He’d Rather Not Answer
03.14.06Opinion Journal pointed out this interesting article about the liberal media. Silly liberals… they’re too easy except for one thing. It’s like arguing with a child. You can never win with logic.
Here’s the scene: Former CBS anchorman Dan Rather is in Cherry Hill, giving a speech about the need for journalists to do better.
“What’s gone out of fashion is the tough question and the follow-up,” he tells an admiring audience of about 600 people at Cherry Hill’s Star Forum.
So how can I, the guy covering Rather’s remarks, just sit there?
When he finishes, I hurry to a floor mike to ask Rather about an issue that will be part of my story.
“Mr. Rather,” I say. “Great suggestions. But you left the anchor desk last year after your report questioning President Bush’s military service was discredited. Key memos could not be authenticated. Do you think the failure to ask questions then affects your credibility now?”
Rather responds with civility — if not clarity. He notes, in part, that an independent review “couldn’t determine whether the documents were authentic or not.”
Eager to please, I follow up: “The Courier-Post won’t run something if we’re not sure it’s authentic. Are you saying it’s OK . . .”
But my microphone goes dead — and the audience stirs to life.
Some people jeer. Others glare and scowl (I can now distinguish between the two). This continues outside as I call in my story.
Kinda like when I try to discuss things logically with JJ and he just calls me names
# March 17th, 2006 at 3:08 pmHaha. JJ = pwn3d.
# March 17th, 2006 at 4:37 pmWhatever you say Guav. I remember discussing plenty of things logically with you. But all you wanted to do was quote a bunch of bullcrap New York Times articles to me. And if I recollect, all you could say was “liberal spin? what liberal spin?” How can I discuss things logically with a person who doesn’t want to believe that there is a left spin to many of our news outlets.
So it was pointless. And sorry if I hurt your feeling by taking jabs at ya. I didn’t know you were so sensitive. Most (not all) of the jabs I took were just callin you a “liberal” (which makes you angrier than a bear with his nuts in a trap). All I do is call a spade a spade. I can understand how being labeled a liberal could take a toll on ones self esteem. Especially a gun toting liberal. I am sorry.
# March 17th, 2006 at 9:05 pmJJ, you have never hurt my feelings, and what you call me doesn’t bother me because it doesn’t reflect on me, it’s reflects on you. You can call me a liberal, a commie, a faggot or whatever gets you hard. I assure you it just makes me chuckle.
In our very first discussion you brought absolutely nothing to the table except for dismissive comments, insults, and name-calling, and that was before you knew a thing about me. All you knew is that I opposed the war in Iraq, and in your eyes that made me an anti-American pinko liberal commie traitor. And ever since then, I can recall maybe one discussion where you didn’t just dismiss everything and call me names. That’s not rational or factual debate, it’s not even trying to be—it’s not even debate at all, it’s just you expressing your knee-jerk reactions. You’re not a logical debater, you’re an emotional debater.
I don’t dislike you on ideological grounds, just personal ones. It’s not what you think that I dislike, it’s how you act. I have plenty of civil, lengthy and logical debates with people I am diametrically opposed to, both on the right and the left. And there are right-wing conservatives whose opinions I respect even though I may disagree with them, and who I respect and take seriously as people.
You’re just not one of them, that’s all.
# March 18th, 2006 at 10:48 amGuav, your talk is immature. Never have I called you a faggot or anything of the like. Don’t put words in my mouth. I’m just going to end this lil discussion here. Have a blessed day.
# March 18th, 2006 at 3:21 pmYou’re right JJ, you never called me a faggot, you said “GUAV is gay,” called me a “dirty commie” and a “liberal leech on society.”
That was in one of the first exchanges we had, where you didn’t address any of the things I was actually talking about, you just sat there and called me names in an effort to dismiss me without having to engage me in “logical discussion”, prompting me to write:
Even from day one that was how you interacted with me. I also said:
Yet for some reason—more than a year later—you still are sitting here insisting that I try to keep my liberal views a secret or pretend that they don’t exist, even though the fact that I’m socially liberal has never been a secret.
You accuse me of putting words in your mouth while you’re still here making stuff up about me. You’re wierd, man.
# March 18th, 2006 at 7:32 pmdude, get a life. You must be one bored sad individual. Im not telling you to do anything. Let it die already.
# March 19th, 2006 at 7:18 amseriously dude, we need a hobby or something.
# March 19th, 2006 at 7:19 amGet off the computer and pick up your room or your grounded!
# March 19th, 2006 at 7:20 amSeriously, listen to your conscience. Let it die.
# March 19th, 2006 at 7:25 amAlso, I swear I apologized to you in a earlier post about our first heated exchanges. It’s all about fun now. If you still wanna make a big deal outta nothing you go ahead and do that. Take er easy.
# March 19th, 2006 at 7:28 amI just made a one-sentence joke, you’re the one who took it too seriously and turned it into an actual debate. And now that I’m calling you on your bull, you don’t wanna talk about it?
Ironically, our last exchange just just proved my initial comment about you: I’m logically discussing the matter, you’re calling me names. I’m posting our initial exchange where you countered my arguments with childish insults, and you’re countering it with childish insults, while denying that you do exactly what you’re doing right now—It’s hysterical.
(And for someone talking about “letting it die, “boredom,” and “not having a life,” you’re the one obsessingly posting four comments in a row—I’m just responding to your innacurate comments)
# March 19th, 2006 at 8:02 amP.S. Yes JJ, I do believe you apologized for our initial interaction. But you’ve dealt with me in the same way quite a few times since then I believe. Like here. It’s just kinda your “style.”
Why can’t we just get along?
# March 19th, 2006 at 8:07 am:sing:How can we be lovers when we can’t be friends. How can we stop this pain, the fighting never ends… ohh baabbbyyy:sing:
# March 19th, 2006 at 8:08 amA little Michael Bolton goes a long way.
# March 19th, 2006 at 8:08 amHahah
# March 20th, 2006 at 10:04 am