# How does Milo Yiannopoulos exist, exactly? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 19, 2016, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298 "2016-07-19T08:46:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 28
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298/541 "2017-02-22T20:31:12Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Didn’t think it would be this easy to get **octopus** to defend violence against speech. It was a question. Read closely! Or a bit more honestly. And the question stands. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Then when you said “those doing the debating shouldn’t be demonized…” you meant this in a tactical way rather than as a matter of rights or speech, I guess? Counterspeech of course is a right. IMO, at least. Effective counterspeech is careful. > [@](#): > > As for its effectiveness, when done well (like when David Duke was shown for the fool he was when he went on Tim Russert’s show), it’s incredibly effective. Maybe Bill Maher wasn’t up for it… if so, he shouldn’t have booked him. IMO, Bill Maher’s approach (and I’m a fan of his show) was enabling bigotry in this instance. You must not have watched it. And debating someone is not enabling bigotry. What’s up with the delicateness? How are we descended from the people who fought the Nazis and nuked the Japanese? ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298/542 "2017-02-22T20:32:52Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > So, by this logic, since right-wing extremists are the most violent political group in the US, it’s OK to shoot a non-violent right-wing protester? > > Good to know. Damn you’re dumb. Another person who can’t, or more accurately chooses not to, read in context. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298/543 "2017-02-22T20:34:09Z")
Once upon a time there was a flamboyant troll who made a whole shtick out of hateful rhetoric and obvious bullshit. And while most people even on his side of the fence were able to see him for the reprehensible shit-stirrer that he was, his small, confused band of supporters lapped it up like sweet cream because he hated all the same people they hated and he validated their worst instincts. Those with functioning brains and/or souls didn’t take him very seriously. His supporters would be overwhelmed by the sensible opposition, we said, reason would prevail, and the troll would lapse back into relative obscurity, spewing spittle at the kids’ table while the adults were talking. As we can see, that went well. Never again. Assholes don’t go away just because they’re assholes. The war on bullshit can’t be a cold war; it needs boots on the fucking ground. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298/544 "2017-02-22T20:37:16Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > It was a question. Read closely! Or a bit more honestly. And the question stands. Violence was used, in this case, against a non-violent protester. Your “And if… why shouldn’t…” question structure is traditionally, in English as I understand it, used for a rhetorical question in which the questioner supports the proposition. If you meant it otherwise, then I apologize but I’d love to understand that you’re actually against this instance of violence against a non-violent protester. > [@](#): > > Counterspeech of course is a right. IMO, at least. Effective counterspeech is careful. > > You must not have watched it. And debating someone is not enabling bigotry. What’s up with the delicateness? How are we descended from the people who fought the Nazis and nuked the Japanese? I watched it, and Maher barely debated him. It was a love-fest, relatively speaking, which is pathetic when one is engaging an advocate and spreader of bigotry. He barely challenged him at all, far more often asking him about the subset of whiny liberals which they both appear to despise. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298/545 "2017-02-22T20:45:05Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Violence was used, in this case, against a non-violent protester. Your “And if… why shouldn’t…” question structure is traditionally, in English as I understand it, used for a rhetorical question in which the questioner supports the proposition. If you meant it otherwise, then I apologize but I’d love to understand that you’re actually against this instance of violence against a non-violent protester. > > I watched it, and Maher barely debated him. It was a love-fest, relatively speaking, which is pathetic when one is engaging an advocate and spreader of bigotry. He barely challenged him at all, far more often asking him about the subset of whiny liberals which they both appear to despise. Wouldn’t it be logical to assume that if I’ve consistently advocated free speech, even on taboo subjects, and argued against violence directed at speakers that I’m not advocating violence against peaceful and law abiding people now? ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298/546 "2017-02-22T20:46:16Z")
> [@DoctorJ](#): > > Once upon a time there was a flamboyant troll who made a whole shtick out of hateful rhetoric and obvious bullshit. And while most people even on his side of the fence were able to see him for the reprehensible shit-stirrer that he was, his small, confused band of supporters lapped it up like sweet cream because he hated all the same people they hated and he validated their worst instincts. > > Those with functioning brains and/or souls didn’t take him very seriously. His supporters would be overwhelmed by the sensible opposition, we said, reason would prevail, and the troll would lapse back into relative obscurity, spewing spittle at the kids’ table while the adults were talking. > > As we can see, that went well. > > Never again. Assholes don’t go away just because they’re assholes. The war on bullshit can’t be a cold war; it needs boots on the fucking ground. Are you advocating violence to suppress speech? ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298/547 "2017-02-22T20:47:48Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Violent protesters receive violence? Seems like karma. So you agree that these [violent right wingers](http://nypost.com/2015/07/02/cops-save-anti-nypd-flag-burners-from-angry-bikers/) should have had violence perpetuated against them? Next time, the anarchists should be armed, and shoot anyone that interferes with their demonstration? ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298/548 "2017-02-22T20:52:32Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > So you agree that these [violent right wingers](http://nypost.com/2015/07/02/cops-save-anti-nypd-flag-burners-from-angry-bikers/) should have had violence perpetuated against them? > > Next time, the anarchists should be armed, and shoot anyone that interferes with their demonstration? If you say so. Did the police do their job in this case instead of standing around with their thumbs in their butts? If the anarchists were exercising their rights legally then they shouldn’t be violently interfered with. And they should be able to defend themselves. Everybody, on the right and the left, needs to put on their big boy pants and control their emotions. We’re controlling ourselves here in the pit. Having a reasonable conversation with no shots fired isn’t so hard, is it? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298/549 "2017-02-22T21:01:43Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Wouldn’t it be logical to assume that if I’ve consistently advocated free speech, even on taboo subjects, and argued against violence directed at speakers that I’m not advocating violence against peaceful and law abiding people now? No, since people are large and contain multitudes. Contradicting one’s self is incredibly common, both in real life and on this board. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298/550 "2017-02-22T21:15:48Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > If you say so. > > Did the police do their job in this case instead of standing around with their thumbs in their butts? > > If the anarchists were exercising their rights legally then they shouldn’t be violently interfered with. And they should be able to defend themselves. Everybody, on the right and the left, needs to put on their big boy pants and control their emotions. We’re controlling ourselves here in the pit. Having a reasonable conversation with no shots fired isn’t so hard, is it? The anarchist were legally exercising their rights. The violent right wingers illegally used violence to silence them. No arrests were made, in this case of violent right wingers using violence to suppress the speech of those they disagree with, so no, I would say that the cops did not do their jobs. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298/551 "2017-02-22T21:22:15Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > You really believe that? Are you on medication for your serious case of autism? No please continue to try to debate me I’m sure it will end well for you. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298/552 "2017-02-22T21:34:48Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > After several violent protests at Milo’s speeches it’s not surprising that people are ready to defend themselves. And if violence is employed to prevent someone from speaking why shouldn’t violence be used to ensure that he can? > [@octopus](#): > > It was a question. > [@octopus](#): > > Wouldn’t it be logical to assume that if I’ve consistently advocated free speech, even on taboo subjects, and argued against violence directed at speakers that I’m not advocating violence against peaceful and law abiding people now? Nope, that wouldn’t be logical. You’re a partisan who dodges and weaves inelegantly in order to remain defending the right at nearly every turn. You’re a hypocrite, and not a very adroit one at that. When you ask a clear rhetorical question, everyone can see it’s a clear rhetorical question. Things settle this way: you approve of the speech of a hateful troll like Milo. You correctly condemn folks who coercively disrupt his speeches. You twist like a fuckin Gumby doll to excuse the behavior of those who shoot guns at nonviolent protestors. When called on it, you give a “Who, L’il Ole Me?” shrug that fools precisely nobody. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298/553 "2017-02-22T21:44:35Z")
> [@Ale](#): > > Hey, focus, where did I say that people here hate him for being gay? That quote from me doesn’t say that, does it? Can you admit you were making stuff up? > > Until you show some intellectual honesty there’s no point in discussing anything with you. …I never claimed you said “that people here hate him for being gay” you pedantic twonk. I asked you to “Name one person who hates him because of his “flamboyantly gay persona.”” I didn’t make up jack shit. I’m being intellectually honest. Are you going to be intellectually honest? Where are these people that don’t like Milo because he is saying things that a “gay man isn’t supposed to be saying?” ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298/554 "2017-02-22T22:01:13Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Damn you’re dumb. Another person who can’t, or more accurately chooses not to, read in context. No, I got the context. You said it was fine to shoot non-violent protestors because protesters in the past have gotten violent. Those were your words. Wait…is the context I missed that it was a peaceful left-wing protester who got shot? Was his political affiliation the context I missed? ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298/555 "2017-02-22T22:04:49Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > No arrests were made, in this case of violent right wingers using violence to suppress the speech of those they disagree with, so no, I would say that the cops did not do their jobs. Well, to be fair, right wing extremists are so violent and so numerous that they are a bigger threat to this country than ISIS (and we require the military to deal with ISIS). If the police started arresting violent right-wing extremists they probably wouldn’t have the resources to arrest any other kind of criminal. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298/556 "2017-02-22T22:09:40Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …I never claimed you said “that people here hate him for being gay” you pedantic twonk. I asked you to “Name one person who hates him because of his “flamboyantly gay persona.”” Welll…I wouldn’t say I hate him because of his flamboyantly gay persona. But I do think it’s a shitty part of his act, to deliberately minstrel himself up in order to sell tickets. He wouldn’t be so popular among straight homophobes if he didn’t put on the act for them. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298/557 "2017-02-22T22:20:38Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > If the police started arresting violent right-wing extremists they probably wouldn’t have the resources to arrest any other kind of criminal. You could free up a lot of police resources by broadly legalizing drugs. Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298/558 "2017-02-22T22:32:03Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Nope, that wouldn’t be logical. You’re a partisan who dodges and weaves inelegantly in order to remain defending the right at nearly every turn. You’re a hypocrite, and not a very adroit one at that. When you ask a clear rhetorical question, everyone can see it’s a clear rhetorical question. > > Things settle this way: you approve of the speech of a hateful troll like Milo. You correctly condemn folks who coercively disrupt his speeches. You twist like a fuckin Gumby doll to excuse the behavior of those who shoot guns at nonviolent protestors. When called on it, you give a “Who, L’il Ole Me?” shrug that fools precisely nobody. Now you’re just lying. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298/559 "2017-02-22T22:33:08Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > No, I got the context. You said it was fine to shoot non-violent protestors because protesters in the past have gotten violent. Those were your words. > > Wait…is the context I missed that it was a peaceful left-wing protester who got shot? Was his political affiliation the context I missed? You’re lying too. Sad! ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298/560 "2017-02-22T22:37:46Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [url=[The Sad Truth About Milo Yiannopoulos](https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/the-sad-truth-about-milo-yiannopoulos)]I thought this was an excellent essay because it gets right to the heart of the matter and because I think this applies to so many people on the right: Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, Alex Jones, etc. Normally I would shake my fist at you for making me read a Sam Kriss article, but I thought this one was on point. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298.md?page=27) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298.md?page=29)