What I don't get is that I love -- positively love! -- the PD who comments here. Yet, the other PD, the one who says the things he says on his blog, not so much. Indeed, the blog-PD seems like the kind of guy who might sue the comments-PD for letting stand the libelous insults of him that other commentors make
thx. It occures to me only now that "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" would have been more appropriate for the thread, but it would take a better spoofer than me to get that job done.
Nah, that's just asshat du jour. Mxylzptk (is it OK to call him that?) had enough sense to delete the post once he realized how things were going down.
For "Can't stop watching" look at this. The guy does seem slightly nuts but he's got style. "I may be batshit crazy, but even I wouldn't wear that shirt."
I have a hard time telling what the dispute arose from, but responding to "I'm going to out you," with "here's my name, I'm a CPA, and by the way, here are several humorous pictures of me -- I'm the fat white guy," seems the proper move.
20, 21: You know, the Zywicki thing (calling PZ a lysenkoist, not taking it down) bothers me as an example of political blog polarization. Partially this is because Zywicki strikes me (and I could be totally off on this) as a potential future (and possibly past) Democratic voter, and yet he manages to say something that it seems obvious to me will be very offensive and shut down potential future conversations. Even if his past exchange with Myers (I didn't read it at the time or now) was really harsh, aren't we still supposed to be trying to pursue some kind of deliberative democracy in the blogosphere where we can discuss issues and at least understand why people hold their positions even if don't think they're correct?
Zywicki is a coauthor with Edith Jones, IIRC considered one of the more hard-right people on the Supreme Court shortlist (Edith Clement was the possibly OK one who was floated before Roberts, right?) In that link he argues that bankruptcy reform was needed in part because people don't have enough shame about filing for bankruptcy. This was in service of irresponsible-rich-people rhetoric, but I have my doubts that the bankruptcy bill was about soaking the rich. Elizabeth Warren, who unlike me knows this stuff, was harsh to Zywicki here.
Bottom line: I don't think Zywicki is a potential Democratic voter. I think he's one of those libertarians who... well, let me hand the mike to Nicole Hollander:
Obnoxious guy in bar: Government only has two real functions..
This is totally seat of the pants, having never studied bankruptcy; but when I was trying and failing to follow Warren's and Zywicki's dueling posts prior to passage of the bankruptcy bill, it seemed to me there really was a live academic debate in the area. It's too bad we don't have a bankruptcy scholar bat signal like we do with causation scholars.
On the bankruptcy debate, Warren really knows her stuff and is one of the few sholars to actually do real, empirical research on it (e.g. see her books with Jay Westbrook) rather than coming up with welfare-cadillac anectdotes, just-so theories, and moral fables about it, as is Zywicki stock in trade.
As I pondered weak and weary
over codes of group and info theory,
came a beeping, beeping at my Outlook door.
From my studies did I detour,
hastened to tend to what for
the matter had this stranger demanded
beeping beeping at my Outlook door
Offering a challenge,
to quench the thirst for knowledge
did the stranger never hear of
Wine for Winners? Mazel tov!
Quoth the stranger, "Blah blah blah".
Posted by Paul Deignan | Link to this comment | 11-21-05 1:36 PM
In answer to the inevitable: yes, that's really Paul.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 11-21-05 1:43 PM
ew, ick.
Posted by Mr. B | Link to this comment | 11-21-05 2:12 PM
No-- cool!
Posted by FL | Link to this comment | 11-21-05 2:44 PM
Paul, I want to understand you.
Posted by text | Link to this comment | 11-21-05 3:02 PM
The response doesn't scan very well, it must be said.
Posted by text | Link to this comment | 11-21-05 3:04 PM
Yes, ogged's 2 seemed unnecessary.
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 11-21-05 3:07 PM
Do you suppose Mr. Deignan's difficulties communicating with human beings might be 'cause he's Vogon?
Posted by DaveL | Link to this comment | 11-21-05 3:16 PM
*Applauds Armsmasher*
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 11-21-05 3:26 PM
What I don't get is that I love -- positively love! -- the PD who comments here. Yet, the other PD, the one who says the things he says on his blog, not so much. Indeed, the blog-PD seems like the kind of guy who might sue the comments-PD for letting stand the libelous insults of him that other commentors make
Posted by pjs | Link to this comment | 11-21-05 3:39 PM
thx. It occures to me only now that "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" would have been more appropriate for the thread, but it would take a better spoofer than me to get that job done.
Posted by Armsmasher | Link to this comment | 11-21-05 4:10 PM
Did you just accuse yourself of spoofing? You'd better watch your back (in the mirror).
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 11-21-05 4:15 PM
I libeled myself here so I could sue Ogged!
Posted by Armsmasher | Link to this comment | 11-21-05 4:17 PM
And soon you may know his real life, um, nickname.
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 11-21-05 4:20 PM
you mean E-dogg?
Posted by text | Link to this comment | 11-21-05 4:23 PM
Are the rest of us fake people of genius?
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 11-21-05 5:05 PM
Apparently PD's keen legal sense and social skills are rivalled only by his sense of rhyme and meter.
Posted by Anonymous | Link to this comment | 11-21-05 5:18 PM
OMG!. I think PaulD is about to lose his place in the heavens as train wreck du jour.
Posted by SomeCallMeTim | Link to this comment | 11-21-05 10:01 PM
Why do you say that, SCMT? If it's Pajamas-related recriminations you want, you should be looking here.
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 11-21-05 10:26 PM
Also, the TWDJ is obviously Todd Zywicki calling PZ Myers a Lysenkoist.
Posted by washerdreyer | Link to this comment | 11-21-05 10:42 PM
Nah, that's just asshat du jour. Mxylzptk (is it OK to call him that?) had enough sense to delete the post once he realized how things were going down.
For "Can't stop watching" look at this. The guy does seem slightly nuts but he's got style. "I may be batshit crazy, but even I wouldn't wear that shirt."
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 11-21-05 10:46 PM
Apologies, SCMT: the first time I clicked on your link I didn't read the comments. Still, Dennis has those guys licked.
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 11-21-05 11:29 PM
I think I might be actually overdosing on schadenfreude. And if multiple Congresspeople go to jail off of Scanlon...can men have multiple orgasms?
Posted by SomeCallMeTim | Link to this comment | 11-21-05 11:36 PM
Actually, they say it's possible.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 11-22-05 12:11 AM
Dennis the CPA seems quite likeable, actually.
Posted by text | Link to this comment | 11-22-05 8:04 AM
I agree with text about Dennis the Peasant, and there are no moustaches within walking distance of that sentence.
Posted by bostoniangirl | Link to this comment | 11-22-05 8:08 AM
I have a hard time telling what the dispute arose from, but responding to "I'm going to out you," with "here's my name, I'm a CPA, and by the way, here are several humorous pictures of me -- I'm the fat white guy," seems the proper move.
Posted by text | Link to this comment | 11-22-05 8:18 AM
20, 21: You know, the Zywicki thing (calling PZ a lysenkoist, not taking it down) bothers me as an example of political blog polarization. Partially this is because Zywicki strikes me (and I could be totally off on this) as a potential future (and possibly past) Democratic voter, and yet he manages to say something that it seems obvious to me will be very offensive and shut down potential future conversations. Even if his past exchange with Myers (I didn't read it at the time or now) was really harsh, aren't we still supposed to be trying to pursue some kind of deliberative democracy in the blogosphere where we can discuss issues and at least understand why people hold their positions even if don't think they're correct?
Posted by washerdreyer | Link to this comment | 11-22-05 8:55 AM
Zywicki is a coauthor with Edith Jones, IIRC considered one of the more hard-right people on the Supreme Court shortlist (Edith Clement was the possibly OK one who was floated before Roberts, right?) In that link he argues that bankruptcy reform was needed in part because people don't have enough shame about filing for bankruptcy. This was in service of irresponsible-rich-people rhetoric, but I have my doubts that the bankruptcy bill was about soaking the rich. Elizabeth Warren, who unlike me knows this stuff, was harsh to Zywicki here.
Bottom line: I don't think Zywicki is a potential Democratic voter. I think he's one of those libertarians who... well, let me hand the mike to Nicole Hollander:
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 11-22-05 9:22 AM
This is totally seat of the pants, having never studied bankruptcy; but when I was trying and failing to follow Warren's and Zywicki's dueling posts prior to passage of the bankruptcy bill, it seemed to me there really was a live academic debate in the area. It's too bad we don't have a bankruptcy scholar bat signal like we do with causation scholars.
Posted by washerdreyer | Link to this comment | 11-22-05 9:35 AM
Sylvia: Wait, don't tell me. Obig: Delivering the mail and...
Obnoxious buy in gar?
Posted by pdf23ds | Link to this comment | 11-22-05 10:10 AM
On the bankruptcy debate, Warren really knows her stuff and is one of the few sholars to actually do real, empirical research on it (e.g. see her books with Jay Westbrook) rather than coming up with welfare-cadillac anectdotes, just-so theories, and moral fables about it, as is Zywicki stock in trade.
Posted by M/tch M/lls | Link to this comment | 11-23-05 8:34 AM
eh, "Zywicki's"
Posted by M/tch M/lls | Link to this comment | 11-23-05 8:36 AM