Big bones, thin skin
In all fairness, I used to regularly read Oliver Willis before he drank the Kool-Aid or whatever it was that turned him from a moderate sounding liberal (who was quick to call people on the left out for acting like moonbats) to the partisan hack he now is (though most of my reading was for the pics of scantily clad women). That aside, perusing his site recently out of curiosity from this post by Jeff , the comments that ensued, and the allegation he called Michelle insane, reveals how unlike Kryptonite to stupid he really is.
In an argument, fat jokes (no matter how funny) are unacceptable. However, what is acceptable is not addressing the accusation that you are a big fat liar:
When your argument boils down to “ha-ha, you’re fat and you like food” (never mind I’ve never gotten personal with Jeff), it’s like I’ve already won.
I had this argument. In the third grade. It was stupid and asinine then, and it certainly is now.
No, you haven’t won. You just avoided the meat of the post (that you’re a liar). No wonder he takes issue with the joke part, he equates humor about demographics he belongs to with hate.
Other third grade debating tips:
Call someone names, just not fat.
The pot calling the kettle anything but fat: Blogging is getting into the bad habit of omitting easily available information, yet some things are missing here and here.
The I’m-rubber-you’re-glue defense (with a hint of making stuff up): I don’t usually call names, but in this case the smear is so egregious, its needed. No, I don’t agree with the folks who say Bush is to blame, but the people acting as if 9/11 only happened to them are just as bad.
And, lastly, Nanny-nanny-boo-boo your opponent: Hate does make you crazy or, you know, partisan hackery makes you sound crazy.
By the way, I guess I’m running out of stuff to talk about as I have spent the last few days poking other blogs with a stick.
August 5th, 2004 at 3:38 pm
Oliver Willis is on a short list of bloggers whose popularity I just never understood. He links and plays inside baseball, doesn’t add anything useful, and generally injects lame-brained commentary.
Agree about the fat jokes, though. Even the Michael Moore jokes are out of line.
August 5th, 2004 at 4:29 pm
Willis won’t address it because he can’t address your claims, just like he didn’t address my shot at him.
August 5th, 2004 at 4:39 pm
Les, there was a time (probably over a year ago) when he was actually insightful. Now, he’s just inciteful and I agree with you. And yes, i made up a word.
Phelps, his lack of addressing such things exposes him for the hack that he is, don’t you think?
August 5th, 2004 at 4:59 pm
What’s funny to me is that a guy who purports to be sensitive on racial issues displays a picture of himself wearing a Redskins shirt…
August 5th, 2004 at 6:20 pm
Oliver Willis is vying with Instapundit for most overrated blogger. I still can’t figure out why anybody would read any of his shit, and I’m usually on “his side” of most issues.
He is like Kryptonite to wakefulness.
August 5th, 2004 at 10:48 pm
Willis used to be way better, but he’s gotten ridiculously partisan and rarely adds much to anything he posts. I still read him for some reason though.