Ace0spades deserves your approbrium scorn and contempt

I think most of us who have encountered the Acehole realize he is none too bright nor well-informed. For a while, I thought he was trolling, because nobody could be that consistently wrong and stupid over such wide and diverse subject matter.

For example, in the cat thread in great debates here he asked a question about the ethicality of allowing his cat to roam in an urban environment and kill wildlife like Sparrows and woodpeckers.

He received several replies showing cites from veterinary societies, humane societies, cat advocate groups, cat magazines, environmental societies, and others all of which agree that outdoor cats cause catastrophic damage to wildlife, cause dangers to human beings (including plague,) and that an inside/outside cat’s average lifespan is only 25%-30% that of an indoor cat. Various studies on wildlife and cat ownership were cited by these groups.

Ace’s reply was that this was “soft,” and that he didn’t think those were good cites.

What he presents us with in return is a cite from “messybeasts” which purports to distill some internet discussions found in various forums, and presents the conclusion that some individual cat owners are too stupid to be aware of the facts and don’t think outside cats hurt wildlife or are at greater risk.

This is stupid enough, and nothing unusual for Ace. The fact is I don’t care what you or he or do with your cats, and your decision is your decision. The facts of the issue though, aren’t rationally disputable.

The problem occurs when I address Ace’s cite.

What I meant to say were words to the effect that the cite was anecdotal, and amateurish, and not really useful.

What I actually typed was the following:

Clearly from context, I thought anecdotal was bad, because shortly thereafter I say:

Ace has listed all the anecdotal responces, and points out that I claimed his cite wasn’t anecdotal, quoting to me the passage where I mistyped.

I respond as follows:

Thus I admit my error, clarify it, apologize, and move on.
Ace responds as follows:

So, in this one reply we has called me a liar, a distorter, lazy, and says that such is a pattern with me.

That is his response to my good faith apology.

My response was simply to offer him the opportunity to reconsider his stance. Thus far he has not.

Personally, I’m not too offended. I expected as much. Ace has proven time and time again, that not only is he stupid, but that he’s a contemptible asshole.


What is worse though is that Ace is a bigot. Ace has an unreasoning and fanatical hatred of Republicans. He wears it like a badge that he is proud of.

He is proud to generalize and call Republicans evil, and that Repbulicans are worthy of hate.

I get the feeling from many of our more liberal posters, that they’re none too thrilled that Ace is an avowed Democrat/liberal. He tends to hurt positions he tries to support with his over the top hate rhetoric.

What Ace fails to understand, is that unreasoning hatred towards another group is the real evil, that the act of hating makes one vile, that hatred is the weapon that allows the Klanman to put the sheet over his head.

Some people can only feel good about themselves if they have a boogeyman to hate and blame, a bad guy that they can point to to put all their problems upon, an excuse to hide from their own large inadequacies.

It has always been this way. There have always been such people, and Ace is one of them.

In
This thread he quotes these cites seriously as reasons to hate:

2000 reasons to hate Republicans

Republican hate site

That was his ultimate cite after telling others to “fuck off” when asked for a cite showing that Bush, Cheney, or Ashcroft call people that disagree with a war on Iraq “traitors” as he says they do.

There are lots more examples of Ace’s fanatical hatred and stupidity. Anybody that’s argued with him, knows whereof I speak.

My examples are just from Ace’s posts today.
My opinion is that Ace is deliberately hateful and ignorant and is immune to reason. He has that all too common combination of absolute ignorance, stupidity, and arrogance, without a modicum of empathy or common sense.

Grow up, Ace.

Ace is a liberal?

Then why is he always insulting the liberals?

I try to avoid his posts, or just skim them for the general content. Too much of a headache.

Oh, and keeping your cats indoors is better. Quit being a shit and take responsibility for your cat.

You got too far, Scylla Criticism may well be called for, but your disdain (“contemptible asshole”) is well nigh imperial, and you have no claim to it. You can make no claim to innocence. You and he share a similar failing: an inability to tolerate disagreement with poise. Though, in truth, it must fairly be noted that this varies, you have often conducted your arguments with grace and humor.

But too often it seems that merely making good points is not sufficient for you, you strive to humiliate your opposition more than enlighten. Ths is doubly unfortunate in that you have much to offer, if only you could offer it with generosity.

In truth, to the extent that I am able to speak it, if I were to see one of his most intemperate posts side by side with one of your own, I could not say whom had authored which, and which was the more mean-spirited.

Come, see the opportunity: forgive each other, forgive yourselves, and today there are three better men than before. What more worthy a goal have you?

I really liked how in the “traitor” thread, he refuses to provide a cite for his claims, then someone else provides one(which is later debunked fairly well by december of all people) and Ace then proclaims

oh, I see, he had the cites all along but just doesn’t feel like posting them. Perhaps he should learn the expression “put up or shut up”. Jesus, I’ve seen more mature behavior from grade schoolers.

::Pulls up a lawn chair and waits for Ace to show up so the fight can start:: :slight_smile:

I was amused that he felt that his anectodal evidence carried more weight than all the cites DanielWinthrow listed. Opinions and fact by qualified and trained vetenarians. I guess Jo-schmo cat owner knows more about Cats than a person that attended 10 years of college for it.

Ace seems to suffer from that “justify my opinions any way possible instead of conceding a victory” syndrome. Ignore facts and well reasoned arguments, that way I look smart because I don’t admit I am wrong.

Elucidator:

I find many of the sentiments in you post worthwhile, and your criticisms of me may be valid and are well-taken.

I’ll respond with what I think are the key differences that validate my position:

  1. I’ve never slammed somebody for acknowledging, correcting, and apologizing for an error, nor do I believe have you. In fact I imagine you would be challenged to find such another instance on the board. Their may be one, but such assholery is a rarity.

  2. Ace is a hateful bigot. His target is a simply a group that shares different beliefs than him.

That would be a fair criticism. As a rule of thumb I try not to pull out the stops unless it becomes clear to me that my opponent is not debating in good faith. When that occurs I feel that the person no longer deserves to be treated with the good faith they are not reciprocating. The acknowledged problem with this is that I am going only on my judgement, and can and do err.

Well sure. My acknoweldgement and apology didn’t seem to go over all that well though, you’ll admit. After having been treated in such a manner, what would you have me do?

awww shit, Scylla can’t we just talk about december???

:wink:

Keep up the good work?

You’re just now reaching that conclusion? I could have told you that weeks ago.

“I get the feeling from many of our more liberal posters, that they’re none too thrilled that Ace is an avowed Democrat/liberal.”

Good to know he’s not a Socialist. His behavior sometimes makes me want to dive to my right!

**
I’d just like to note that elucidator said that.

Elucidator said that.

I kept waiting for the universe to immediately end. But … nada.

We now return you to a well-deserved, if obvious, flame.

Milossarian, I’m surprised you could contain your outrage over the smirking republicans long enough to pass out Gold Stars. Be sure to save back a extra-special one for yourself.

Psst, Rockford, read Lynn Bodoni’s list of Pit Rules at the top of this forum. Among others, the type of post you wrote is specifically frowned upon.

FYI:)

Scylla, I fixed your OP, you made a few typos:

So, Ace, you admit to having a schoolyard mentality that extends no further than “Nyah, nyah, nyah, I can’t HEAR you!”?

What’s a probium? Is that, like, an alien thing?

Ace, we have a problem. Your post doesn’t make sense. The sense of narrator is lost, I become confused as to whether you are quoting Scylla, or have, for the sake of satiric juxtaposition, replaced his name with your own. Perhaps to make a “pot/kettle” analogy? The mind buggers. Boggles. Whatever.

I make no judgement as to the sincerity of your argument, only thats its structure is too much like one of those Russian boxes within boxes within. You have honored me with your approval on more than one occasion, will you permit me to exploit that opinion by suggesting if it confuses me, it is likely to confuse others?

I have no stand on the matter of cats, I regard them with the same imperial disinterest with which they regard me. I am much more comfortable with the slobbering syncophancy of dogs, at least partly because it is so well deserved, and is clear evidence of the clarity of canine judgement. Mark Twain, however, loved cats and that’s good enough for me.

Scylla has acknowledged certain failings of temperment, and has expended his most precious coin in a conciliatory gesture. If you are waiting for him to throw himself at your feet blubbering apologies, I assure you from long experience that you will grow old waiting. Very old. Your fossilized remains may be seen on public display centuries hence, with the explanation, “Still Waiting”.

If I may further exploit your good opinion of me, may I politely suggest that you, as well, have exceeded the usual bounds of your own cheerful temperment. Not without cause, mind you, but nonetheless… If I may make so bold as to suggest a conciliatory gesture, a minor expenditure of dignity? I trust this suggestion will not cost me your good will, and assure you that, in my experience, such a gesture will most likely be well taken, and even reciprocated in kind. Indeed, it has to some degree been advanced already, the gesture wanting is your own. My opinion of you makes me confident that you will look upon this with benign grace, and respond accordingly.

[aside to Bryan: Probium is the 115th element on the Periodic Table, and is usefully found in close proximity to analuminum.]

And my opinion of elucidator has increased tenfold.

Of course, that mostly has to do with his preference for dogs over cats, but still…

Ace0Spades, we had a big discussion about not rewording another person’s post, and putting it in the quote section. We even had an announcement about it for quite a while. You’re in time out for at least two weeks. Write to me after the end of that period, and I might restore your posting privileges, after a review of your posting history.

Rockford, “pulling up a lawn chair” is not allowed. Your only purpose in posting that was to agitate a fight. Don’t do it again, and read the sticky “Pit Rules” thread in this forum.

Lynn
For the Straight Dope