Category Archives: Civility Trolls

But The Greatest Threat To Free Speech Is Some Dumbass College Kids

Posted on December 8, 2017 by mikethemadbiologist

Or maybe not. From the Great State of Alabama (boldface mine): “Stand for Decency, Reject Roy Moore,” read the bold headline in Birmingham, Mobile and Huntsville, all part of Alabama Media Group. Arguing that the credible sexual-misconduct charges against the … Continue reading →

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Giving Ideas the Respect They Deserve

Posted on October 11, 2014 by mikethemadbiologist

Which in many cases, is none at all. Elizabeth Stoker Bruening on complaints about style (boldface mine): Which is another way of putting: discuss this as though it’s ordinary. Some people were upset about the Rand post [which argued that … Continue reading →

Posted in Civility Trolls, Conservatives | 3 Comments

Virginia’s New Governor and the Democrats’ Faustian Bargain

Posted on December 27, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Having grown up in the Commonwealth of Virginia at a time when the choice was between the segregationist theocrat and the de facto Republican (aka ‘the Democrat’), I am well accustomed to choosing the lesser of two evils. More recently, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blastocyst Liberation, Civility Trolls, Democrats | Comments Off on Virginia’s New Governor and the Democrats’ Faustian Bargain

It’s Hoover Time

Posted on September 13, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks our political leadership (such as it is) might be reluctant to take on intelligence agencies due to fears of political retribution (behind paywall; boldface mine): Consider the deep messaging of the NSA’s … Continue reading →

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Anyone Who Thinks Massive Surveillance Won’t Be Misused Is Ignorant of History

Posted on June 27, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Seriously, we haven’t figured out to make people better or more principled, and since, in the last decade, we have legalized torture, how could one possibly think that we have appropriate safeguards in place to prevent misuse of surveillance data … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Liberties, Civility Trolls | 1 Comment

Guns, Honor, and the Dubious Freedom to Be an Asshole

Posted on January 22, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Josh Marshall makes a good point about the ‘non-gun’ culture (boldface mine): In the current rhetorical climate people seem not to want to say: I think guns are kind of scary and don’t want to be around them. Yes, plenty … Continue reading →

Posted in BANG! BANG!, Civil Liberties, Civility Trolls | 8 Comments

Obama’s Speech: One Thing I Liked, and One Thing Not So Much

Posted on January 17, 2011 by mikethemadbiologist

Honesty requires the unlovely recognition that some of us aren’t all that good.
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Posted in Basic Human Decency, Civility Trolls, Ethics, Propaganda, Torture | 5 Comments

The Absence of Civility Is Not the Problem: Lying and Inaccuracy Are the Problems

Posted on January 10, 2011 by mikethemadbiologist

Let’s not be so concerned with civility, but instead demand honesty and accuracy. That will serve us far better.
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Posted in Blastocyst Liberation, Civility Trolls, Conservatives, News Media | 17 Comments