Comments on: The blind leading the unsophisticated http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/09/the-blind-leading-the-unsophisticated/ The blog of the mystery writer, screenwriter and CEO of Pajamas Media Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:16:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: markus http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/09/the-blind-leading-the-unsophisticated/#comment-75470 markus Fri, 10 Mar 2006 19:31:16 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/09/the-blind-leading-the-unsophisticated/#comment-75470 Well, to the best of our knowledge, Hefner and Stern themselves aren't wankers. That's the whole appeal: they get laid. But those who buy what these guys are selling definately are. Well, to the best of our knowledge, Hefner and Stern themselves aren’t wankers. That’s the whole appeal: they get laid. But those who buy what these guys are selling definately are.

]]> By: AlanC http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/09/the-blind-leading-the-unsophisticated/#comment-75469 AlanC Fri, 10 Mar 2006 16:40:51 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/09/the-blind-leading-the-unsophisticated/#comment-75469 Freetotem: "...Stern's life is a kind of Hobbesian laboratory of what happens when the taboos are removed. The result is not Lord-of-the-Flies violence and savagery, but a kind of pathetic reductionism of life. A sad spectacle. A society of wankers." Is VERY well put. The only quibble I have is that we haven't seen ALL the taboos removed. Those against practicing violence are still there socially. When/if those go, then you'll see Lord-of-the-Flies. But probably in a banal way. Freetotem:

“…Stern’s life is a kind of Hobbesian laboratory of what happens when the taboos are removed. The result is not Lord-of-the-Flies violence and savagery, but a kind of pathetic reductionism of life. A sad spectacle. A society of wankers.”

Is VERY well put. The only quibble I have is that we haven’t seen ALL the taboos removed. Those against practicing violence are still there socially. When/if those go, then you’ll see Lord-of-the-Flies. But probably in a banal way.

]]> By: freetotem http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/09/the-blind-leading-the-unsophisticated/#comment-75468 freetotem Thu, 09 Mar 2006 22:42:41 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/09/the-blind-leading-the-unsophisticated/#comment-75468 I never watch Hannity, but I flipped it on last night while I was on the elliptical machine and saw the interview. I agree with Roger's statements. It's really a tragedy that Hannity is one of the stalwart examples of conservative "thought" on television today. The guy is as rigid, closed minded and unthinkingly doctrinaire a thinker as there is out there. Even when I agree with him, I cringe that he is one of the more popular voices of conservatism. When watching Stern I am reminded of the old phrase "the banality of evil" that was applied to the Nazis. With Stern, it is "the banality of smut." I find him so degraded not because he outrages my moral sensibilities, but because he has devoted his life 8-year-old peepee jokes and has reduced sex to, yes, the banal. "Do you do oral? Do you do anal?" Like Hugh Hefner, he fancies himself a profound social philosopher, prattling on about grand notions of free speech and the like, as if pandering to the sad and base tastes of the nation's lowlife is a noble pursuit. Like Hefner, Stern's life is a kind of Hobbesian laboratory of what happens when the taboos are removed. The result is not Lord-of-the-Flies violence and savagery, but a kind of pathetic reductionism of life. A sad spectacle. A society of wankers. Hannity tries to combat this with his patented moral certainty and canned outrage, but Stern just feeds on this stuff. He isn't an outrage, he is a pathetic, small (in spirit) man with an 8-year-old psychology in permanent developmental arrest, which he defiantly waves as a badge of courage. He should be ignored or ridiculed, not debated. But then, Hannity is a panderer, too. Just to different vices. I never watch Hannity, but I flipped it on last night while I was on the elliptical machine and saw the interview. I agree with Roger’s statements. It’s really a tragedy that Hannity is one of the stalwart examples of conservative “thought” on television today. The guy is as rigid, closed minded and unthinkingly doctrinaire a thinker as there is out there. Even when I agree with him, I cringe that he is one of the more popular voices of conservatism.

When watching Stern I am reminded of the old phrase “the banality of evil” that was applied to the Nazis. With Stern, it is “the banality of smut.” I find him so degraded not because he outrages my moral sensibilities, but because he has devoted his life 8-year-old peepee jokes and has reduced sex to, yes, the banal. “Do you do oral? Do you do anal?” Like Hugh Hefner, he fancies himself a profound social philosopher, prattling on about grand notions of free speech and the like, as if pandering to the sad and base tastes of the nation’s lowlife is a noble pursuit. Like Hefner, Stern’s life is a kind of Hobbesian laboratory of what happens when the taboos are removed. The result is not Lord-of-the-Flies violence and savagery, but a kind of pathetic reductionism of life. A sad spectacle. A society of wankers.

Hannity tries to combat this with his patented moral certainty and canned outrage, but Stern just feeds on this stuff. He isn’t an outrage, he is a pathetic, small (in spirit) man with an 8-year-old psychology in permanent developmental arrest, which he defiantly waves as a badge of courage. He should be ignored or ridiculed, not debated. But then, Hannity is a panderer, too. Just to different vices.

]]> By: MarkD http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/09/the-blind-leading-the-unsophisticated/#comment-75467 MarkD Thu, 09 Mar 2006 20:44:54 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/09/the-blind-leading-the-unsophisticated/#comment-75467 I have to agree with Curmudgeon. Didn't these people learn any manners when they were growing up? Do they think winning a debate is defined as "talking the longest without drawing a breath?" Never let the other guy finish a sentence. Ignore all questions and spout the party line. Above all, never admit the possible validity of another point of view. Because it isn't about reaching agreement, or a compromise both parties can live with. Or even agreeing that there are irreconcilable differences and changing the subject. It's about winning. Since we already know what they are going to say, no need to listen. Read some blogs. Get some facts. Form your own opinion. You don't even need a blow dried blowhard to shout at you while you are doing so. I have to agree with Curmudgeon. Didn’t these people learn any manners when they were growing up? Do they think winning a debate is defined as “talking the longest without drawing a breath?”

Never let the other guy finish a sentence. Ignore all questions and spout the party line. Above all, never admit the possible validity of another point of view.

Because it isn’t about reaching agreement, or a compromise both parties can live with. Or even agreeing that there are irreconcilable differences and changing the subject. It’s about winning.

Since we already know what they are going to say, no need to listen. Read some blogs. Get some facts. Form your own opinion. You don’t even need a blow dried blowhard to shout at you while you are doing so.

]]> By: Curmudgeon http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/09/the-blind-leading-the-unsophisticated/#comment-75466 Curmudgeon Thu, 09 Mar 2006 18:45:37 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/09/the-blind-leading-the-unsophisticated/#comment-75466 Trying to learn something by watchig H&C or O'Reilly is not only a waste of time, but extremely frustrating. These guy need a moderater, or a keeper. The popular notion that vigorous debate necessitates throwing civil discourse out is driving me away from those shows almost as surely as the fact that they seldom know what they are talking about. I have TV on my computer and keep FNC running in a window while I surf. 90% of the time, when they have "breaking news", it's something I already picked up. On the rare occasions that something new comes up, if it interests me I'll surf over to a news site or blog to get the details. Trying to learn something by watchig H&C or O’Reilly is not only a waste of time, but extremely frustrating. These guy need a moderater, or a keeper. The popular notion that vigorous debate necessitates throwing civil discourse out is driving me away from those shows almost as surely as the fact that they seldom know what they are talking about.
I have TV on my computer and keep FNC running in a window while I surf. 90% of the time, when they have “breaking news”, it’s something I already picked up. On the rare occasions that something new comes up, if it interests me I’ll surf over to a news site or blog to get the details.

]]> By: jedrury http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/09/the-blind-leading-the-unsophisticated/#comment-75465 jedrury Thu, 09 Mar 2006 17:30:34 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/09/the-blind-leading-the-unsophisticated/#comment-75465 Political talk especially from actual politicians is so empty, gaseous and meaningless. No wonder political talk shows reach their apogee at election time. In answer to Roger's question, there is a massive shift away from TV in certain demographic groups and it should be reflected in the Nielson ratings. This should force the networks and cable companies to show more sex, lust and old videotapes. Political talk especially from actual politicians is so empty, gaseous and meaningless. No wonder political talk shows reach their apogee at election time.

In answer to Roger’s question, there is a massive shift away from TV in certain demographic groups and it should be reflected in the Nielson ratings.

This should force the networks and cable companies to show more sex, lust and old videotapes.

]]> By: promoguy http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/09/the-blind-leading-the-unsophisticated/#comment-75464 promoguy Thu, 09 Mar 2006 16:57:50 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/09/the-blind-leading-the-unsophisticated/#comment-75464 David T, I'm with you on this port deal and after yesterday almost feel like slitting my throat. Dennis Prager talks about him being a member of the party of the stupid (Dems=Dangerous) and boy do I feel the same way also. This morning as I listen to what is going on in Congress, I have this silly inside wish that this whole deal was shut down and then have the Emirates show their disgust by, maybe not allowing any longer the use of their ports. It's like I sit here and think, it hurts our mission in the ME, but damn maybe these idiots need to learn a lesson. /putting the knife down!!! David T, I’m with you on this port deal and after yesterday almost feel like slitting my throat. Dennis Prager talks about him being a member of the party of the stupid (Dems=Dangerous) and boy do I feel the same way also.

This morning as I listen to what is going on in Congress, I have this silly inside wish that this whole deal was shut down and then have the Emirates show their disgust by, maybe not allowing any longer the use of their ports. It’s like I sit here and think, it hurts our mission in the ME, but damn maybe these idiots need to learn a lesson.

/putting the knife down!!!

]]> By: David Thomson http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/09/the-blind-leading-the-unsophisticated/#comment-75463 David Thomson Thu, 09 Mar 2006 16:22:53 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/09/the-blind-leading-the-unsophisticated/#comment-75463 Sean Hannity and Bill OíReilly are second rate hosts. Rush Limbaugh and Michael Medved have far more to offer. Furthermore, Hannity is causing enormous damage with his Arab bashing. He and the leftist Daily Kos are working together to filth on our Dubai allies. Are these folks inadvertent bigots? Yes, they most certainly are. Hamburg, Germany was the home to the plotters of 9/11. Why arenít we slamming the German government? What about the terrorist activity in Great Britain? Why are so people focussing solely on the negative aspects of our Arab friends? What is the greater security threat? Allowing an Arab company to manage a few of port terminals---or giving the middle finger to those moderates who support the Westís war on terror against Islamic nihilists? Sean Hannity and Bill OíReilly are second rate hosts. Rush Limbaugh and Michael Medved have far more to offer. Furthermore, Hannity is causing enormous damage with his Arab bashing. He and the leftist Daily Kos are working together to filth on our Dubai allies. Are these folks inadvertent bigots? Yes, they most certainly are. Hamburg, Germany was the home to the plotters of 9/11. Why arenít we slamming the German government? What about the terrorist activity in Great Britain? Why are so people focussing solely on the negative aspects of our Arab friends? What is the greater security threat? Allowing an Arab company to manage a few of port terminals—or giving the middle finger to those moderates who support the Westís war on terror against Islamic nihilists?

]]> By: rocketsbrain http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/09/the-blind-leading-the-unsophisticated/#comment-75462 rocketsbrain Thu, 09 Mar 2006 15:50:40 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/09/the-blind-leading-the-unsophisticated/#comment-75462 <b>Are we all frogs in a pot of boiling water?</b> Roger, I totally agree with you re the LL and the MSM. While we're all lying in bed with our laptops(*), perhaps we can unlease the power of the Internet and the Blogos like Instapundit's <i>Army of David's</i>, on a matter of importance to the free world? The Mad Mullahs' of Iran are brewing a very nasty brew in their caldron that could boil over this month. See this comment I just posted in your piece, <a>Today's Iran News... Ledeen in lede</a>: <i>Markus - Don't be a frog in a pot of water brought slowly to a boil! :--)</i> [...] [Re then enemy and it's ideology of hate and Evil in the GWOT] This is a religious-like cult of hate and evil who's goal is the ultimate destruction of our culture, our very way of life, and what we hold most dear, THE FREE WILL OF MEN and WOMEN. Just as The Greatest Generation came to realize that Nazism was a growing cloud of darkness/Evil in the World and rose to the challenge, our generation must do the same. Our enemy can't be appeased. This enemy and its ideology must be vanquished from the world. There is no other choice. There is no moral equvilence between this ideology with the other religions of peace. <b>We will die just like frogs to in a pot of boiling water that is brought slowly to a boil?</b> <a href="http://www.rogerlsimon.com/mt-archives/2006/03/todays_iran_new.php#c75812" rel="nofollow">Link Here</a> * BTW - I'm in lounging in my pajamas in a <i>Holiday Inn Express</i> in Weed, CA, making my way on a "bomber" run with a rental truck to the State of Washington. On a dial-up links that sucks! This definitively qualifies me as an <i>expert</i> LOL!!! Are we all frogs in a pot of boiling water?

Roger,

I totally agree with you re the LL and the MSM.

While we’re all lying in bed with our laptops(*), perhaps we can unlease the power of the Internet and the Blogos like Instapundit’s Army of David’s, on a matter of importance to the free world?

The Mad Mullahs’ of Iran are brewing a very nasty brew in their caldron that could boil over this month.

See this comment I just posted in your piece, Today’s Iran News… Ledeen in lede:

Markus – Don’t be a frog in a pot of water brought slowly to a boil! :–)

[...]

[Re then enemy and it's ideology of hate and Evil in the GWOT]

This is a religious-like cult of hate and evil who’s goal is the ultimate destruction of our culture, our very way of life, and what we hold most dear, THE FREE WILL OF MEN and WOMEN.

Just as The Greatest Generation came to realize that Nazism was a growing cloud of darkness/Evil in the World and rose to the challenge, our generation must do the same.

Our enemy can’t be appeased. This enemy and its ideology must be vanquished from the world.

There is no other choice. There is no moral equvilence between this ideology with the other religions of peace.

We will die just like frogs to in a pot of boiling water that is brought slowly to a boil?

Link Here

* BTW – I’m in lounging in my pajamas in a Holiday Inn Express in Weed, CA, making my way on a “bomber” run with a rental truck to the State of Washington. On a dial-up links that sucks!

This definitively qualifies me as an expert LOL!!!

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