Commenter Court: Fresh-Faced Edition (Robert Wright & Aryeh Cohen-Wade)

[Bloggingheads]

[nikkibong]

Bob

I love this site, but your defense of Synoglesias is weak weak weak. Of the names I listed, only Osnos still lives in China, so the technological issue is a wash. Moreover, it's obviously the case that bhtv suggests topics for 'heads to tackle -- we've heard this from the multiple 'heads, themselves.

I don't really want to relitigate the whole Yglesias on China thing, but, suffice it to say, I don't agree with you that, even as a generalist, he had anything to add on the subject. For example, it's hardly shocking that the Chinese population is strongly nationalist.

I get that you bring generalists on, but when people come who plainly don't know what they are talking about, it only serves to discredit this site. And I love this site, and don't want to see it embarrassed.

[Aryeh]

Originally Posted by nikkibong

it's obviously the case that bhtv suggests topics for 'heads to tackle -- we've heard this from the multiple 'heads, themselves.

Just wanted to clarify this--for the majority diavlogs, we just arrange for the two participants to talk, we don't tell them what or what not to talk about. Here are the exceptions to this general rule: When we set up a diavlog on a specific topic, like John McWhorter and Richard Thompson Ford on "acting white." When something is in the news, usually something that just broke that day, we sometimes suggest to the participants that they might want to discuss it. That's it.

nikki, your objection was that we "brought Yglesias here" to discuss China. This we did not do. While I wasn't involved in setting up the Yglesias/Chotiner diavlog, I can assure you we did not tell them they had to discuss anything in particular. Moreover, because the diavlogs aren't edited, once the two people get started taping, it's entirely out of our hands what they do or don't discuss.

[PreppyMcPrepperson]

Originally Posted by Aryeh

While I wasn't involved in setting up the Yglesias/Chotiner diavlog, I can assure you we did not tell them they had to discuss anything in particular. Moreover, because the diavlogs aren't edited, once the two people get started taping, it's entirely out of our hands what they do or don't discuss.

Still, Aryeh, as a commenter who agreed with nikki when he originally voiced this complaint, I wonder if--without dictating specific DV topics--you could provide the 'heads with a general rule to keep their chats on subjects that are central to their work. I also think it would be great to arrange a DV with someone who really knew China.

[uncle ebeneezer]

I just want to raise my voice to the BH overlords to say that I completely disagree. Let the heads talk about whatever they want to talk about. That's what makes the site interesting and fun. If I want to watch two experts talk about their areas of expertise, I will watch the diavlogs that fit that model (and there are many of them up here regularly.) One of the best selling points of bhtv is that I can hear these wonks go off on tangents and speak off the cuff and throw ideas around that have not been studied vigorously by the speaker. Anyways, just my 2 cents.

[graz]

Originally Posted by uncle ebeneezer

Let the heads talk about whatever they want to talk about. That's what makes the site interesting and fun.

Agreed. Did you ever notice when they sometimes allude to the email they exchanged considering topics? And while they often hew close to the framework, this format allows lots of leeway ... and that's just fine.

[bjkeefe]

Originally Posted by uncle ebeneezer

I just want to raise my voice to the BH overlords to say that I completely disagree. Let the heads talk about whatever they want to talk about. That's what makes the site interesting and fun. If I want to watch two experts talk about their areas of expertise, I will watch the diavlogs that fit that model (and there are many of them up here regularly.) One of the best selling points of bhtv is that I can hear these wonks go off on tangents and speak off the cuff and throw ideas around that have not been studied vigorously by the speaker. Anyways, just my 2 cents.

Second that.

Also: One of the things I like about bloggers who have general interests rather than obsessively narrow concentrations is that I am much like that -- interested in lots of things, expert at none. I'm tired of nikkibong complaining about Yglesias/China, for example.

[nikkibong]

Originally Posted by bjkeefe

I'm tired of nikkibong complaining about Yglesias/China, for example.

me too. i only brought it up again because bob did.

[bjkeefe]

Originally Posted by nikkibong

me too. i only brought it up again because bob did.

Okay, for this once, I guess. (Haven't watched this DV, so I can't judge whether it merited a response from you.) But it seems like I've read you saying this elsewhere, several times.

[nikkibong]

Originally Posted by bjkeefe

Okay, for this once, I guess. (Haven't watched this DV, so I can't judge whether it merited a response from you.) But it seems like I've read you saying this elsewhere, several times.

nope -- just the one comment on the DV. i wrote stuff in other places, professionally. but i have confined my rage and wrath to places other than bhtv.

[bjkeefe]

Originally Posted by nikkibong

nope -- just the one comment on the DV. i wrote stuff in other places, professionally. but i have confined my rage and wrath to places other than bhtv.

Do you mean by "the one comment on the DV" the one you made in this thread or this one you made in another?

However, it appears from looking at that other thread that I must have been remembering other commenters piling on and thinking they were all comments by you, not to mention remembering, say, this and this, so I withdraw a portion of my accusation.

[TwinSwords]

Originally Posted by uncle ebeneezer

I just want to raise my voice to the BH overlords to say that I completely disagree. Let the heads talk about whatever they want to talk about. That's what makes the site interesting and fun. If I want to watch two experts talk about their areas of expertise, I will watch the diavlogs that fit that model (and there are many of them up here regularly.) One of the best selling points of bhtv is that I can hear these wonks go off on tangents and speak off the cuff and throw ideas around that have not been studied vigorously by the speaker. Anyways, just my 2 cents.

Seconded.

[graz]

Originally Posted by PreppyMcPrepperson

Still, Aryeh, as a commenter who agreed with nikki when he originally voiced this complaint, I wonder if--without dictating specific DV topics--you could provide the 'heads with a general rule to keep their chats on subjects that are central to their work.

But then we would be deprived of Pinkerton on the colonization of Mars or the Moon.

And why wouldn't you want breaking news of the day -- if warranted -- to be addressed by the random heads assigned on a given day? This is a feature, not a bug of bhtv.

[bjkeefe]

Originally Posted by graz

But then we would be deprived of Pinkerton on the colonization of Mars or the Moon.

And Ctrlhouse. And Doughy. Talking about anything at all.

Okay, that may be stretching the word deprived, I grant.

[Don Zeko]

Originally Posted by graz

But then we would be deprived of Pinkerton on the colonization of Mars or the Moon.

And really, where would this country's political discourse be if we didn't speculate about DNA-seeking lasers from space?

[bjkeefe]

Originally Posted by Don Zeko

And really, where would this country's political discourse be if we didn't speculate about DNA-seeking lasers from space?

DNA-seeking lasers from space, attached to sharks.

[Don Zeko]

Originally Posted by bjkeefe

DNA-seeking lasers from space, attached to sharks.

There are sharks in space? Now it's not safe to go in the water or to colonize Mars. We're doomed!

[bjkeefe]

Originally Posted by Don Zeko

There are sharks in space? Now it's not safe to go in the water or to colonize Mars. We're doomed!

No, no, no. Now we have a perfect excuse for invading space!

Are you not a RealAmerican or somethin'?

[Don Zeko]

Originally Posted by bjkeefe

No, no, no. Now we have a perfect excuse for invading space!

Are you not a RealAmerican or somethin'?

Absurd. I have a perfect middle ground solution. We send out risky colony ships, but we fill them with criminals and psychopaths. With any luck, we'll get the ultimate expression of American pride: Rednecks in Space.

[listener]

Originally Posted by bjkeefe

No, no, no. Now we have a perfect excuse for invading space!

Are you not a RealAmerican or somethin'?

Space Invaders?

BT, DT.

[Don Zeko]

Originally Posted by listener

Space Invaders?

BT, DT.

Your heart is in the right place, but I like my video game reference more.

[listener]

Originally Posted by Don Zeko

Your heart is in the right place, but I like my video game reference more.

Ditto.

[bjkeefe]

Originally Posted by PreppyMcPrepperson

... as a commenter who agreed with nikki when he originally voiced this complaint, I wonder if--without dictating specific DV topics--you could provide the 'heads with a general rule to keep their chats on subjects that are central to their work. [...]

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

[AemJeff]

Two words: Blackberry app!

One more: Please!

[listener]

http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/298...0:44&out=01:00

And don't forget to tip your waitress!

[Wonderment]

Ok, I will take a shot at the Palin-Panther prize.

What do Bristol Palin and the New Black Panther Party have in common? Well, the initials BP jump off the page, so the real hat trick would be to reveal what British Petroleum, (New) Black Panthers and Bristol P have in common?

Answer: Compassion for Small People.

1) BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg: "I hear comments sometimes that large oil companies are greedy or don't care, but that is not the case with BP. We care about the small people."

2) (New) BP(P) also cares about Small People, i.e., 9/11 victims:

Amir Muhammad, an officer with the NBPP, [claimed] Jews were forewarned of the disaster: "There are reports that as many as 3,000 to 5,000 so-called Jews did not go to work [at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on 9/11], and we need to take a serious look at that."

3) Bristol Palin as "Abstinence Ambassador" is concerned about Small Horny People, adolescents on whose behalf she has taken an Abstinence Pledge, urging them to abjure condoms.

So there you have it: Reborn Virgins for Small People; Big Oil for Small People; 9/11 Truther/Anti-Semites for Small People. Pure altruism. Nonzero.

[Ocean]

Originally Posted by Wonderment

Ok, I will take a shot at the Palin-Panther prize.

What do Bristol Palin and the New Black Panther Party have in common? Well, the initials BP jump off the page, so the real hat trick would be to reveal what British Petroleum, (New) Black Panthers and Bristol P have in common?

Answer: Compassion for Small People.

1) BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg: "I hear comments sometimes that large oil companies are greedy or don't care, but that is not the case with BP. We care about the small people."

2) (New) BP(P) also cares about Small People, i.e., 9/11 victims:



3) Bristol Palin as "Abstinence Ambassador" is concerned about Small Horny People, adolescents on whose behalf she has taken an Abstinence Pledge, urging them to abjure condoms.

So there you have it: Reborn Virgins for Small People; Big Oil for Small People; 9/11 Truther/Anti-Semites for Small People. Pure altruism. Nonzero.

Genius!

[piscivorous]

Just a reminder that the largest recipient of BP campaign contributions was not Bristol Palin but none other than the marvelous one won himself.

[listener]

I believe I may see an autographed dollar bill in your future.

[Wonderment]

I believe I may see an autographed dollar bill in your future.

I don't know. There are so many other great entries.

Anyway, I will close this chapter in my award-winning life by noting once again our future President's extraordinary BP parenting and governing wisdom, as expressed today in People Magazine.

"I wish for Bristol to be able to move forward in life with her same forgiving, gracious, optimistic spirit, but from henceforth she'll know to trust but verify."

So from henceforth, when your boyfriend wants to drill, baby, drill, smack you upside the head with his billy club or show you his Dong-2, just trust but verify.

[bjkeefe]

Originally Posted by Wonderment

So from henceforth, when your boyfriend wants to drill, baby, drill, smack you upside the head with his billy club or show you his Dong-2, just trust but verify.

Anyone getting a 403 message on the second link might try here (with a little scrolling), instead.

[AemJeff]

Originally Posted by bjkeefe

Anyone getting a 403 message on the second link might try here (with a little scrolling), instead.

Chee-zeuss that is one dumb name for a blog. Thankfully, the light humor embodied in the subhead seems to redeem it.

[chamblee54]

chamblee54

[Mannish Boy]

How could anyone not like D-Drez? Honestly? He's my second-favorite Blogginghead (after you, Bob).

Edit: did Bob's response to dieter admit defeat? It appears he does, and then spends 30 seconds on a tangential US foreign policy rant (full disclosure: I am prone to them myself).

[ChrisCatanese]

The diavlouge series where members of the blogging heads community debate commenters it should be called Commenter Coliseum

[ChrisCatanese]

What do Bristol Palin and the New Black Panthers have in common?

Their Creators both want Less Government... More Guns... and Of Course, to kill Whitey

[look]

Originally Posted by ChrisCatanese

What do Bristol Palin and the New Black Panthers have in common?

Their Creators both want Less Government... More Guns... and Of Course, to kill Whitey

Epic Fail

[look]

What would you think of starting the 'dingalink of the week' again? Not necessarily for a prize, but just the fun of it. Or maybe the best the month (out of four weekly winners) could get a t-shirt or something?

[StillmanThomas]

Guys, guys, where in my original post did I say, intimate for even imply that I thought Bob had a heart of stone? Quite the contrary, here's exactly what I did say:

Originally Posted by Bokonon

[Bob] seems so incredibly unhappy, so completely committed to keeping everything and everyone away from his gut. Everything is sarcastic, cynical, and always from his head, never his heart.

(Emphasis added.)

My feeling was that we'd all be better off (including Bob) if he'd let us experience his heart once in awhile.

I've thought about this post quite a lot over the intervening months, and I think I wasn't fair to Bob in one respect. He's showing us his public persona, and I know that anyone living the public life now must develop a thick skin, because the criticism can be devastating. The point being, that I don't know Bob at all; I only know the face he shows the world. And I've written elsewhere recently (The Dangling Conversation) about my being a singer/songwriter and wrestling with performance anxiety all my life. So, I have enormous respect for Bob's contribution to the world, and for his (sometimes prickly) courage.

I think this little snippet shows just how much Bob has grown since he read my post. He could have delivered this line just dripping with sarcasm, but he glides right through it. I'll take this as a personal triumph (I'm LMAO, here).

About sharing my philosophy, I'm putting together a blog, but there's not much content yet. I'll put a link in my signature when I'm ready to go live.

And, in a nutshell, here's what Bob could become if he saw the light:



Yes, it's a totally cool teddy bear (with apologies to Elvis).

[listener]

Originally Posted by Bokonon

xx

Sez these guys. (Sorry, couldn't resist)