sign on for something positive and celebrate a company that does its best to protect the interests of its users. If you agree, head on over and sign up to thank Twitter.

49 Decatur Deb  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:34:12pm

re: #43 allegro

Didn't they already do that? I thought I saw something here about it but haven't paid that much attention to the whole bruhaha.

Dunno--it certainly hasn't squelched the meme. You'd think they'd be branding-sensitive to the term itself.

50 GunstarGreen  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:38:17pm

Why is it that the people constantly squawking about the constitution and "free speech" are the ones that have the least understanding of what the constitution actually says, and what the first amendment actually entails?

Twitter could ban a person and provide their reason as "We think you're a dumb stupidhead with an ugly face", and nobody's free speech would have been impugned. The 1st only says that the Government cannot make laws abridging your freedoms. Nowhere in that document does it say that Twitter has to let you post whatever you want to post.

This is why I can never take the American right-wing seriously. Down to the last person, they swear up and down that they love our constitution and want to "get back to constitutional government" -- and they always do so about three seconds before demonstrating that they have absolutely no idea what that document actually says.

51 allegro  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:39:56pm

re: #34 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance

O/T but There they go again... Team Romney is now circulating a HEAVILY edited video to claim Obama was cheering the fact that gov't payrolls had gone down under his administration...

The entire quote:

The only time government employment has gone down during a recession has been under me. So I make that point just so you don’t buy into this whole bloated government argument that you hear. And frankly, if Congress had said yes to helping states put teachers back to work and put the economy before our politics, then tens of thousands more teachers in New York would have a job right now. That is a fact. And that would mean not only a lower unemployment rate, but also more customers for business.

The part in bold is the only segment of the quote used in the Romney campaign smear ad.

52 Digital Display  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:40:01pm

#Twittergulag has got to be the funniest effen thing I've seen on the web in years.. You just can't make this shit up.
Charles..May I suggest you change the classification of this post from Wingnuts to Crazy wingnut humorous fantasies?
/
Good afternoon Lizards!

53 The Ghost of a Flea  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:43:48pm

re: #50 GunstarGreen

Why is it that the people constantly squawking about the constitution and "free speech" are the ones that have the least understanding of what the constitution actually says, and what the first amendment actually entails?

This is why I can never take the American right-wing seriously. Down to the last person, they swear up and down that they love our constitution and want to "get back to constitutional government" -- and they always do so about three seconds before demonstrating that they have absolutely no idea what that document actually says.

The current crop of so-called "conservatives"* like the idea of unequal rights, so long as their tribe is the more equal group. It's pretty much implicit in all their writings, legislation, and commentary.

*I grew up in an R-voting household and was taught values my parents described as conservative. They included respect for privacy and personal choice, as well as cleaving to personal freedoms. These same values compel me to vote against current Republicans/conservatives. I have zero idea what the word means anymore.

54 erik_t  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:47:01pm

re: #51 allegro

The entire quote:

The part in bold is the only segment of the quote used in the Romney campaign smear ad.

It reminds me of how careful one must be writing laws in a government with an extremely liberal line-item veto. Context cannot help Obama at this point; he can utter not a single sentence that, by itself, is less than sparkly.

Ideally he could spend more of his time running the country and less of it debating phrasing with advisers, but here we are. Thanks, Mitt!

55 abolitionist  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 1:59:10pm

I gotta tell you, that Twitter gulag thingy is real. I've seen it on Fox. It's all those Observers that make it so oppressive. It's like they're mind readers or something.

Youtube Video
56 Digital Display  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:07:13pm

Much going on in my Gulag.. I've been practicing guitar again and writing music.. I was getting really rusty... YouTube is the greatest invention in the world..I can pull up any backing track and play along with it.. I'm happy..
As an update for Winston.. He had the time of his life at Aunt Peggy's little zoo for his summer vacation.. He is now bummed and sits around and pouts all day.. Aunt Peggy ruined my dog.
We are all packed up to go to ThunderBird lake in the morning for a Lunch BBQ and he can run around and play at the lake..We will be watching the Basketball game in the evening at the Sooner Lodge with room service and lots of treats. I called my Oklahoma buddies and my housekeeper to come by.. It's OK.. You can watch the game here and trash the room. Winston is going to love it.

57 ArchangelMichael  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:07:30pm

re: #23 Charles Johnson

That's what I'm talking about. They have a full-blown conspiracy theory going about me. All I need is a fluffy white cat, a monocle, and a volcano lair.

I think you have to go to Evil Medical School first as well.

I'll look forward to seeing the sharks with fricken laser beams attached to their heads though.

58 GunstarGreen  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:09:34pm

re: #53 The Ghost of a Flea

Yeah, pretty much. Goes right along with "small government" vs. "Small Gub'Mint™".

It actually, really depresses me to know that the average American citizen lacks the mental capacity for observing such transparent discrepancies between words and actions, and drawing appropriate conclusions.

59 Daniel Ballard  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:10:06pm

Just been reflecting on a conversation I have had today on Twitter, with a kind person that stays anonymous from necessity-A necessity driven by anonymous haters. Zuckerberg has something right-His resistance to online anonymity. Anonymity is not a mixed blessing, it's a mixed curse. One reason I blog open is a little pushback of my own against those who hide to be assholes. Maybe I get away with it as my boss has full understanding of my blogging, I don't hate on anyone and the wife and I are stubborn by nature against the haters/stalkers. Maybe I'm naive. Heh, maybe not.

As an informal poll-With all due respect to those who need the anonymity

How many of you who blog anonymous do so out of worries over a stalker/haters?

Worried about an impact on your career?

Want to be able to flame away without fear?

60 Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:12:08pm

re: #58 GunstarGreen

Yeah, pretty much. Goes right along with "small government" vs. "Small Gub'Mint™".

It actually, really depresses me to know that the average American citizen lacks the mental capacity for observing such transparent discrepancies between words and actions, and drawing appropriate conclusions.

Or that such statements are simply waved off as "part of politics".

61 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:13:14pm

I do love charts, and here are 11 of them showing how the economy has done under Obama.

From what I can see, the private sector has improved, but the public sector has gotten worse. I believe that's what Obama said, wasn't it?

62 GunstarGreen  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:17:07pm

re: #60 Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste

Yes, that too. That people are willing to put up with such scum and simply dismiss it as "the way of things". Politics doesn't have to be hopelessly corrupt and filled with deceit and vile rhetoric, it is only so because we accept it that way.

63 Charles Johnson  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:17:14pm

re: #48 Daniel Ballard

Seems right on topic-Kudos for aggressive anti stalker policy and more for this-

Thank Twitter For Standing Up For User Rights
from the they-earned-it dept

We recently wrote about Twitter's decision to stand up for a user in court, fighting against a court ruling that said that a user has no proprietary interest in their own tweets and info, such that those users cannot contest a government attempt to subpoena information from Twitter. This is not the first time that Twitter has aggressively stood up for its users' rights against government excess -- in a world where that's quite rare. When the government comes calling, most companies roll right over. In response to this, the folks over at Fight for the Future have put together a petition page, asking people to sign up to thank Twitter. If they get 50,000 people to sign, they'll present Twitter with a medal for defending the internet (these medals are awesome).

Given that internet petitions are often done in protest of something or against something, I really like this idea of effectively getting people to sign on for something positive and celebrate a company that does its best to protect the interests of its users. If you agree, head on over and sign up to thank Twitter.

Good for Twitter on that one.

64 Killgore Trout  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:19:51pm

re: #59 Daniel Ballard

How many of you who blog anonymous do so out of worries over a stalker/haters?

Worried about an impact on your career?

Want to be able to flame away without fear?

I considered giving up my anonymity for a while. I'm very glad I didn't. Things change. Online friends can quickly turn to enemies, especially when politics is involved. There are creepy people out there. Some of them can be dangerous as in the case of "swatting".

65 Charles Johnson  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:20:28pm

re: #61 b_sharp

I do love charts, and here are 11 of them showing how the economy has done under Obama.

From what I can see, the private sector has improved, but the public sector has gotten worse. I believe that's what Obama said, wasn't it?

Yep, that's what he said, and he clearly knew what he was talking about, too.

The mainstream media's take on this has been extremely weird. Most of the media are taking the line that it was a "gaffe," and because they all keep saying it I suppose they're creating that reality.

But it was not a gaffe in any sense.

66 dragonfire1981  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:20:45pm

GLENN BECK GETS A HUGE RAISE

Former Fox News host Glenn Beck has reportedly doubled his salary in a hefty $100 million, five-year deal for his radio show, according to the New York Times.

That’s a pretty sweet deal, especially considering that the conservative pundit isn’t even No. 1 in his morning timeslot. That honor is held by right-wing persona Rush Limbaugh, who in 2008 signed a whopping eight-year, $400 million deal, including a $100 million signing bonus. Sean Hannity is second, with Beck coming in third.

But third seems to be a charmed place for Beck, whose show is carried by more than 400 radio stations. Even though audience for radio had started to decline with the recession in 2008, it actually made big-name personalities more valuable for attracting the remaining listeners.
Beck certainly seems to be an asset to his network, Premiere, which in 2007 inked a $50 million, five-year deal for “The Glenn Beck Program.” His new deal is apparently twice that.

Most Americans, however, are not getting a Beck-sized salary bump. A survey by Adecco showed only a third of Americans received a raise last year.

Those who do get a pay increase will not exactly be expecting to double their money. The Ford Motor company, for one, doled out raises that were an average of 2.7% of employees' base pay.

With the unemployment rate at 8.2%, research shows that most Americans are more concerned about keeping their jobs than negotiating a fat raise or bonus.

Who knew there was so much money in craziness?

67 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:21:43pm

re: #59 Daniel Ballard

Just been reflecting on a conversation I have had today on Twitter, with a kind person that stays anonymous from necessity-A necessity driven by anonymous haters. Zuckerberg has something right-His resistance to online anonymity. Anonymity is not a mixed blessing, it's a mixed curse. One reason I blog open is a little pushback of my own against those who hide to be assholes. Maybe I get away with it as my boss has full understanding of my blogging, I don't hate on anyone and the wife and I are stubborn by nature against the haters/stalkers. Maybe I'm naive. Heh, maybe not.

As an informal poll-With all due respect to those who need the anonymity

How many of you who blog anonymous do so out of worries over a stalker/haters?

Worried about an impact on your career?

Want to be able to flame away without fear?

I blog anonymously now because I started blogging anonymously at Free Republic and didn't want them to know I was a howler monkey. It was more to save that newsgroup than myself, because I'm physically well removed from most other bloggers.

I'm now known more as b_sharp than my as real name, so I just continue.

Besides, that means I can flame the shit out of everybody with no consequences. I believe I'm well known for that, right?

68 Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:22:33pm

re: #62 GunstarGreen

Yes, that too. That people are willing to put up with such scum and simply dismiss it as "the way of things". Politics doesn't have to be hopelessly corrupt and filled with deceit and vile rhetoric, it is only so because we accept it that way.

One thing that popped up in my reading of the Truman biography is how while he was serving as a county judge (admin position similar to a county executive) he had a great deal of personal integrity while understanding how he was there in part due to the way machine politics worked there around Kansas City. He looked the other way in small ways while making sure things worked in larger ways. Essentially accepting that business required some of the small corruptions to keep things working for the people while fighting the larger corruptions that were simply personal enrichment at the expense of the county and citizenry.

And he was honest to his personal relationships. He was lamblasted for attending the funeral of of the Kansas City political boss when he died but Truman stated that he attended since it was a friend.

69 Digital Display  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:24:49pm

re: #59 Daniel Ballard

Just been reflecting on a conversation I have had today on Twitter, with a kind person that stays anonymous from necessity-A necessity driven by anonymous haters. Zuckerberg has something right-His resistance to online anonymity. Anonymity is not a mixed blessing, it's a mixed curse. One reason I blog open is a little pushback of my own against those who hide to be assholes. Maybe I get away with it as my boss has full understanding of my blogging, I don't hate on anyone and the wife and I are stubborn by nature against the haters/stalkers. Maybe I'm naive. Heh, maybe not.

As an informal poll-With all due respect to those who need the anonymity

How many of you who blog anonymous do so out of worries over a stalker/haters?

Worried about an impact on your career?

Want to be able to flame away without fear?

This is so easy! Really? ( Love you and D_L here)
When I first started blogging here 4 years ago I was running a little web site and Charity called food4humanity.org. It wasn't much..Just a dream I've had all my life to make a difference in this effening world. My whole life story and history and home phone number was on the web site. I got trashed and called every name possible.. A charity whore stung the worse.
I got phone calls from haters all night long.. All to go to the food store and buy a few hundred bucks of food to deliver to a food bank.
I have learned a painful lesson about stalkers. I am not bowed but stronger and smarter.

70 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:25:29pm

re: #66 dragonfire1981

Who knew there was so much money in craziness?

Who knew there were so many people without interesting lives of their own?

71 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:29:46pm

re: #59 Daniel Ballard

I'll even join you DB.

72 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:37:32pm

BTW, the wife and I have decided to stay together (with conditions).

73 allegro  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:38:19pm

re: #59 Daniel Ballard

A woman has gotta be nuts to wander around the tubes without a mask. It can be a terribly misogynist and dangerous place... and usually is.

74 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:40:38pm

re: #73 allegro

A woman has gotta be nuts to wander around the tubes without a mask. It can be a terribly misogynist and dangerous place... and usually is.

There are a lot of men willing and able to give a hand against creeps like that.

75 William Barnett-Lewis  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:40:50pm

Argh. I need to come here for a brain cleansing. Just was in the edge of a flame war with a ditz at a war games site (board war games - Squad Leader & the like). There's a monthly thread listing the military history books we're reading so that others can get ideas of whats good, bad & dreck.

SO ditz pops up pushing Buchanan's "Churchill, Hitler, and The Unnecessary War" as an Important work of Truth! Needless to say, various folks called him on it and before long he was going full bore denier & calling David Irving a martyr. Barf.

So good to have a place like this at these moments... & Foo on the ditzy dude.

76 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:46:51pm

BBL

77 Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:51:39pm

re: #75 William Barnett-Lewis

Argh. I need to come here for a brain cleansing. Just was in the edge of a flame war with a ditz at a war games site (board war games - Squad Leader & the like). There's a monthly thread listing the military history books we're reading so that others can get ideas of whats good, bad & dreck.

SO ditz pops up pushing Buchanan's "Churchill, Hitler, and The Unnecessary War" as an Important work of Truth! Needless to say, various folks called him on it and before long he was going full bore denier & calling David Irving a martyr. Barf.

So good to have a place like this at these moments... & Foo on the ditzy dude.

What's the take there on Manchester's _American Caesar_ biography of MacArthur? I'm curious since I couldn't finish it and I have the impression that Mac triggers more flame than the Montgomery-Patton-Ike arguments.

78 Kragar  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:54:42pm

re: #72 Gary Bohn

BTW, the wife and I have decided to stay together (with conditions).

Gratz

79 Kragar  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 2:57:19pm

Huckabee: Justices should strike down health care to improve their polls

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) on Sunday advised justices on the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down President Barack Obama’s landmark health care reform law in order to improve their public approval rating.
...
“The American people are at a high ebb of their disapproval of Obamacare,” Huckabee shrugged when confronted with the poll numbers on Sunday. “So if the Supreme Court wants to improve their standing if they see this poll, they will overturn Obamacare.

Yeah, who cares about that silly justice and legal stuff anyways?

80 Shiplord Kirel  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:02:17pm

re: #75 William Barnett-Lewis

Argh. I need to come here for a brain cleansing. Just was in the edge of a flame war with a ditz at a war games site (board war games - Squad Leader & the like). There's a monthly thread listing the military history books we're reading so that others can get ideas of whats good, bad & dreck.

SO ditz pops up pushing Buchanan's "Churchill, Hitler, and The Unnecessary War" as an Important work of Truth! Needless to say, various folks called him on it and before long he was going full bore denier & calling David Irving a martyr. Barf.

So good to have a place like this at these moments... & Foo on the ditzy dude.

Two members of the Lubbock County GOP platform committee discussed this book on local radio recently and wholeheartedly endorsed it.

81 sattv4u2  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:07:08pm

re: #72 Gary Bohn

BTW, the wife and I have decided to stay together (with conditions).

Congrats (I think!!)

82 Shiplord Kirel  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:08:16pm

Buchanan is a fucking disgrace, and his disciples in the Lubbock GOP are worse. I've been asking yokel Republicans whether they like belonging to a party that spits on the graves of the Greatest Generation by portraying them as the dupes and hapless victims of FDR and "the Jewish bankers." The latter, of course, are the bogeymen behind Buchanan's conspiracy theory. He doesn't spell it out but you don't even have to be a dog to hear that whistle.

83 William Barnett-Lewis  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:10:55pm

re: #77 Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste

What's the take there on Manchester's _American Caesar_ biography of MacArthur? I'm curious since I couldn't finish it and I have the impression that Mac triggers more flame than the Montgomery-Patton-Ike arguments.

Don't recall it coming up. I have been meaning to check it out, though I'll admit up front I've always felt Mac was an incompetent who made Monty look good... ;)

84 The Ghost of a Flea  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:11:05pm

re: #75 William Barnett-Lewis

Argh. I need to come here for a brain cleansing. Just was in the edge of a flame war with a ditz at a war games site (board war games - Squad Leader & the like). There's a monthly thread listing the military history books we're reading so that others can get ideas of whats good, bad & dreck.

SO ditz pops up pushing Buchanan's "Churchill, Hitler, and The Unnecessary War" as an Important work of Truth! Needless to say, various folks called him on it and before long he was going full bore denier & calling David Irving a martyr. Barf.

So good to have a place like this at these moments... & Foo on the ditzy dude.

Right now I'm reading a book on the Einsatzgruppen--what they did on the Eastern Front, and the paper trail of official documents that both set them in motion and goaded them on pretty much until Berlin fell. It's the first time I've ever gotten nightmares from a historical work, independent of how deeply it angered and saddened me.

The concept of war against Hitler being "unnecessary" makes me ill.

85 William Barnett-Lewis  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:11:37pm

re: #72 Gary Bohn

BTW, the wife and I have decided to stay together (with conditions).

Take care of yourselves.

86 sattv4u2  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:11:41pm

re: #59 Daniel Ballard

How many of you who blog anonymous do so out of worries over a stalker/haters?
this is the only place I really "blog" (excluding Facebook) and I thought the rules were no personal details,,,,, SO, when I joined LGF I figured if I were posting with my real name it's an easy leap to my address/ phone#/ etc

Worried about an impact on your career?

Not at all

Want to be able to flame away without fear?

Again, not at all. I'm not a name caller (and getting called a name really rolls off my back) so whats the worse I do,, be contrary,,, sarcastic!!

87 CuriousLurker  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:16:03pm

re: #67 Gary Bohn

Wait. You were a freeper??

re: #72 Gary Bohn

BTW, the wife and I have decided to stay together (with conditions).

Wut? *blinking* I'm glad you're staying together.

Sheesh, I go into lurk mode for a few weeks and miss all kinds of stuff.

88 Achilles Tang  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:16:49pm

re: #59 Daniel Ballard

As an informal poll-With all due respect to those who need the anonymity

How many of you who blog anonymous do so out of worries over a stalker/haters?

Somewhat

Worried about an impact on your career?

Nope. I'm self employed/retired, but I could see that being a factor for some.

Want to be able to flame away without fear?

I think I've grown up.

89 Shiplord Kirel  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:18:33pm

The GOP is only returning to the isolationist roots that were put into suspended animation at the time of Pearl Harbor.
The John Birch Society has watched over and nurtured that toxic, racist, callous crop in the decades since. With the veterans now too few and too old to slap them down, those roots are sprouting everywhere the hinterland elite can see money to be made and people to be exploited.

90 Daniel Ballard  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:20:54pm

re: #71 Gary Bohn

I'll even join you DB.

Well good for you. And thanks to you and all for the considered responses. The day Charles made the display name, I had to think long and hard. I wanted to blog open and suddenly everyone had these new nics. Quite a day.

Allegro, OMG, ya know I would be concerned if Dragon_Lady went open blogging. Whole 'nother thing with the ladies online. I can handle some jerk flaming me, but a stalker aimed at D_L would be another thing altogether. Not that she does much blogging at all. She works on our social network I call it RBN. Our "Red Blooded Network" which is my sarc for time spent out with people eye to eye.

But then lots of us have Facebook. So we rightly keep these internet communications separate. I'd be terribly embarrassed to accidentally out a careful anonymous blogger via FB or LGF.

Many now nic blog maybe at some RWNJ blog flaming away, and then have this big polite FB presence. LOL. Must cause a headache to keep two styles alive online.

91 Achilles Tang  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:22:03pm

re: #79 Kragar

Huckabee: Justices should strike down health care to improve their polls

Yeah, who cares about that silly justice and legal stuff anyways?

I thought the whole point of the Supreme Court was that they be immune to "polls", as they are (other than bribery via their wives/). Why does the preacher think different?

92 Aye Pod  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:24:03pm

re: #66 dragonfire1981

Who knew there was so much money in craziness?

Wow. That's 20 million a year - the same rate of pay as Walter White aka Heisenberg (the meth cook in 'Breaking Bad'). Manufacturing poison seems to be the way to go if you want to make some serious money.

93 CuriousLurker  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:27:06pm

re: #59 Daniel Ballard

How many of you who blog anonymous do so out of worries over a stalker/haters?

It's not so much worry as wanting to avoid the annoyance. There are myriad things I'd rather be doing than wasting precious time fending off stalkers/haters. The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

Worried about an impact on your career?

Not really, for reasons I won't disclose here. ;)

Want to be able to flame away without fear?

Nope.

94 Achilles Tang  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:28:43pm

re: #66 dragonfire1981

Wow, that is sad stuff; particularly since mostly the ones listening to these jerks are the ones with the least.

95 Digital Display  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:29:46pm

re: #92 Aye Pod

Wow. That's 20 million a year - the same rate of pay as Walter White aka Heisenberg (the meth cook in 'Breaking Bad'). Manufacturing poison seems to be the way to go if you want to make some serious money.

Sure..Make 20 million and then go to prison for life...
My Buddies and I have always laughed for the last 10 years.. If you want to go all rich, Drive an Audi A8.. Do an Internet Porn Site or gambling site off-Shore..

96 Daniel Ballard  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:29:59pm

re: #65 Charles Johnson

Yep, that's what he said, and he clearly knew what he was talking about, too.

The mainstream media's take on this has been extremely weird. Most of the media are taking the line that it was a "gaffe," and because they all keep saying it I suppose they're creating that reality.

But it was not a gaffe in any sense.

Hell no it was not a gaffe. it was the truth of the matter as he meant it. AFAIK the media has such a huge interest in a close and controversial race they will make sure it goes just like that. The corporate interests are looking for a good quarterly report from ad revenues. It's gonna get more weird. A lot.

97 Obdicut  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:30:41pm

re: #59 Daniel Ballard

I've used my real name on here several times. I'm not worried about anything in particular happening. If I write more formal things elsewhere-- which is kind of happening at the moment-- I'll do so under my own name.

On the other hand, I have a really common name.

98 Aye Pod  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:33:45pm

re: #59 Daniel Ballard

How many of you who blog anonymous do so out of worries over a stalker/haters?

Definitely this as far as ice and I are concerned. There are some highly deranged and extremely obsessed people out there.

99 Shiplord Kirel  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:34:39pm

I hope Benjamin Netanyahu and his faction are paying close attention to this Buchananite uprising in the GOP base. Support from the American right is an illusion, they are back country anti-semites and isolationists at heart. There is even a move among certain evangelicals to repudiate the "promised land" claim which is the one and only basis for their support for Israel.

100 Daniel Ballard  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:34:39pm

re: #93 CuriousLurker

How many of you who blog anonymous do so out of worries over a stalker/haters?

It's not so much worry as wanting to avoid the annoyance. There are myriad things I'd rather be doing than wasting precious time fending off stalkers/haters. The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

Worried about an impact on your career?

Not really, for reasons I won't disclose here. ;)

Want to be able to flame away without fear?

Nope.

Thanks, and a great line right there about the dogs and caravan. I'll keep it in mind when I do read of the stalkers out there.

101 Kragar  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:34:56pm

re: #97 Obdicut

I've used my real name on here several times. I'm not worried about anything in particular happening. If I write more formal things elsewhere-- which is kind of happening at the moment-- I'll do so under my own name.

On the other hand, I have a really common name.

I know every person with my family name living in the US today, and have met most of them at one point or another.

I'll stick with my pen name as much as possible.

102 Achilles Tang  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:36:09pm

re: #61 Gary Bohn

I do love charts, and here are 11 of them showing how the economy has done under Obama.

From what I can see, the private sector has improved, but the public sector has gotten worse. I believe that's what Obama said, wasn't it?

That's great. I've seen that piecemeal but not like this. Why MSNBC doesn't start every show with it, I don't know.

103 wrenchwench  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:37:12pm

re: #87 CuriousLurker

Sheesh, I go into lurk mode for a few weeks and miss all kinds of stuff.

That'll teach you. More Curious and less Lurker!

re: #93 CuriousLurker

How many of you who blog anonymous do so out of worries over a stalker/haters?

It's not so much worry as wanting to avoid the annoyance. There are myriad things I'd rather be doing than wasting precious time fending off stalkers/haters. The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

Worried about an impact on your career?

Not really, for reasons I won't disclose here. ;)

Want to be able to flame away without fear?

Nope.

What she said, pretty much.

104 Shiplord Kirel  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:37:41pm

There are two other people in Lubbock who have the same first and last name as mine. All three have doctorates of one kind or another.

105 CuriousLurker  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:38:04pm

re: #100 Daniel Ballard

Thanks, and a great line right there about the dogs and caravan. I'll keep it in mind when I do read of the stalkers out there.

It's an old Middle Eastern proverb. Definitely a good one to remember. ;)

106 erik_t  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:39:42pm

re: #101 Kragar

I know every person with my family name living in the US today, and have met most of them at one point or another.

I'll stick with my pen name as much as possible.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Hell, sometimes I wish I'd anonymized even further.

107 wrenchwench  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:40:52pm

re: #98 Aye Pod

Definitely this as far as ice and I are concerned. There are some highly deranged and extremely obsessed people out there.

Nobody cares about you (///!) but she really brought out the crazy in some people that I didn't know had it in 'em.

108 Achilles Tang  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:41:30pm

re: #105 CuriousLurker

Talking of sayings, here is one I will forget tomorrow:

Never attribute to malice what can easily be attributed to stupidity.

109 Aye Pod  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:41:49pm

re: #95 Digital Display

Sure..Make 20 million and then go to prison for life...
My Buddies and I have always laughed for the last 10 years.. If you want to go all rich, Drive an Audi A8.. Do an Internet Porn Site or gambling site off-Shore..

Hi hoops! Yeah of course having anything to do with meth is totally inadviseable - I do recommend watching 'Breaking Bad' though if you haven't already - it's one of the most original and thoroughly gripping shows I've ever seen.

PS ice says Hi!

110 CuriousLurker  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:46:59pm

re: #108 Achilles Tang

Talking of sayings, here is one I will forget tomorrow:

Never attribute to malice what can easily be attributed to stupidity.

LOL, that one's a keeper.

111 dragonfire1981  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:47:35pm

re: #95 Digital Display

Sure..Make 20 million and then go to prison for life...
My Buddies and I have always laughed for the last 10 years.. If you want to go all rich, Drive an Audi A8.. Do an Internet Porn Site or gambling site off-Shore..

It's actually a LOT tougher than you'd think to make money making porn.

Not that I would know about such things...

112 wrenchwench  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:49:37pm
Now Playing:

Flaming Red
Patty Griffin

I just bought that CD today for $1.50. I'm going to go put it on and get to work.

113 Daniel Ballard  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:49:39pm

re: #98 Aye Pod

Definitely this as far as ice and I are concerned. There are some highly deranged and extremely obsessed people out there.

Yes, I recall you telling me about some of that. You two, CJ, and KT are folks I had in mind when I wrote that question. I'm sure there are many more. Damn that stuff really sucks. Largely luck, partly style I have had no real trouble. I hope the long term online trend supports kindly anonymity and hammers the haters.

Monitors matter. Where comments are not moderated it's a spam tank and hate fest. I'd support a blog industry standard (not a law) -Moderate or allow no comments. It's critical IMO for Twitter and FB and the rest to enforce the terms of use. No stalking, no violence, no racial / religious slurs... Those that don't comply can be dismissed by the sensible and a shit pit for the participants. Like Fox comments.

114 Digital Display  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:50:09pm

re: #109 Aye Pod

Hi hoops! Yeah of course having anything to do with meth is totally inadviseable - I do recommend watching 'Breaking Bad' though if you haven't already - it's one of the most original and thoroughly gripping shows I've ever seen.

PS ice says Hi!

Hi You! Hope you and Ice are well... My life is changing this year as you know..
With all the kids back home for summer you can order anything in Norman with service that takes only minutes.. I love it.
I called the shuttle a few minutes ago for delivery..
I want my shuttle without bacon.. I hate bacon
Yes sir
I want a BLT...
Without the bacon?
No I want no Tomato or lettuce and extra bacon..
I don't understand.. You hate bacon..
I hate bacon
But sir.. You want extra bacon?
I have a spoil dog...
Laughter! I get it now sir..

115 Aye Pod  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:52:38pm

re: #107 wrenchwench

Nobody cares about you (///!) but she really brought out the crazy in some people that I didn't know had it in 'em.

Misogynistic freaks the lot of 'em. We're still doing experiments to find out how much of this stuff they'd need to soothe their pain...

Youtube Video

Or maybe we need to develop some sort of general purpose 'Wingnut Unction'?

116 dragonfire1981  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:55:41pm

OT

Here's my PSA for all of you:

NEVER, ever, EVER give up your credit card information to ANY website unless you know for sure exactly what it will be used for.

Last month I was researching some shipping rates and checked out a site called stamps.com. I just wanted to check some rates, but you can't see them on that site without registering. During the registration process, you have to provide a credit card, apparently so they have one on file to charge if you actually buy shipping through them. It states this right above the fields where you enter your card info.

But buried in the fine print (I know, it's my fault for not reading it) it ALSO says that after you register on the site you will, after a one month "Trial" period, be on the hook for $15.99/month thereafter for the services of the site.

This came to my attention when I noticed a charge from stamps.com on my online account summary this morning.

I called the 800 number to cancel it and boy did I have fun.

You see people who work cancellations departments make money by convincing people NOT to cancel. I get this. But the thing is, I never WANTED this service in the first place nor do I have any practical use for it. I rarely send any mail period.

First the cancellations rep tried to convince me to just keep the program.

NO.

Then he tried to give me a $10 service credit and some other freebie.

NO.

Then he said he'd waive the $15.99 this month and I could try the services and if I still wasn't happy I could cancel next month.

NO.

Then he tried AGAIN to get me to keep the services.

At this point I am SERIOUSLY losing my patience and trying my darndest not to go off on the guy. I told him the following: "Look, I'm trying to be patient with you, but I have no use for the service, I do not want the service and I want to cancel it completely right now PERIOD."

He finally gave in. Now I'll have to police my bank statement next month to make sure it doesn't magically appear again. If it does, there will be hell to pay.

I probably could have fought and gotten my $15.99 back, but I'm happy enough to just get it canceled and be done it with it. I know how shady some of these even legit seeming companies can be with billing.

117 William Barnett-Lewis  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:55:42pm

re: #111 dragonfire1981

It's actually a LOT tougher than you'd think to make money making porn.

Not that I would know about such things...

NTTIAWWT ...

118 dragonfire1981  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:59:42pm

re: #117 William Barnett-Lewis

NTTIAWWT ...

Heh, the thing is there is so much freely available porn out there and on top of that, pay for porn sites are some of the MOST hacked sites on the 'Net. It takes more than some pretty naked girls to make money in porn.

119 Aye Pod  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 3:59:58pm

re: #114 Digital Display

Sounds like good times :)

Youtube Video

Your story reminds me of the time I ordered a plain cheeseburger and they gave me ...a burger. "But you said you wanted it plain..."

120 Daniel Ballard  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:00:24pm

re: #116 dragonfire1981

I have a treat for you.

Youtube Video
121 Eventual Carrion  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:04:28pm

re: #97 Obdicut

I've used my real name on here several times. I'm not worried about anything in particular happening. If I write more formal things elsewhere-- which is kind of happening at the moment-- I'll do so under my own name.

On the other hand, I have a really common name.

Hi John Smith {waves}


He's got more chins than the Chinese phonebook.
- Don't remember the comedian off the top of my head.

122 Sheila Broflovski  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:06:47pm

re: #116 dragonfire1981

For G-D sake man, why didn't you just go to USPS.COM?

Don't they have post offices in Canada?

123 BongCrodny  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:11:44pm

Eighteen responses to "Obama in one word" and he calls Obama empty?

124 Patricia Kayden  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:13:48pm

Wonder when the Righties will get bored with this twitter nonsense. Do they have nothing else to do?

I wonder if what irks them about Charles is that he was once on their team. It must be shocking that someone who was so prominent left them and their crazy, extremist ideology behind. They must consider it a personal insult.

125 Interesting Times  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:13:54pm

Well played:

126 Aye Pod  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:20:15pm

Late here - night folks :)

Youtube Video
127 darthstar  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:33:03pm

1,000 words

Image: 538598_390941844275362_1694065017_n.jpg

128 Killgore Trout  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:33:05pm

re: #113 Daniel Ballard

With the exception of a relatively brief period I've been a fairly controversial contributor here over the years. I've learned to keep even my disosable email accounts very private. They usually only last a year or so before somebody starts sending me hatemail.

129 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:37:20pm

re: #87 CuriousLurker

Wait. You were a freeper??

re: #72 Gary Bohn

Wut? *blinking* I'm glad you're staying together.

Sheesh, I go into lurk mode for a few weeks and miss all kinds of stuff.

Yes, I was a freeper. Twice. My first nic was 'Pan paniscus'. I lasted about a week.

130 dragonfire1981  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:38:11pm

re: #122 Learned Mother of Zion

For G-D sake man, why didn't you just go to USPS.COM?

Don't they have post offices in Canada?

Yes they do (FYI I live in America now) and I did go to USPS first, but I got it in my head that stamps.com might have been cheaper (BIG MISTAKE).

It's USPS or bust from here on out.

131 dragonfire1981  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:38:42pm

re: #128 Killgore Trout

With the exception of a relatively brief period I've been a fairly controversial contributor here over the years. I've learned to keep even my disosable email accounts very private. They usually only last a year or so before somebody starts sending me hatemail.

Damn. Talk about determined.

132 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:41:13pm

re: #97 Obdicut

I've used my real name on here several times. I'm not worried about anything in particular happening. If I write more formal things elsewhere-- which is kind of happening at the moment-- I'll do so under my own name.

On the other hand, I have a really common name.

Good stuff, Beauregard.

133 Page 3 in the Binder of Women  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:42:17pm

Bolton, Romney choice for Sec of State:

Significantly, U.S. intervention could not be confined to Syria and would inevitably entail confronting Iran and possibly Russia. This the Obama administration is unwilling to do, although it should.

Russia? Omg

134 Killgore Trout  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:44:18pm

re: #131 dragonfire1981

Damn. Talk about determined.

Well, it's always been a rotating cast of characters here so there's always someone new to piss off. Pro-Israel, anti-Israel, counterjihadists, atheist haters, righties lefties, creationists, etc. By far the worst was from the Tea Partiers and OWS supporters. People like their populist protest movements passionately.

135 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:46:41pm

re: #122 Learned Mother of Zion

For G-D sake man, why didn't you just go to USPS.COM?

Don't they have post offices in Canada?

No. We use smoke signals and dog sleds.

136 Killgore Trout  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:47:47pm

I forgot about Barret Brown and Anon. That was pretty public but I never felt threatened. If I'd known about swatting it might have been a different story.

137 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:48:46pm

re: #128 Killgore Trout

With the exception of a relatively brief period I've been a fairly controversial contributor here over the years. I've learned to keep even my disosable email accounts very private. They usually only last a year or so before somebody starts sending me hatemail.

At times you drive me crazy, but I would never stoop to sending hate mail. I don't even understand why anyone would.

138 Killgore Trout  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:49:38pm

re: #137 Gary Bohn

At times you drive me crazy, but I would never stoop to sending hate mail. I don't even understand why anyone would.

People get carried away. It happens.

139 Killgore Trout  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:50:16pm

Luckily I think Charles still gets most of my hate mail...which works out nice for me.

140 Kragar  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:52:59pm

I remember back when I used to allow emails. The death threat I got was hilarious.

141 Mattand  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:55:09pm

re: #136 Killgore Trout

I forgot about Barret Brown and Anon. That was pretty public but I never felt threatened. If I'd known about swatting it might have been a different story.

Christ, are you really that frightened of swatting? You make it sound like it happens 8 times an hour throughout the country.

142 Obdicut  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:55:57pm

re: #140 Kragar

I have a crazy ex-friend who always tries to mooch money off of me, and come crash at my place and stuff. He's really weird. And he apparently tries to look me up on the internet all the time and will call me-- when he has my number-- and demand I come let him in. He's never at the right address, he's always, like, at one I lived at two years ago, or just somewhere completely wrong.

At least my stalker is completely ineffective.

143 Sheila Broflovski  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:56:17pm

re: #87 CuriousLurker

Wait. You were a freeper??

I was a freeper for several years. I have moved past that.

144 Page 3 in the Binder of Women  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:57:28pm

re: #141 mattand

Christ, are you really that frightened of swatting? You make it sound like it happens 8 times an hour throughout the country.

Reading RW sites does that to you. State of fear.

145 Kragar  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:58:20pm

re: #142 Obdicut

I have a crazy ex-friend who always tries to mooch money off of me, and come crash at my place and stuff. He's really weird. And he apparently tries to look me up on the internet all the time and will call me-- when he has my number-- and demand I come let him in. He's never at the right address, he's always, like, at one I lived at two years ago, or just somewhere completely wrong.

At least my stalker is completely ineffective.

Mine was some kid who used the same handle and email address as for some ridiculous internet conspiracy forum.

I gave the email address and forum to 4-Chan and wiped my hands of the matter.

146 goddamnedfrank  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:59:02pm

re: #133 Residence: Hopeandchangeistan 2012

Bolton, Romney choice for Sec of State:

Russia? Omg

LOL. I love how Romney doesn't have an original idea in his playbook. Yes, pick the belligerent asshole who exemplified neo-con fail under Bush simply because he's what angry stupid white people think a smart person sounds like.

re: #142 Obdicut

I have a crazy ex-friend who always tries to mooch money off of me, and come crash at my place and stuff. He's really weird.

Was that wrong, should I not have done that?

147 Killgore Trout  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:59:21pm

re: #141 mattand

Christ, are you really that frightened of swatting? You make it sound like it happens 8 times an hour throughout the country.

Only in the case of Anon. Barrett Brown actually went to the trouble of posting a youtube video soliciting personal info about me. Looking back now it is a bit spookier than I thought it was at the time.

148 darthstar  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 4:59:42pm

re: #142 Obdicut

Yeah, yeah, yeah...just let me in the house already.
/

149 Mocking Jay  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 5:01:30pm

Just saw Prometheus. Where is the form to request those two hours back?

150 Killgore Trout  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 5:02:56pm

re: #149 It's a cookbook!

Just saw Prometheus. Where is the form to request those two hours back?

Bummer, I've heard the plot has some problems. I've been avoiding spoilers but I might read up a bit before I decide to go and see it.

151 darthstar  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 5:03:47pm

re: #150 Killgore Trout

Bummer, I've heard the plot has some problems. I've been avoiding spoilers but I might read up a bit before I decide to go and see it.

He gets burned trying to steal fire.

152 Mocking Jay  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 5:04:47pm

re: #150 Killgore Trout

Bummer, I've heard the plot has some problems. I've been avoiding spoilers but I might read up a bit before I decide to go and see it.

I'm being a little melodramatic. That said, I should've seen it tomorrow when the prices are cheaper.

And yeah, the plot is bleh.

153 William Barnett-Lewis  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 5:05:22pm

re: #149 It's a cookbook!

Just saw Prometheus. Where is the form to request those two hours back?

Did you see LVQ's post on it the other day:?

154 Mocking Jay  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 5:06:12pm

re: #153 William Barnett-Lewis

Did you see LVQ's post on it the other day:?

Nah. I've been absent the past few days.

155 darthstar  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 5:11:26pm
156 goddamnedfrank  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 5:11:37pm

re: #145 Kragar

Mine was some kid who used the same handle and email address as for some ridiculous internet conspiracy forum.

I gave the email address and forum to 4-Chan and wiped my hands of the matter.

I looked up the last blogger to send me a death threat, found out he got convicted last year in Georgia of aggravated assault and got sentenced to 20 years.

157 darthstar  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 5:14:08pm

re: #156 goddamnedfrank

I looked up the last blogger to send me a death threat, found out he got convicted last year in Georgia of aggravated assault and got sentenced to 20 years.

You get some quality stalkers.

158 Page 3 in the Binder of Women  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 5:16:38pm

re: #156 goddamnedfrank

I looked up the last blogger to send me a death threat, found out he got convicted last year in Georgia of aggravated assault and got sentenced to 20 years.

Mandy WAS a man. I knew it.

159 wrenchwench  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 5:23:21pm

re: #158 Residence: Hopeandchangeistan 2012

Mandy WAS a man. I knew it.

lol

160 Achilles Tang  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 5:24:07pm

This is cool

161 Mocking Jay  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 5:35:46pm

re: #153 William Barnett-Lewis

Did you see LVQ's post on it the other day:?

Okay, I went back and read it. This film's plot was so thin that I find myself thinking that Damon Lindelof has no business writing screenplays.

162 Sheila Broflovski  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 5:37:44pm

re: #150 Killgore Trout

Bummer, I've heard the plot has some problems. I've been avoiding spoilers but I might read up a bit before I decide to go and see it.

Prometheus steals fire from the Immortals and gives it to the humans. For this crime, the Immortals crucify him on a rock cliff and send an eagle with an iron beak and iron claws to snack on his liver every day.

//Do they not show this in the movie?

163 Charles Johnson  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 5:41:42pm

Wow, this is pretty wild:

[Link: www.pointerpointer.com...]

164 Obdicut  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 5:44:56pm

re: #163 Charles Johnson

On my browser it's just epileptic flashes of images.

165 Interesting Times  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 5:48:52pm

Cyberstalkers and trolls across the pond haz a sad:

Websites to be forced to identify trolls under new measures

New government proposals say victims have a right to know who is behind malicious messages without the need for costly legal battles.
...
Last week, a British woman won a court order forcing Facebook to identify users who had harassed her.

Nicola Brookes had been falsely branded a paedophile and drug dealer by users - known as trolls - on Facebook.

Facebook, which did not contest the order, will now reveal the IP addresses of people who had abused her so she can prosecute them.

166 Obdicut  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 5:51:48pm

Sandusky trial off to disturbing beginnings:

[Link: www.nytimes.com...]

On Monday, prosecutors opening their sexual abuse case against Sandusky told jurors that Sandusky kept a private list of boys the charity was helping. That list, they suggested, amounted to his own sort of scouting report on potential targets for him to abuse, complete with asterisks next to some of the names and notations about their hair color, shoe size, whether they had parents and other details.

167 Killgore Trout  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 5:53:13pm

re: #165 Interesting Times

Cyberstalkers and trolls across the pond haz a sad:

Websites to be forced to identify trolls under new measures

Ugh.

168 Killgore Trout  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 5:54:03pm

Fuck the internet. I'm investing in carrier pigeons.

169 Kronocide  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 5:54:05pm

I've been considering sharing my real name. I'm not fully active and not necessarily askerd of receiving the wrath of the Trolling Hordes, but I previously had a job and didn't want the distraction.

Now I own my own company, and don't advertise or have a client pool easily salted with Trolls trying to screw with me.

But still, I'm hesitant.

170 wrenchwench  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 5:58:07pm

re: #168 Killgore Trout

Fuck the internet. I'm investing in carrier pigeons.

They'll double as a good source of fertilizer. Or was that what you were getting out of the internet?

171 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 5:59:39pm

re: #169 Kronocide

I've been considering sharing my real name. I'm not fully active and not necessarily askerd of receiving the wrath of the Trolling Hordes, but I previously had a job and didn't want the distraction.

Now I own my own company, and don't advertise or have a client pool easily salted with Trolls trying to screw with me.

But still, I'm hesitant.

Glad to finally meet you Mr. Hesitant.
Is your wife Hesitant too?

172 Charles Johnson  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 6:01:45pm

re: #71 Gary Bohn

I'll even join you DB.

Good for you, I approve. Got to get real with it.

I was reluctant for years to reveal that my real name is Stinky Beaumont.

173 Dancing along the light of day  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 6:04:58pm

re: #172 Charles Johnson

LOL! I miss Stinky & his big wrench!

174 Charles Johnson  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 6:05:38pm

Been testing an Apple Magic Trackpad today - I thought it would be hard to get used to, but I'm really starting to like the multi-touch gesture support.

There are just a couple of things that seem easier with a mouse - for example, double-click-dragging to select a group of words. In fact, dragging to select text in general still seems better-suited to a mouse.

175 Kronocide  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 6:09:41pm

Gesture control is intriguing but it won't replace a mouse or keyboard. It can supplement if done right.

Voice commands are hard enough: there's still no real mass solution for voice commands. I turned Siri off on my phone because it's so frustrating.

176 Charles Johnson  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 6:12:24pm

Get real get right.

Youtube Video
177 jaunte  Mon, Jun 11, 2012 6:14:47pm

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