It never ceases to amaze me. When supposedly educated people read some factually based, well researched, diary or comments that they don't agree with, and just react with an emotional response devoid of any grounding in fact and drowning in opinion. They have a preconceived notion or they just innately don't agree with the premise presented and before they partake in due diligence and examine either, the thing itself, or their intense reaction, they lash out with a completely emotional reply presented as absolute fact.
The red cape for the bull, a laser pointer for a pootie, (I know!), Pavlov's puppy hears the bell and they all just do what they do. It's the conditioning, or the "wiring", stupid. They simply can't help it. An amoeba faced with a stimulus, doesn't think and then respond, it just reacts. Conditioned by it's evolution, it does so without the benefit of thinking.
Just like a Republican.
Please join me over the orange cloven hoofprint.
It's forgivable, even expected, with amoebas. That's just what they do. Their lives are not about contemplation or improvement; when the pointed thing pokes the single cell non thinker, it moves away, and lives to not think another day.
People aren't supposed to be like that. Except Republicans, of course. That's their strength. It's what they're proud of. It what makes them who they are. They never let the facts interfere with their opinions.
Conservative is defined as "disposed to preserve existing conditions".
Liberal is, "Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry."
That's part of why we're liberals, right? We accept and, at least try, to embrace, the knowledge that the only real constant in this old world, is change.The unexamined life and all that good stuff. We like to dissect ideas in case they hold some kernel of truth that may improve the human condition. Better is fun and fun is better. To make it better by abandoning what doesn't work and taking ownership of the new. To listen and to learn. We ain't scared of the facts.
That's why liberals are more fun, we know change is going to happen and we try to make it fun while it happens.
Then the darkness happens. The "Sample of One" argument strikes again.
The "argument" goes, "I once met one of those people who did that thing you are writing about and I can tell you all about how they all are." It's like saying, "I can tell you all about birds, they are annoying creatures that just talk and talk, never shut up. See, I saw this parrot once, that's why I can tell you all about birds." False conclusion, much?
So I am truly disturbed and disappointed when I see these lame comments on the beloved Orange Satan; I think know folks here at DKos are better than that. Comments that are dismissive and judgmental, based in ignorance. "The Sample of One" presented like manna, and when it doesn't win the day the first time, it's repeated in more painfully factless detail, as though it was the delivery system and not the payload that didn't make logical sense. Or comments that are arbitrary and without relevance except to argue facts with opinions. These comments walk the line between rude and deserving of a healthy serving of recipes.
It's insulting. See, the cool thing about facts is they aren't just opinions spoken more loudly or with a greater degree of gravitas; they are multiple experiences arriving at the same conclusion.
"A truth known by actual experience or observation." Opinions can be based in fact, but facts aren't based on opinions. See how that works?
So I think it's fair warning to the amoebas that when their arguments are taken apart by logic and fact based rebuttal, they accept their fates and not simply shout louder or start verbally dancing like it's the rest of us who aren't making sense.
Since DKos can be a rough and tumble world ruled by these immutable forces of logic and fact, here's a little advice for the amoebas to avoid being sliced and diced in the comments:
Please think before you post.
Thou hath been forewarned. And when it happens, remember, Whining.
Just sayin'.
Peace ya'll.
8:20 AM PT: DISCLAMER and "Credit where It's due" department-
It has been brought to my attention that the title and phrase I used "Sample of One" was likely stolen from a fellow kossack exatc. No malice was intended.
I knew I read it somewhere, this diary has been gestating for a while. I will happily make any changes as requested