Anyone who knows me knows that I want to be all things to all people.And it's because of that trait that I take today's criticisms about my postings very seriously. It seems as though some of you out there don't exactly like me calling Republican presidential candidate John McCain "old" for a couple different reasons. Even though it's probably a crazy coincidence that these denunciations are coming from older folks or Republicans or, quite possibly both, it's with extra due diligence that I intend to make SFDB much more user friendly.
So what I'm going to ask everyone to do is let me know what things I shouldn't be blogging about. Go ahead and tell me in the comments section what it is you don't want to hear when you come to SFDB. Because I want all my readers to be totally and 100% happy with what they read at this site. I want, no, actually I need, everyone to like me and everything I say here.
So I'll help start things off with some possible examples.
When I come to SFDB, I don't want to hear about:
1. How old John McCain is.
2. How John McCain is like George Bush.
3. How Obama is going to be a great president.
4. Eggs. [Hey, who knows?]
Well, you get the idea.
I'll be back later with the Sift.
......
As is usually the case, I'm not sure everyone caught the tongue-in-cheek nature of my writing. Be assured, I am going to blog about what I feel like blogging about. I suppose this was an attempt to show how asinine it is to do otherwise.
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25 comments:
I don't want to hear about oil.
I don't want to hear about Annette Tadeo.
~Ileana
I don't want you picking on Sr Cohiba.
~stogie
i don't want to hear about you having to censor yourself. if they don't like it don't log on =]
your just telling the truth.
1. McCain is OLD.
2. They Are.
3. He Will Be!
4. Scrambled with cheese please.
Rick, it is your blog. Write what you want. Just realize if you accuse someone of prejudice or discrimination because they raise the issue of Obama’s Muslim family or Clinton being a woman, and then you do the same thing showing your age prejudice against McCain, you are going to get called on it. That doesn’t mean you should stop being who you are or you should in any way censor yourself. It just means you are a hypocrite, that’s all. Never let your readers censor you. Certainly not me. If my comments bug you, just tell me to F off. Both of us will get a chuckle out of it and go on with life.
By the way, I am not voting for McCain. Don't even like him. And I am not a Republican.
Peace my friend.
SCG
I think you should spend more time criticizing ros-lehtinen and the diaz-balart brothers.
SCG: I realize that you're never going to grasp the difference between someone getting old and losing their faculties and health and someone's skin color.
In my humble opinion, a President's performance can be affected by his health and age, not his skin color. Although I fully realize there are people out there who think differently than I do.
Matt...the day I have to censor myself is the day I shut down the blog. And you can quote me on that.
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I don't want you to misuse the possessive gerund.
Sorry, my pet peeve and I couldn't resist.
Here's the thing.
Let's say you were to blog a positive political post about Obama tied in with a current issue or event in SoFla. That encourages an interesting debate on the topic - hopefully -- and is informative for us Republicans who don't necessarily know that much about or understand why Obama is a good candidate for president. I'd enjoy that.
Let's say you post some generic and nonspecific slam about McCain's age or how he's Bush's undigested twin about to be surgically separated from his alien host. Well - that puts me immediately on the defensive and after a few attempts to debate it when you clearly have no interest in entertaining dissent - I just call it a day as I have and check in for the hit list posts with entertaining links and ignore the political posts because there's nothing there for me but dragons. I'm wordy today. Deal with it.
Post what you want. It is your blog. I'll read what I want and ignore the political posts. We are both happy. la la la All is right in blogland. It's just your cross to bear in life that you have inadvertently attracted Republican readers. Sucks to be you. ;-)
Let's say you were to blog a positive political post about Obama tied in with a current issue or event in SoFla. That encourages an interesting debate on the topic - hopefully...
Wrong, Ferfel, because guys like Senor and Robert will always be around to throw in the regular Republican talking points and arguments.
Which is fine by me because they're so predictable and easy to disassemble, but your fantasy "interesting debate" is just that, fantasy.
As far as the "generic and nonspecific slams"...they're not there to stimulate discussion, they're there because I want to get something off my chest. If you read them, fine, if you don't, that's fine, too.
Post what you want. It is your blog. I'll read what I want and ignore the political posts. We are both happy.
Well...and there ya go.
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I like the McCain is old thing. It's funny. Those who come here and call ageism are just closed-minded morons who, as I've seen it, will pounce on just about anything you say that goes against their beliefs or views (how can we expect anything less from people who support the current crapministration?).
His being old is not the reason I'm not voting for McCain in November. But his being old can be funny (like that "Things That Are Younger Than..." website and the video below)...and, hell, we're all gonna be there someday. It's funny. Shit, post some funny things about Obama's big ears or his crappy bowling skills or something if it will help calm the jackals. I'm with Matt. Do your thing, Rick.
Everyone needs to lighten the hell up. Or, hey... here's an idea... go read another blog!
Ah, whatever. I'm not a big fan of McCain is old per se, but obviously being old is a consideration. Being black (or a woman) isn't.
Even McCain pokes fun at himself in SNL.
Rick, if being old means someone is less capable, than I guess it is OK to not hire someone who is over 50? Or should it be 60? Where do you draw the line and just start discriminating? You are painting an entire group of people as old, incapable and useless. If that is not pure discrimination and prejudice, then what is?
My issue is that you criticize one political group for being prejudice, and then you do the same thing.
I think blogging is about a respective exchange of ideas. If that is not want you desire, you could close comments, or place a notice that only readers who agree with you are allowed to comment. But I don't think that is what you want, is it?
But Rick, is not even this current discussion informative, interesting and thought provoking? And – connecting us together in some way?
Some people think that all we have to do is sit down with Iran and discuss matters, and come to some common ground. But what about liberals, conservatives, independents in America? Why can't all of us sit down and have a few knock down drag out discussions and together learn more about each other's views and maybe somehow come to some common ground?
Bottom line though Rick, it is your blog and never, ever censor yourself. You have an intelligent and interesting blog. I may not always agree with you, and I may comment when I don't, but I'll stand shoulder to shoulder with you to protect your right to say what you want.
Peace my friend, peace. It is Friday after all.
SCG
You are painting an entire group of people as old, incapable and useless. If that is not pure discrimination and prejudice, then what is?
Oh, c'mon, SCG, of course I'm not and I think you know it.
I'm just realistic and honest enough with myself to know that I don't want an 80-year-old flying me up to Baltimore next time I go.
Do we really have to debate whether most older folks perform at lower levels than younger folks? I'm not talking about the 50-year-old versus the 30-year-old. I'm referring to the 71 year-old versus the 46 year-old. Not to mention health issues and McCain's history of cancer.
If you are not willing to admit even that then what's the sense of even talking about it?
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Obviously you know more than to sensor yourself on this blog, because it's yours and you can do with it what you want.
However, this comment thread is interesting. People make some good points all around and it hasn't gotten too crazy (as it can sometimes here).
scg, you are right about the prejudices about older people, however it is a very well regarded notion that someone is sharper (mentally) when they are younger than when they are older. And considering that we are not discussing a 55 year old to process the TPS reports, but instead we are discussing electing a 72 year old man to the highest and most powerful position in the world. One that ages even young men. Have you seen the before and afters photos of presidents? I do not doubt John McCain is an intelligent and capable man, but I think his faculties have diminished as he gets older, everyone's does.
rick - when you tell Ferfe
because guys like Senor and Robert will always be around to throw in the regular Republican talking points and arguments.
I disagree about the "fantasy debate" comment. I think someone will issue talking points, but most of your readers can ignore these comments and get down to the real debate.
If you could please refrain from blogging about cucumbers, that would be great. And lizards. Please don't blog about lizards. Actually, if you could just not write about anything reptilian or amphibious, THAT would be awesome.
;)
Balou: Ha!
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dude, you can write about whatever you want. who cares.
but if you did have to refrain about blogging about something, make it Madonna, Brittany Spears, or the equivalent (not that you write about them anyway)
Where do you draw the line? How about senility?
The guy wanted us to refer Iran to the League of Nations for their bad behavior, for crying out loud.
Old isn't the problem. Old is just the easy way to talk about the problem.
The problem is he's crazy. He's out of touch. He's out of date. His mind is in another era. He doesn't understand today's world. And he's got a hell of a temper.
The simple word for that: old. Sure, it's insulting to other older people and I'd love to see people speaking about McCain in more detail. Not all 70-year-olds are crazy the way McCain is.
Personally, I'd like to see less stuntman kid jumps off building and more news worthy of discussion.
You know the old Beach Boys song? Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, Iran!
More cowbell.
(I love referential humor.)
RIck,
I have no problem debating an individual person's health issues. I was merely pointing out that if you are going to bash old people across the board, then don't complain about people bashing blacks, Cubans, young people or cucumbers.
But then again, you actually can use a double standard if you like. It is your blog.
It just irks me, that's all, and that is MY problem, not yours. Like the ultra left wing guy I work with who is the most gung ho environmentalist, Al Gore Global Warming Religion nut I know. He drives this huge VW camper bus that gets about 3 miles to the gallon. He wants everyone else to ride bikes, but not him. I give him hell all the time. But we are still friends.
Hey, I've made my point. You've made yours. Hopefully this discussion has been interesting and maybe informative.
So, let's call it a game and move on, eh?
Peace my friend.
SCG
Blog whatever you want man. I usually ignore the political posts because there is only one 2-syllable word I can associate with them and that is BOR-ING! Take this thread for instance... I figured there would be a ton of funny responses, kinda like the first time you did "Ask SotP" on the old site. However, even these comments are loaded with longwinded, boring political bullshit so I scrolled fast thru those and stopped to read the funny comments like Balou's and Matt's.
We are all aware of these 3 things:
McCain is old
Obama is black
Hilary is a woman
These issues have been beaten to a fine pulp. God, I cant wait for this goddamn election to be over...
a President's performance can be affected by his health and age, not his skin color.
50-cent disagrees.
Rick, blog away, man. Anything you want. I especially like the D talking points. They're great!
More, please.
I like the Bush 3 one the best.
50 cent's name conveys the value of his opinion. Besides, he can't vote.
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