# An Open Letter to Paul Krugman **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 12, 2011, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-paul-krugman/596105 "2011-09-12T22:52:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-paul-krugman/596105/21 "2011-09-13T01:02:56Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > That’s it? That’s denying free speech? It’s certainly a gutless move on his part, but as I can still send an email to the editor detailing what a twit Krugman is I’m going to say my free speech is still pretty much unharmed. I agree that it makes no sense out of context. The context though is that chef guy accused me of wanting o deny free speech (I have no idea where he pulled that out of his ass). When in fact the only person at was doing any censoring was kruman ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-paul-krugman/596105/22 "2011-09-13T01:07:51Z")
The WBC comparison is retarded beyond belief. Krugman didn’t go to any funerals and didn’t say anything disrespectful of the departed. He criticized the self-aggrandizing, attention-whoring behavior of _others_ at the funeral. He’s just telling self-serving politicians to quit ass-fucking the corpses. It’s about time somebody did. This is one of the stupidest fucking OP’s I’ve seen in a long time. There should be a “Godwinizing” type term for comparing people to Fred Phelps. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-paul-krugman/596105/23 "2011-09-13T01:08:48Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > I agree that it makes no sense out of context. The context though is that chef guy accused me of wanting o deny free speech (I have no idea where he pulled that out of his ass). When in fact the only person at was doing any censoring was kruman He was closer to censorship I suppose, but he still wasn’t censoring. Being gutless isn’t censorship. He just figured a shitstorm was coming (some possibly justified but mostly knee jerk stupidity) and tucked tail away from it. And as far as I’ve seen of internet comments to editorials, I wish everyone would disable comments. They tend to be about as useful as the ones you’d find in the comment section of youtube. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-paul-krugman/596105/24 "2011-09-13T01:08:53Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > I agree that it makes no sense out of context. The context though is that chef guy accused me of wanting o deny free speech (I have no idea where he pulled that out of his ass). When in fact the only person at was doing any censoring was kruman You seem to have some kind of big fucking problem with the Phelps clan expressing their opinions. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-paul-krugman/596105/25 "2011-09-13T01:10:49Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > The WBC comparison is retarded beyond belief. Krugman didn’t go to any funerals and didn’t say anything disrespectful of the departed. He criticized the self-aggrandizing, attention-whoring behavior of _others_ at the funeral. He’s just telling self-serving politicians to quit ass-fucking the corpses. It’s about time somebody did. This is one of the stupidest fucking OP’s I’ve seen in a long time. There should be a “Godwinizing” type term for comparing people to Fred Phelps. But Krugman is assfucking the same corpse. He’s appropriating the somber attitude of the nation to attack his political opponents. How is that any different from anything Giuliani has done? ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-paul-krugman/596105/26 "2011-09-13T01:11:49Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > You seem to have some kind of big fucking problem with the Phelps clan expressing their opinions. Who doesn’t? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-paul-krugman/596105/27 "2011-09-13T01:29:18Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > But Krugman is assfucking the same corpse. He’s appropriating the somber attitude of the nation to attack his political opponents. How is that any different from anything Giuliani has done? Well then, by that logic, anybody who objects to Fred Phelps ass fucking corpses is also ass fucking corpses. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-paul-krugman/596105/28 "2011-09-13T01:30:21Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > Who doesn’t? I don’t. I really don’t understand why anybody cares what those people think. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-paul-krugman/596105/29 "2011-09-13T01:47:38Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > Not me. He can say it. I can condemn him for saying it. Freedom speech does not mean freedom from responsibility for what you say. > > Ironic that you mention it because the **only** person in this issue who wants to deny free speech is Krugman. Oh, so you’re a _complete_ moron, not just an amateur. Got it. ---
**Author:** ![AdmiralCrunch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@AdmiralCrunch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AdmiralCrunch)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-paul-krugman/596105/30 "2011-09-13T01:48:45Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > I do know that for somebody who has won the nobel prize you certainly seem to have a simplistic view of things. It seems incongruous until you realize that the Nobel Prize in Economics is awarded not for any particular skill set or expertise in one’s field, but rather a willingness to sell one’s credentials in service of politics. There may also be some fame involved. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-paul-krugman/596105/31 "2011-09-13T01:49:55Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Well then, by that logic, anybody who objects to Fred Phelps ass fucking corpses is also ass fucking corpses. I’ve already disagreed with the comparison to Phelps, but by claiming that the somber mood of the nation on the tenth anniversary is a reflection of his political views he is doing the exact same thing he criticizes politicians for. > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I don’t. I really don’t understand why anybody cares what those people think. Because they’re obnoxious dicks. At least that’s why I care. I would never strive to legally remove their right to express their opinions. That said, I’d be thrilled if a meteor, lightning strike, or supernaturally specific tsunami wiped out every last one of them. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-paul-krugman/596105/32 "2011-09-13T01:56:02Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Well then, by that logic, anybody who objects to Fred Phelps ass fucking corpses is also ass fucking corpses. I’d take one for the team and ass-fuck Fred Phelps’ corpse if I were first allowed to _make_ it a corpse. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-paul-krugman/596105/33 "2011-09-13T02:19:36Z")
Remember: pics, or it didn’t happen. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-paul-krugman/596105/34 "2011-09-13T02:22:45Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Remember: pics, or it didn’t happen. Actually I’d take his word for it. Somethings I just don’t want to see. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-paul-krugman/596105/35 "2011-09-13T02:24:00Z")
Scylla, he’s spot on. Bush cashed in the ultimate way, even more so than the other guys, as he used the momentum to invade a completely innocent country. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-paul-krugman/596105/36 "2011-09-13T02:33:10Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > I’ve already disagreed with the comparison to Phelps, but by claiming that the somber mood of the nation on the tenth anniversary is a reflection of his political views he is doing the exact same thing he criticizes politicians for. This is ridiculous. Telling others to show some decorum is not, in itself, indecorous. > [@](#): > > Because they’re obnoxious dicks. Sure, but no one else has to listen to them, so I don’t see why people get worked up about them. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-paul-krugman/596105/37 "2011-09-13T02:38:13Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Scylla, he’s spot on. Bush cashed in the ultimate way, even more so than the other guys, as he used the momentum to invade a completely innocent country. Yes. Iraq was a kindly and innocent place during the halcyon days of gassing Kurds and burning oilfields. Saddam Hussein really just wanted to be loved for who he was. They were completely innocent before the great Satan, Bush, attacked. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-paul-krugman/596105/38 "2011-09-13T02:40:05Z")
You’re about a decade off, buddy. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-paul-krugman/596105/39 "2011-09-13T02:51:23Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > They were completely innocent before the great Satan, Bush, attacked. This post reads like it was written by an imbecile. The original post was just silly. Mr. **Scylla** , I’ve read other posts by you in which you make more sense than the people arguing with you. Are you posting drunk? Are you having personal problems? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-paul-krugman/596105/40 "2011-09-13T02:54:23Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > Yes. Iraq was a kindly and innocent place during the halcyon days of gassing Kurds and burning oilfields. Talk about a non-sequitur. Actually, the innocent Iraqis we killed for no reason were just as innocent in 1988 as they were when Bush attacked them for totally unrelated reasons 15 years later. Plus, your hero, Reagan, gave Saddam (who was not “Iraq”) the gas in the first place, and he had no problem with Saddam gassing Kurds. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-paul-krugman/596105.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-paul-krugman/596105.md?page=3)