Disqus - Latest Comments for JoseMonkey

Re: American Deterioration: It’s Happening Faster Than I Thought

JoseMonkey — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:14:08 -0000

Daniel, I've been following your blog for a while, and I usually find it very thought-provoking and insightful.

While I'm in agreement with you when it comes to being mindful of how things like this put us on a slippery slope to a police state, I really don't follow your logic when you say that political correctness is, at least in part, to blame for this. Can you elaborate?

Re: Clarification on How PC is Ruining Our Country

JoseMonkey — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:46:08 -0000

Thanks for the clarification. I understand your perspective now, but I don't think that's what I'd call political correctness. That sounds more like liberal guilt or, to paint it in racial terms, what many call "white guilt." (To be clear, I don't think we're dealing with a racial issue so much as a class problem, but I think that phrase captures the idea.)

I agree that throwing money at a problem to "fix" it is a flawed approach, and addressing underlying causes makes more sense. There's nothing inherently PC or not-PC about that. However, it depends what you say the underlying causes are. For example, if someone told me that they thought "those people" committed crimes, sold drugs, etc. because "that's what those people do" . . . and then told me that they aren't allowed to say that because "it's not PC" . . . well, they'd be right in saying it's not PC, but they'd also be overtly racist (and wrong, IMHO).

Re: Contemplating Confirmation Bias

JoseMonkey — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:44:50 -0000

Daniel, this is a great point that I've often struggled with.

Unfortunately, what I tend to find is that the people who exhibit the most extreme cases of confirmation bias (and other logical pitfalls) never think about stuff like this, at least not in reference to their own beliefs.

Most people simply aren't that introspective. They don't question their own beliefs and don't constantly try to assess their own objectivity (or lack of it).

Sadly, the truly thoughtful folks -- the ones that devote time and effort to being informed and having defensible positions -- are the only ones who engage in this sort of self-conscious hand wringing. So, we step back to examine what we believe and engage in what amounts to a masturbatory, neurotic exercise. I say it's masturbatory because I often find that our political opponents don't care that we've tried to maintain objectivity; our positions will still be derided as biased, partisan, and dogmatic.

Re: Martial Law Threatened In Order to Pass The Bailout Package

JoseMonkey — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:31:44 -0000

We're talking about Congressional Martial Law, right?

Re: This Election Has Made Me More Liberal

JoseMonkey — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 01:10:37 -0000

Daniel, I've really enjoyed reading your blog over the past several months. I feel as if I've watched you undergo an amazing political transformation.

I really get your point about libertarianism being impractical. In fact, I had a friend years ago who said something like this to me: "In an ideal world, I'm a libertarian. But practically, I'm a Democrat."

I dunno . . . I guess I don't have much else to say. I'm still wired from the election, so I'm spending time reading blogs instead of sleeping.

Anyway, thanks for your candor, as always.

Re: Two Hilarious, Juxtaposition-Based Video/Music Remakes

JoseMonkey — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:28:11 -0000

Damn, the Lazytown clip is gone now. Is it available elsewhere?

Re: Two Hilarious, Juxtaposition-Based Video/Music Remakes

JoseMonkey — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:43:52 -0000

I think this is the same video?

http://www.break.com/usercontent/2008/12/Cooking-by-the-Book-A-Lil-Bigger-Mix-613322.html

Re: Two Hilarious, Juxtaposition-Based Video/Music Remakes

JoseMonkey — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:16:06 -0000

Just found this on digg, btw:

12 of the Best Kids Show/Rap Mash-Ups

http://unrealitymag.com/index.php/2008/12/03/12-of-the-best-kids-showrap-mash-ups/

Re: Things I Do At Work I’m Not Proud Of

JoseMonkey — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:36:19 -0000

I often use the bathroom while on conference calls. I'm always paranoid that my mute will fail and someone will hear me flush.

I can't do the "work in your pajamas" thing; I get up, shower, and get dressed every day.

Re: American Deterioration: It’s Happening Faster Than I Thought

JoseMonkey — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:14:08 -0000

Daniel, I've been following your blog for a while, and I usually find it very thought-provoking and insightful.

Re: Clarification on How PC is Ruining Our Country

JoseMonkey — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:46:08 -0000

Re: Contemplating Confirmation Bias

JoseMonkey — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:44:50 -0000

Daniel, this is a great point that I've often struggled with.

Most people simply aren't that introspective. They don't question their own beliefs and don't constantly try to assess their own objectivity (or lack of it).

Re: Martial Law Threatened In Order to Pass The Bailout Package

JoseMonkey — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:31:44 -0000

We're talking about Congressional Martial Law, right?

Re: This Election Has Made Me More Liberal

JoseMonkey — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 01:10:37 -0000

Daniel, I've really enjoyed reading your blog over the past several months. I feel as if I've watched you undergo an amazing political transformation.

I dunno . . . I guess I don't have much else to say. I'm still wired from the election, so I'm spending time reading blogs instead of sleeping.

Anyway, thanks for your candor, as always.

Re: Two Hilarious, Juxtaposition-Based Video/Music Remakes

JoseMonkey — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:28:11 -0000

Damn, the Lazytown clip is gone now. Is it available elsewhere?

Re: Two Hilarious, Juxtaposition-Based Video/Music Remakes

JoseMonkey — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:43:52 -0000

I think this is the same video?

http://www.break.com/usercontent/2008/12/Cooking-by-the-Book-A-Lil-Bigger-Mix-613322.html

Re: Two Hilarious, Juxtaposition-Based Video/Music Remakes

JoseMonkey — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:16:06 -0000

Just found this on digg, btw:

12 of the Best Kids Show/Rap Mash-Ups

http://unrealitymag.com/index.php/2008/12/03/12-of-the-best-kids-showrap-mash-ups/