Hi oregonpap.
The thing is I've obviously been one of the more prominent skeptics in the last part of this thread. If ivan did not mean to impune me as well, he could have been gracious enough to do so.
Instead he produced a lazy post that splattered mud everywhere.
A lot of people who produce those type of insulting posts use and excuse like "Hey, I wasn't naming anyone...and if YOU responded I guess you must think it's about yourself, so that's on you!"
(I would not be surprised to see this follow up...)
But that is essentially extending an already trolling style of posting.
It's like walking in to a party and saying "I just want to everyone here to know I think *some* of you have appalling taste in clothing!"
It of course leaves people wondering if they are being targeted. The idea that "well, you'd know if you were the target of the insult if you fit the description" is of course a silly counter reply, because OF COURSE no one thinks they fit the description of the insult. So you still have to wonder WHO EXACTLY the person has in mind. Essentially the person making this type of insult couches it as not directed at anyone in particular as if he's not being confrontational, but what he's doing is actually just splattering the mud of insult in every direction to see what sticks. And that is actually trollish.
So even if ivan didn't have me in mind, he's nonetheless taking the same tact in insulting others who voice skepticism - lazily characterizing them without directly engaging in anyone's argument to justify his claims.
The thing is I've obviously been one of the more prominent skeptics in the last part of this thread. If ivan did not mean to impune me as well, he could have been gracious enough to do so.
Instead he produced a lazy post that splattered mud everywhere.
A lot of people who produce those type of insulting posts use and excuse like "Hey, I wasn't naming anyone...and if YOU responded I guess you must think it's about yourself, so that's on you!"
(I would not be surprised to see this follow up...)
But that is essentially extending an already trolling style of posting.
It's like walking in to a party and saying "I just want to everyone here to know I think *some* of you have appalling taste in clothing!"
It of course leaves people wondering if they are being targeted. The idea that "well, you'd know if you were the target of the insult if you fit the description" is of course a silly counter reply, because OF COURSE no one thinks they fit the description of the insult. So you still have to wonder WHO EXACTLY the person has in mind. Essentially the person making this type of insult couches it as not directed at anyone in particular as if he's not being confrontational, but what he's doing is actually just splattering the mud of insult in every direction to see what sticks. And that is actually trollish.
So even if ivan didn't have me in mind, he's nonetheless taking the same tact in insulting others who voice skepticism - lazily characterizing them without directly engaging in anyone's argument to justify his claims.