Hi Hasbeen, this is fun, isn't it?

I have a feeling that both Craig and Thomas have previously written sniffy posts declaring that the posting of insults on OLO is absolutely wrong. I could be wrong on that. I am just relying on memory here. But anyhoo, you can bet that I am going to cut and paste their recent responses in my "clangers" file, and if they do write something like that in future, I am going to throw it right back in their faces.

And yes, you are right. I have always had the impression that when my opponents suddenly start getting really nasty and tossing insults and abuse around, then that is a good sign. I definitely have them rattled and their emotional reaction proves it.

A few clever insults are OK, the audience loves it, and it keeps them entertained. But when your opponent simply says something along the lines that you belong "on a dung heap", or that I "dance around in white robes with the KKK", that's not clever at all. It is the act of a person who's overly inflated self esteem has just had a pin stuck in it, and they feel the need to lash out in response.

Thomas, I myself was once a young, trendy lefty like yourself. My own opinion is, that most young trendy lefties like myself grow out of the leftist worldview as they get older. My job is to accelerate that process.

I realised quite quickly, that there were many aspects of leftism which were self evidently wrong, contradictory, and could only be supported through the use of the most glaring double standards. One of the double standards I picked up on very early, was that the very same people who were most noted for pushing the socialist line that "class" did not exist, and that all people were equal, were the biggest social snobs around. The very terms "bogans" and "rednecks" are pejorative terms used by socialite socialist snobs to denote their social inferiors.

My opinion is, that like myself, young people have a compulsive need to think that morally, they are good people, and intelligent people.. The leaders of the Left use that deep emotional need to control young people's thinking. They present themselves as a new class of people who are extremely intelligent and morally beyond reproach. All that a young person needs to do to be accepted as one of this new Brahmin caste of moral and intellectual superiors, is to conform to the strict ideological orthodoxies which define this class.

Aspirants to this class need only to memorise the slogans and a few shallow arguments presented to them by their leftist leaders, and then their self esteem can bask in the glow that they are smart and intelligent. This is why deprogramming them can be so hard. Their opinions are linked to their self esteem. Attack their opinions, and you attack their self esteem, that they are both smart and morally superior.

The only thing going for us deprogrammers is, that so much leftist thinking is so very obviously very wrong, contradictory, and the result of double standards. So it is not too hard to chip away at whatever shallow arguments a young trendy lefty presents, until hopefully, you can reach their tipping point.

Fellas, whether you wallow down there in the muck and slime or choof off and clean yourselves up so you can join everyone up here in the fresh air and sunshine is all up to you.

@Craig Minns, funny/sad isn't it? :-)

@Hasbeen: "Wow LEGO, you really did hit a nerve there"

<shaking my head> Yeah, right. In your dreams maybe.

As is so typical of reactionary social media 'pundits' where so much simply sails over the tops of their heads. Endless misunderstandings, whinging, blaming, venting and fighting shadows.

@LEGO, well I think you tend to twist everything others say into a very myopic worldview and belief system that does not fit the reality. I'll suggest y'all go to my prior comments and read them again. You may need the help of a 'translator' though. :-)

Quoting Thomas:
"I am no "leftie". I am a Moderate. I 'fit' the great silent majority of Australians. Moderate in views, behaviour, typically law abiding, hard working, family orientated and respectful/tolerant of our fellow Australians."
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=18530&page=0#329996
and
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=18533&page=0#330035
and
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=18530&page=0#329936

"There is no Ideology of the Moderate." Prof Lakoff, Lingusist and Cognitive Scientist

Who also said: "Reason is 98% Subconscious Metaphor in Frames & CULTural Narratives"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm0R1du1GqA

I'm humbly suggest LEGO that you are not a real 'Conservative' nor on the 'Right' of politics but instead an extreme fundamentalist radical operating at a Subconscious level of entrenched belief who only assumes you must be right and on the 'right', and therefore anyone who disagrees with you must be a delusional leftie.

Have you ever paused long than a moment to consider you could be 'wrong'?

re Lego's Hubris above: "My job is to accelerate that process." and "for us deprogrammers" and "so very obviously very wrong"

and "There can be no meaningful debate unless both debaters make their positions clear." and "any intention of debating honestly, or in good faith"
from here: here: http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=18530&page=0#330048

Like LEGO you're very colourful but you're also a Legend in your own Lunchtime! :-)

Maybe 'Dirty Harry' Callahan would be a someone you would understand better than I?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZstgDZoLkA and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uki4lrLzRaU :-)
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LEGO - How could you win a 'debate' when you do not know what others really said in the first place? You can't.

Hearing clearly what others have said and mean is a critically important skill.

I don't know what you believe but I know this: You have no idea what I (and others) really think about matters because I have seen you get it wrong repeatedly.

But do carry on telling everyone (and me) who they are, what they are, what they think, and putting words in their mouth they never said or meant. That's called the Strawman Fallacy.

Do not ever let me or anyone tell you what to do think or say because it's your human right to be self-righteous, if you wish! :-)

btw ':-)' denotes a genuine smile and/or pointing out a harmless "joke" - philosophy in action iow :-)

If ever you'd like to expand your knowledge about philosophy/logic, psychology or effective communication drop me a note.

eg Logical fallacies are like tricks or illusions of thought, and they're often very sneakily used by politicians and the media to fool people. Don't be fooled, and do not do use them yourself. http://yourlogicalfallacyis.com

Rather than judge mislabel others perhaps consider this rhetorical question: 'What would you like to have happen?'

Meanwhile slow down a little, re-read what was said at least 3 times before hitting the "reply button'?

It's a good rule of thumb on social media 'discussion' because it is only 'text' and not face to face or 'body language.'

It's also good to slow down the machinations of the 'mind'. Walk the dog, look at the sky and the horizon, listen to the birds, sit under a tree for a few hours, relax and allow Truth to percolate itself quietly up and out of the stormy inner seas.

This may help on playing repeat mode over a few days: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvo-CCtC3Zs

Please lay down your 'weapons' because the war you imagine is illusory (ie not real): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzEwCc4WVKs

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