It’s been just that kind of a day, and it’s very regretful I am that I have not have been able to dose you with your daily until now, and all that follows being small beer indeed on account of the kind of a day that it’s been.
First! Was the annual flight physical, and we are truly grateful so we are that it was a short form, that being an kind of unexpected benificence to a person of our own superannuation, but there it is. Oh, you must read line nine, keeping ever in mind that there are no “G”s or “Q”s, no matter how it might appear. Never a problem with the distance vision, but for the near type I basically made it up. And there’s the hearing test of course, administered by a certain lady who in a different time and place would have been wearing a Sam Brown belt over her black uniform and might happily send you to the ovens, singing as she went. There’s the colorblindness test, and as always I can’t help wondering whether or not after 28 years or so they’d have smoked it out by now, if I was truly colorblind but I guess you can’t be too safe. Then there’s the intraocular test, where the friendly young corpsman asks you to snuggle up and report the green light in sight, before blasting you straight in the eye with a puff of air the like of which makes a sensitive man like your humble scribe rock back like John Kennedy in Dallas. Followed shortly afterwards by the seaman recruit tasked to gouge your forearms with his needle, groping about for a likely vein, and they never appear to get two chances because each one that I have had in the last few years is doing it “live” for the first time. Tomorrow, if I’m very lucky, a fetching young flight surgeon will tell me that I’m actually in pretty good condition, considering.
Then! It was the paid work, and not like it’s going anywhere without you, is it? It is not. Meeting with vendors and meeting with consultants and never a moment to call your own until it’s time to steal away and get cranking on the final project for Systems Optimization, all algebraic calculations, decision variables, constraints, objective functions and excel spreadsheets, and if I’ve made it sound easy then I’ve done it a disservice and my head still hurts.
And in the midst of all of that I’m haunted by one of those silly troll people who really ought to get out more. Left a comment in my box just t’other day, and branded me a coward if I didn’t publish it.
I wonder what you will write about when your heros, George Bush, Dick Cheney, Rummy, and Condi are put on trial for High Crimes & Misdemeanors, then treason, then crimes against humanity, war crimes, etc. You people are all savages who deserve to be on the receiving end of the policy you have supported.
I’m sure being the typical neocon coward that you are, you will not post this comment.
I’ve told you, I think, how I feel about trolls. Especially them as can’t spell, much. “Heros,” forsooth.
On the subject of cowardice, I’ve got nothing to prove to you my friend. You’re a hater, and I’ve got no time for it. Do it on your own bandwidth, I’m paying for my microphone.
Grow up,
Lex
He wrote me back again, more agitated than ever, like:
Name-calling? Speaking of growing up… And having no time for it…
Oooh, and you pay for your crappy website. You must be so proud. It must be nice to filter out comments so it looks as though everybody agrees with you. It kind of reminds me of some people who prescreened the media and the questions that were asked prior to any press conferences so when the camera was on, the “right” questions got asked and there was no sign of any dissenting voices. Now who could I be talking about?
As to why I call you people unAmerican traitors, savages, and subhumans, this is what you support whether in your words, actions, or voting record:
You support torture
You value perceived personal safety over freedom
You don’t believe in democracy or how you win elections
You blindly support a corrupt Administration and their actions while refusing to believe that they have misled us on anything
(ed. all over in that previous bit were a bunch of links to a collection of leftish/leftist/lunatic [and those groups are non-inclusive] blogs, which I suppose was meant to substitute for original thought, and I thought I’d spare you the profoundly stupid silliness of it.)
I don’t give a rat’s ass if you publish my comment, I just find it funny that neocons are so into censorship. G-d forbid you would ever have to rationally deal with any dissenting voices. And that is why you are a coward.
p.s. Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. Remember that.
Which cut me to the quick, especially that bit about history there at the end since I’d never thought of it in quite that way. But fearful that I’d offended in some way, I wrote him back:
Brother, you should seriously consider another form of therapy.
I deal with dissent. Read the comments in this post http://www.neptunuslex.com/2006/08/31/something-in-the-air/ from a British journalist who disagrees with me on nearly every fundamental point with respect to the war in Iraq. He doesn’t get “censored” – by the way, governments censor, individuals merely express distaste – because he doesn’t come into the discussion imputing bad faith or “cowardice” upon those with whom he disagrees. That’s dissent, rationally expressed and rationally dealt with. That’s how grown ups talk. You my friend – “I’m Doug and I rule”, with your I-know-you-are-but-what-am-I’s, your propensity to fling poo about the room while quoting banal bromides with an air of significance and import – you could take some lessons.
Do you have any idea what an absurd caricature of a internet troll you are? You don’t want to dissent to anything – apart from the fact that you think me a coward, un-American, savage and subhuman, you don’t even have anything to say: You have yet to make a serious, rebuttable point, choosing in your latest post to link to a bunch of echo-chamber idiots flouting tinfoil hat conspiracy theories, as though this was a “me-too” shorthand for your personal convictions. You judge me based on your presumptions about what I think on any range of issues and because you believe I disagree with your own cherished political preferences. Color me unimpressed.
Instead of dissenting, what you want to do is come into my house and shit on my floor and then it appears that you expect me to applaud for you for doing so. That’s simply not going to happen.
If you’re trying to provoke me Doug, you’re wasting your time. I don’t care what you think about me, and the more you write, the less I think about you. From the tenor of your comments, I judge you to be 23 years old at the most, or perhaps an especially awkward and socially retarded 25-year old. That means that I had sworn an oath to support and defend the US Constitution before you were born and was flying combat missions off aircraft carrier decks – at night – before you were wearing long pants. You can call me a coward if you like, or even question my patriotism without laying a glove on my self-esteem. I’m just not that into you.
Hoping you feel better some day,
Lex
Which, now that I reflect on it, may not have been quite the conciliatory tone that I was reaching for but ah, well: Lost chances.
So now it’s back to work, gentle reader, and I hope – given the foregoing – that you forgive me my previous, uncharacteristic absence.
Well said – far better than I could.
I gave up trying to argue with people like that a long time ago. Now I’m more prone to just label them as moonbats and move on.
Bryan
The Troll should indeed be grateful that some time warp did not land him in Virginia circa 1863; the remarks he made beg to be settled on the field of honor.
Swords or pistols Troll?
I thought you hit just about the right tone.
Might be I didn’t read something right, but I don’t think so.
Or, in the words of Colonel Jessep,
“I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it! I’d rather you just said thank you and went on your way.”
I’m rather more acquainted with this twerp than I’d like to be, and sadly Lex owes his acquaintance with said twerp to me. My apologies to all involved.
Lex, with trolls, sometimes you just gotta reach into your tool box, and come up with the biggest pocking hammer you can find…and then take no prisoners, and eat the wounded.
Sad part is young Dougie is standing there bereft of ideas as to how his @ss was so deftly, yet convincingly sliced from his nether parts and left in his hands. Eloquence is lost on the “you s*ck” crowd, of which he apparently is a card carrying member.
- SJS
With a smack-down like that your ‘previous, uncharacteristic absence’ is indeed forgiven. That was worth waiting for.
Gee. I hope that exchange didn’t raise your BP 10 points.
On the practical side, re the troll:
“You people are all savages who deserve to be on the receiving end of the policy you have supported”
Doesn’t it comprehend that as sheepdogs we are highly unlikely to terrorize our own… As a matter of fact (historically that is), if anybody is terrorized in a meltdown, it’ll probably be those “smug, pinched-faced shrews” who’ll get the dirty end of the stick….
B2
Sounds of the 60′s. In twenty years he will develop a severe case of the guilts and then go around telling young people how many tours he pulled in the sand defending the Republic. Same play, different actors.
I’ll go with your characterization of this post, “small stuff”. Move on CAPT, the air has an odor in here.
Dear Doug, re post #4: Do you know who COL Jessep is? No, I didn’t think so.
I like people like Dougie…without them I would have no one to make fun of…even if they do make it easy.
Too bad nothing he says is new or has changed since the lies shouted so loud during the 60′s.
Dissent is REALLY tough in a democracy…be brave and go to China, Cuba or North Korea and be THAT critical of govt’s there. Dissent, or “Speaking “Truth” to Power” in the United States of America is VERY easy.
I’m with Bryan in comment #1: this type is beneath notice. They have no original ideas or thoughts and simply regurgitate the propanganda spewed by their predecessors, and sadly with little or no understanding of their “position”.
Lioness: something tells me Dougie-boy would have found Lex on his own…
Keep screening out the moonbats Lex, after all as you say – it’s your dime, not theirs.
This particular troll has been making the rounds for some time. He came to my home through another blog and unfortunately found FbL through mine. My sincerest apologies to Fuzzy and to you.
May I say, with deepest gratitude and respect, THANK YOU for your service.
“Dissent, or ?
“Dissent, or “Speaking “Truth” to Power” in the United States of America is VERY easy.” Indeed.
Not only very easy, but tailor made for the lazy and stupid as well. Who know deep down that most of the Nation is utterly indifferent to their seething. Their real complaint is lack of attention. Like sheep who insist that the sheepdogs pay attention to them only, and not to the circling wolves.
Blog trolling is a way for wayward sheep to “rattle their dags” through the sheepdog’s camp. So they must be mentally “ring-crutched” from time to time. And this was “Daggy”, or Dougie’s turn to be so sheared.
Run along now Daggy. We doubt you’ll be any smarter, but at least now you won’t smell quite so bad.
http://www.urbandictionary.com “daggy”
Anna, he recently came by for a second round at my blog (via his work IP address, which I hadn’t banned). I didn’t recognize him at first (different name and an “f— you” site as his homepage) and since he was referencing a link I posted to Lex, I sent him back here to comment as an alternative to his ranting at my site about a part I hadn’t even quoted. Hence, my apology.
As you can see, he’s doing his typical political trolling with Lex, but he’s crossed that line with me and is getting vey personal (though I haven’t engaged him). I’ll be interested to find out where this dustup with Lex goes.
Lex, IMO a trolls (AKA,Dougie, Ima Fake, et als) sole purpose in posting what he does is to prevoke a response. To respond as you did,with a clear and cogent rebuttal of his mindless remarks, is his reward and encourges him to continue. Suggest ignoring these clap-trapped festering fauna of the Blogosphere and concentrate your creative energies elseware. Best
Snake Eater, we are in agreement there. Its really hard not to engage these fools (I have been guilty enough of it myself) because they can really pi** you off. And then the temptation is to use word play to get them back. Which, by the way, Lex is extremely adept at.
But I would think, much like if someone walked into a real room where a conversation was ongoing and started spouting their crap, that if they were totally ignored and the conversation continued unabated without recongition of their presence, it might be much more effective in making the point and shutting them up.
Alas, easy to say, harder to do. And I do appreciate Lex not letting him in the front door in the first place. He was fairly nasty from what I saw on FbL’s site, thought he would have been more of a “supporting the femminists type” (don’t you just love stereotypes), but instead he tried to send us ladies off to the kitchen to fetch him a beer. Guess their true colours do shine through. Perhaps I should fix him another plate of his favourite … right FbL?
Heh, heh. Michelle offered to make him a “sh*t sandwich” over at my place a couple days ago.
And I see from my sitemeter that everyone is visiting from here, wondering what the troll did over at my place. It was pretty nasty (lots of condescension and religious bigotry), but the personal stuff has been by email. I share that just in case people were wondering (after seeing what he left at my place) why I characterized things as I did in my second comment…
Lioness: can’t you classify him as “junk email” so you stop being harrassed by him?
I think Lex enjoys filleting the sumbiches! he needs it from time-time. Both for the mental exercise (lite) and the opportunity to document stupidity for others to see/judge who might wander into his lair.
Personally, I enjoy reading it for the learning experience and the pure entertainment!
B2
PS. That being said, what is all this tracking bidness. Y’all can do that? Gawd.
Kris, all answer you via email.
Good grief! Typo above. My brain said “I’ll” and my ear said, “all.” Ear won, haha!
Very niiice, Skipper!
Unlike many of us, you echewed the battleaxe and showed mastery of the rapier…
Sweet!
Of course, I doubt if Douggie-troll understood half o’ them high-falootin’ words you fired at him…
B2 sez it right. Lex’s mastery of the written word is , well, masterful, and downright entertaining.
BTW, Dougie- never show up in a tank battle armed with a .38 pistol.
BTW this has been bugging me for awhile – I understand the term “conservative”, but what the heck does “neo-conservative” mean? I know, I know, dictionaries and Google COULD be my friends … okay, fine, a new form of conservativsm I take it? But I don’t want so much a dictionary definition (although that would be nice too) as what those who use this obvioulsy pejorative term are really trying to say. Needing me some edmeacation over here – thanks!
Lex, God bless ya man. Little mommy’s boys like duggy got no clue, no clue at all, and wouldn’t even know where to buy one if he had the money and clues like he(she?) needs were for sale. Bushitler and all, huh? My cousin, a former USN submariner nuke type, turned me on to your site awhile back and I really try to never miss a day. Proud to call you and guys like you my brothers in arms. A former USMC grunt Sgt – Wpns Plt, Bravo Co. 1st Bn 5th Marines Jan 1968-Oct 1969, I Corps-RVN.
Michelle, Quickie ( Readers Digest ) answer… I’am sure others will amplify upon, Neo-Cons – New Conservitaves…former hard core members of the left…who like many new converts embrace their new beliefs with a certain zeal that drives their old COMRADS nuts. Some but not all have a Jewish background so that calling someone a Neo-Con in those cases can be interpreted as an anti-semetic and/or pro Israeli remark. Best
B2 (#22 post-script), tracking is scarily easy. Just click on the multicolored little square on Lex’s sidebar, just under the search box. You’ll see a lot of info about the people who visit.
In my case, I got the troll’s ISP from the free comments program I use (Haloscan). There are multiple sites on the web that will track down an ISP for free, so I just picked one and entered his ISP. The troll was dumb enough to be trolling on company time and his company has their own server (not contracted out to a professional service provider), so his ISP address led directly to his employer. Knowing his first name and there being a limited number of people at his company, all of which are listed on the company website, and… Voila! No more anonymity for Mr. Troll.
I’m Doug and I’m a Fool, I’m Doug and I’m A Tool, I’m Doug and I’m a pile Of Stool.
I can’t think of any more “ool’s”.
How about some help here, Denizens?
Michelle,
The original neocons were a band of liberal intellectuals who rebelled against the Democratic Party’s leftward drift on defense issues in the 1970s. At first the neocons clustered around Sen. Henry “Scoop” Jackson, a Democrat, but then they aligned themselves with Ronald Reagan and the Republicans, who promised to confront Soviet expansionism. The neocons, in the famous formulation of one of their leaders, Irving Kristol, were “liberals mugged by reality
Oh, and I copied the above from Wiki.
Be sure to let us know if he writes back. It makes for good entertainment.
Thanks guys
So I take it, sort of like “there’s nothing worse than a reformed alcoholic” or a drinker who has gotten religion? Same sort of concept, kind of, sort of?
Okay, assuming for the moment that I have the general idea (have trouble wrapping my head around the concept that hard core lefties would ever go right – must be some history lesson in there) why do these trolls just assume that whoever disagrees with them about ….almost anything! ,,, is a neo-con? Or an “uber Patriot” as I was once branded? What’s that all about??!! I just don’t get it…
Oh yeah, one more thing, if it wasn’t that it would be stooping to their level, you really should come up with a good name for these scumbags…other than scumbags, that is. Yeah, well, then again, I am sure you already have a few…
That’s all. Stand down. Been a long day.
unkawill, try Drool…
I often think these trolls just didn’t get enough of the “right kind” of attention from their mothers. They seem to crave it, and I think a few drive-by ‘whuppins’ would be in order. I’ll volunteer…
Lex, I love the way you smack ‘em down – so cool and so polite!
Lex,
At least he didn’t say you are ugly and your mother dresses you funny.
It is time to let the flying monkeys loose on “folks” like Doug. Crying shame that is also my son’s name.
Thanks Fbl. From time to time Lex talks about hits and where they come from. Reckon I ain’t up to speed on the details…
Gee. What’s wrong wid a little surfing at work if’n you git some work done concurrently? Is BigB tracking me? Oh no! I look at coming in here as walking around and talking in the workcenters and the RR like the olden days. As you know most of us are cube-bound, meeting & email slaves.
B2
B2, I was afraid you might freak out a little about it.
Actually, companies usually have clearly-stated policies about surfing at work and most don’t mind it as long as it isn’t interfering with work. The only reason I took note of the troll’s surfing location is because he was being a troll. Outside of trollish behavior, I’ve never looked up a visitor’s ISP.
And knowing that a visitor came from someone else’s site is a great way to find out who is linking you or what other sites your visitors regularly frequent. It can also tell you what they clicked (i.e. links embedded in a post) while visiting you. Those features are exactly why I like it. The Valour-IT website and project blog have sitemeters and they’ve been a great way to find out who is writing about Valour-IT. In fact, in one case my following sitemeter trackback led directly to an interview and article about Valour-IT that will be coming out soon.
Roger that Fbl, and IF BigB is watching I PROMISE not to say anyhting bad about Navy football UFN.
b2
Michelle, Additional Re # 27 & 34 above… suggest Googling the name David Horowitz author and lecturer. Born in 1939… a “red diaper baby”(parents were committed members of the CPUSA)…now the scourge of the left and the quintessential Neo-Con. Best
MissBirdlegs in AL Says:
November 30th, 2006 at 5:39 pm
unkawill, try Drool?
MissBirdlegs in AL Says:
November 30th, 2006 at 5:39 pm
unkawill, try Drool…
Missbirdlegs, thanks for the laugh!
The way I see it Lex, you gave him one more response than he rightfully deserved. What ever happened to:
I believe that wrestling with pigs is counterproductive. You just get dirty, and the pig enjoys it.
Of course, your discretion in taking this pig to the slaughterhouse was far more entertaining from the spectator’s point of view!