Many of my blog readers are probably also readers of Slate Star Codex- or, perhaps, were readers, as the blog has been taken down. A NYT journalist wanted to do a story on the blog- fair enough- but they insisted on printing Scott's True Name, a very dangerous thing for a practising psychiatrist with a … Continue reading Scott and the New York Times
Category: Rant
Should you care about that issue?
Does it: Involve money or the economy Involve the military or foreign policy Involve criminal law. state violence or mob violence If the answer to all of the above is no, it's probably a bullshit issue that's being used to distract you. Even if it does involve one of the above it may still be … Continue reading Should you care about that issue?
25,000 dollars for granite countertops is, entirely literally, murder
Every granite countertop that is made, every ensuite bathroom constructed, every patio laid out, signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. -MechaEisenhower In Australia, the government has just announced it will give 25,000 dollars to homeowners who do a … Continue reading 25,000 dollars for granite countertops is, entirely literally, murder
In Defence of the Value of People
If you enjoy this article check out my book, I’ve made it free to help you self-quarantine: https://deponysum.com/2020/03/30/something-to-read-in-quarantine-essays-2018-to-2020/ I never thought that I'd have to write an article with that title. Chapotraphouse drew my attention to this extraordinary passage in an MIT Technology Review interview with Ezekiel Emmanuel: Q: What’s wrong with simply enjoying an extended … Continue reading In Defence of the Value of People
Ugly, self-centred conversations
If you enjoy this article check out my book, I’ve made it free to help you self-quarantine: https://deponysum.com/2020/03/30/something-to-read-in-quarantine-essays-2018-to-2020/ My least favourite kind of conversation is talking to people whose goals are centred on conversations. Some examples: People who think good politics is centred on the right representations in discourse- use of the right shibboleths, avoidance of … Continue reading Ugly, self-centred conversations
Prejudice against the poor is as bad as racism or sexism, let’s start treating it that way.
If you enjoy this article check out my book, I've made it free to help you self-quarantine: https://deponysum.com/2020/03/30/something-to-read-in-quarantine-essays-2018-to-2020/ During the Twitter wars around the Democratic primary, a number of people felt comfortable being openly contemptful of the poor. This is not unusual, but the nature of Sanders movement, and its supposedly "progressive" opposition, meant that … Continue reading Prejudice against the poor is as bad as racism or sexism, let’s start treating it that way.
I don’t know how to tell you that politics is about murder
There have been numerous blow-ups during the Democratic primary about words and behaviour. The interminable debates about Joe Rogan. Elizabeth Warren partially attributing her non-endorsement of Sanders to snake emojis. Endless tone policing of Bernie surrogates like Briahna Joy Gray. The details have been stripped like desert bones and are, in any case, irrelevant. I'm … Continue reading I don’t know how to tell you that politics is about murder
Thou shameless blood-coat hypocrite: An address to a blue check Biden supporter
He who shall hurt the little wren Shall never be beloved by men. -Auguries of Innocence So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit thee out of my mouth. -Revelation 3:16 I want to address the people who claimed to oppose Bernie for sundry woke excuses, but now support … Continue reading Thou shameless blood-coat hypocrite: An address to a blue check Biden supporter
Ten Theses on Ben Mora
Ben Mora was a Bernie Sanders staffer. He had a private Twitter account where he posted a bunch of insult comedy about other candidates. Scott Bixby is a writer for the Daily Beast. He gained access to this private account and published an expose of the putatively shocking things Ben Mora had written like: ""Sen. … Continue reading Ten Theses on Ben Mora
We know who these people are, so why can they show their face in public
A Robin Redbreast in a Cage Puts all Heaven in a Rage. -From Auguries of Innocence, by William Blake At the moment there's a debate about the merits of public shaming. One side says it's a good thing, the other side says it's dreadful mob justice. I take the third position, public shaming is good … Continue reading We know who these people are, so why can they show their face in public
DePonySum 