On 4/3/2011 2:31 AM, Ed Huntress wrote:

I'm not preaching. I'm correcting mistaken information.

Well, I'm all for getting accurate information. But if it does no good
toward convincing those on the right; and if those on the left already
know it and agree, then it hasn't much value, has it?

I write for money. When I write here, it's for practice, for entertainment,
or for beating on bullies. As it happens, they're usually so cavelier with
facts, and so sloppy in their thinking and their posts, that they're not
hard to beat upon.

Yes that's true but there like the kind of guy you beat the **** out of
five times and he still goes around denying it.


Otherwise, I try to pass along some useful info about cutting tools and
materials when those things come up and a thread looks like it needs some
detail or attention. And once in a while, with a few participants here,
including John, Wes, Winston, Richard, and a few others, I just enjoy
passing the time in pleasant conversation.

Too bad there's so darn few you can do that with. Could that be because
so many guys here are such far right conservatives?


I only ask because if you aren't ultimately trying to change hearts and
minds then everything you say is only academic. I know it's pretty
difficult to get anyone the right to change their mind about anything. But
that's the challenge, isn't it?

It's not one I'd engage in, unless there was money in it.

I find it amuses me even though it's not a money making activity.


Besides that, every time you do get one to come over to the correct side
they usually become zealots for the progressive point of view. Case in
point, David Brock, head of media matters or another liberal organization
whose name I forget. He used to be a solid right winger that hung out with
all the "name" right wingers. Now he's on the progressive side. Every time
you get one of them to crossover it's a real victory. Kind of like
smelling napalm in the morning.

Brock switched sides when he could no longer take being in the gay closet
among right-wingers. He also started to feel guilty about writing a book of
lies (his own words) about Anita Hill ("A little bit nutty and a little bit
slutty"). He was given a big Mercedes-Benz for writing that book, along with
money. It made him feel like a creep.

Everyone on the right knew Brock was gay. It was no secret. But he was
doing their dirty work so they tolerated him. I well remember him when
he was an anti progressive right winger. He fit right in with that
crowd. I remember when Ariana Huffington was the same way. I'd like to
know what it was that really made them see the light.



Do you really think that Gunner or Tom are going to change their minds
because of facts? Or most of the other righties? Or the lefties, for that
matter?

You never know what it will be that changes someone. But if you don't
try it never happens, and it never happens with most. But it does happen
more frequently than you think. It's like turning spies. You would think
people spying for their country would be such patriots that none of them
could ever be turned but the reality is even the most fervent believers
can be changed. There's a real art to it. But some people are just too
dumb to ever change. If you know what I mean.


I don't think so. Ideology is like religion, and correcting their mistaken
facts is like trying to teach a pig to sing. If you post facts, the most you
do is put a bend in their space/time grid for a few minutes. They forget it
before they write their next post.



Sometimes you need to lie to get them to change. Facts won't always do
it. But the point is even the biggest zealot can change their minds. It
happens. I do agree it's a waste of time trying to do it for the likes
of Gunner and Tom. But like you I enjoy putting out the truth. It's like
pearls before swine for most but some do see the light, and that makes
it worth it.

Hawke