But then it would be work. I hate work.
Shodans main defense is someone else did it. If you say Bush lied, he brings up Clinton. He does not defend or address the subject but SHODANIZES every discussion. He is not responsive to the subject of the discussion but simply tries to change the focus.
That’s why I cited PRR’s post in particular. He reasoned this out pretty much as you have with respect to his attitude toward opposing views. And as you go on to say, we need this. Even I, when I was at my drama queen worst, was sometimes defended as a sort of voice in the wilderness, whose ideas needed to be expressed (although I did express them too passionately and too obstinately more often than not.) But then, you go sideways with this:
I think that’s absurd — too demanding. I think a willingness to change one’s mind when presented with compelling argument or evidence is a great and noble trait, and reflects favorably on the intelligence of the person whose mind was changed. However, “beliefs” in particular ought not to be scrutinized in the same way that, say, an assertion about evolution being “only a theory” should. That sort of thing. But if a person asserts that he believes the Constitution does not provide for the impeachment of a former president, as opposed to a sitting president, then his belief can be verified or not simply by reading the document in question. And lo, since we have only one head of state at a time, Shodan is clearly within reason in his assertion that because Bush is no longer president, he cannot be impeached. He (Bush) may carry the “Mr. President” salutation for life, but he is a former president, and therefore Shodan’s argument DOES hold up under scrutiny, even if one disagrees with it.
It’s okay, sometimes, for there to be TWO good arguments — one for one side, and one for the other.
Likewise, a person capable of understanding cause and effect could see it coming if he merely expresses an unpopular opinion — especially in matters of politics or religion.
Take Poly, for instance, since this is his thread. He is arguably one of the board’s most populer posters, and seldom are his religious views attacked (other than by nutjobs like Der Trihs). From where I stand (which I realize is different than from where you stand), a big part of the reason that Poly’s religious views are generally accepted (or tolerated) is because they often are very “liberal” in nature, coinciding with the views of most people here on matters like gay marriage, for example.
But there have been posters, like Badchad, who challenged Poly’s “beliefs” with some fairly substantial arguments. And if he hadn’t been such an asshole about it, stalking Poly from thread to thread, he might have been more successful (although people were still jumping to Poly’s defense, some of them possibly just from autopilot).
So yeah, I’d like to get past the left versus right thing (especially since I’m neither). But it just isn’t gonna happen. When Luc quips about Bush, there will be applause. When Shodan quips about Pelosi, there will be boos. That’s just the nature of the thing. Like I said, this thread is disappointing, and Poly could have expressed his disagreement with Shodan in the referenced thread. This is recreational outrage. Nothing more.
Aww, that’s sweet! From some people, disdain and contempt is saddening, from you, its a ray of sunshine, the first robin of Spring, and a big ol’ chocolate bon-bon, all wrapped in a pretty pink ribbon. You could make me happier, but you’d have to send me money.
Elucidator is female?
I think the comparison to **elucidator **is way off base. While I’m not a big fan of 'luci’s posting style (just a matter of personal taste, that’s all), he doesn’t just try to tweak people all the time like **Shodan **does. And he’ll admit when he gets things wrong, at least some times ;). I don’t think I’ve ever seen **Shodan **do that.
I think the comparison between Shodan and Elucidator is indeed more apt than to, say, Der Trihs. Both Shodan and Elucidator have content-free posts, while many of the other irritating posters at least say something.
Careful where you try that. I did it in GD a few days ago (and it might be what you saw), and was instructed that for the purposes of GD, that counted as an insult, which I was not to repeat.
I have no quibble with the moderator’s action, btw. Just a heads up that this is the place for that kind of response to him.
elucidator’s content-free posts, though, don’t pretend to be more. 'luci is capable of poking fun at himself, at others, and being detached while doing it. He also sometimes posts content.
Shodan, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to be able to laugh at anything. His ‘jokes’ are always outwardly directed and seem more angry than mirthful.
Wait a minute. Shodan is in charge of Republican Party policy now? Wow, when did that happen? I guess congratulations are in order.
And all the time I thought Shodan was expressing his own opinion. :smack:
To be serious, there’s always a fringe on both parties screaming for impeachment. Fortunately sanity prevails when you move away from those fringes, and that’s true for Repubs as well as Dems.
You mean “condolences.” I wouldn’t wish heading up that trainwreck on Michael Steele.
There’s no need to cast aspersions on Lib’s honesty. About his accuracy I have fewer compunctions. So: Shodan cannot accurately be described similarly.
Cheers, Lib! 
A fine illustration of the traits you share with Shodan, notably an inability to interact on a non-ideological basis, and partisan hackery.
Hell, yes! Tequila and bongwater at my house, ya’ll come! Kick off your shoes, let yer hair down, and let her rip! Yeeee-haw!
I’ve already stated why I think the comparison that Liberal draws is inaccurate. I’m curious why it was even made in the first place. The OP doesn’t mention elucidator. elucidator’s posting style has no bearing on whether or not Shodan can offer a cogent argument for his position, or whether his contributions are useful.
Bringing elucidator in as a subject for the discussion seems rather distracting and pointless.
No offense to elucidator, who may need all of the attention he can get.
Well, no, not really, I keep trying to steer the conversation back to the really important issue, about what a dirt-bag Vinyl Turnip is.
What’s frustrating about Shodan is that he could be another Bricker if he chose to be. He’s obviously intelligent, well-read, and aware. That makes his self-appointed mission of ‘keeping the lefties honest’ irritating in the extreme, because he’s not keeping anyone honest. His nitpicking always leads to sophistry and haggling over terms if you bother to engage him, and he seems to view the fact that he can’t be beaten with theorem-like certainty as proof that he’s correct.
Bricker is fussy and punctilious, but recognizes when nitpicking threatens to derail a discussion and backs off. He’s also honest enough to recognize when the other side has a point.
I like Luc, and he knows that. We’ve had sex before. (Not with each other, but still.)
Ahh, you’re just trying to delay its inevitable, inexorable drift towards the subject of the Bard of Nipples, MN.
We’re on the river, podnah, and the rapids are up ahead, like it or not. 
Sweet talk all you want, I am not dressing up like Eleanor Roosevelt, and that’s final!