How not to be a tracker
August 06, 2010 12:16 pm ET by Ari Rabin-Havt
Wednesday afternoon as our building held an ice cream social in the lobby, a young man showed up at Media Matters office armed with a camera. Positioning himself outside our office, he proceeded to ask people leaving the building what it was like to work for George Soros.
I decided to go have a conversation with him:
I would like to note, no matter how many times Glenn Beck or Bill O'Reilly says it, George Soros has never made a contribution to Media Matters. However, if he would like to make a contribution, he can do so at MediaMatters.org.
There is nothing wrong with tracking -- Media Matters regularly sends trackers to conservative events -- but if you are going to track, perhaps it would be a good idea to come prepared with more than a single question based on a false premise. And when you are confronted with your own questions, have a better answer than rubbing your nose and mumbling.
Media Matters: Why are Fox News employees allowed to plug their financial interests without disclosure?
Media Matters: The GOP civil war will be televised
Media Matters: The real story of the 2010 election
With all of the nose wiping, do you think he ate his boogers as a child or even yesterday.
Hint to idot child: Your parents must be proud that the Hannity types use you as a fool.
Would that be "Columbian Courage?"
And after he's been told that George Soros doesn't fund Media Matters, he STILL says "I just want to know what it's like to work for George Soros" two separate times.
He's pretty dumb and incompetent and incoherent!
Maybe he should send Mr. Soros his resume?
------------------------------------------------
Idiot
From what I've heard, faily claims to be a woman.
In the immortal words of Bugs Bunny... "What a maroon!"
If he knows better, he's a political hack... if he doesn't know better, he's hopelessly stupid.
My compassion for these people evaporated years ago.
Accurately pointing out his own behavior is NOT making fun of him.
I believe he deserves everything that's been dished out to him on this thread.
We can either choose to act civilized or to act like those whom we are always complaining about. It is a simple choice to act by virtue or act like children in the school yard.
And the cokehead remark was a snarky comment - you can't understand that either?
You're a concern troll. We've seen your type before here - and you won't get away with it. Shoo.
Actually, that's a false equivalence. If Beck, Breitbart , Blimpy, etc. only mocked people, you'd have a point, but they deliberately propagate falsehoods. And yes, I think that is worse than simply mocking stupid people.
This kid MADE HIMSELF this target.
He is NOT a victim - we see people here ALL the time trying to pretend that people being called to account for their own behavior are VICTIMS. They aren't.
The kid is an idiot iwth a microphone who was looking for glory..well, he got it. He will be a nomineee for the idiot Hall of Shame. (And I am sure MMFA will keep this video). Simple case of the ambusher being ambushed.
Ah, the price of glory is high sometimes. In this dudes case, he will forever be a mainstay at MMFA threads.
If that is too much for you too handle, TOO BAD.
I wouldn't have been nearly as kind to him as Ari was.
How about I just call you just hopelessly uninformed?
But most people don't then proceed to run out with a video camera and sound man, and track people so that they can then post the videos on a public partisan Web site in order to embarrass them.
Most people ask questions of other people in order to LEARN something. When they get an answer, most people say, "Oh, I see. Tell me more." They don't keep repeating the same question over and over.
This moron deserves no compassion and he's not going to get any here. You've come to the wrong place, chum.
I am getting very worried that liberals are retreating to our own 'internet bubble.' We have a choice, to just talk among ourselves, or to actually get 'outside the bubble' and make our case to other people, and maybe even to communicate with those who are totally opposed, and convince at least a few of them. (And for the people who are gonna yell "It ain't gonna happen" look at Little Green Footballs -- which, when I got involved in the net, was one of the most offensive and bigoted sites around,. and which has changed.)
It is so comfortable inside the bubble. We can write brilliant and nasty comments about our opponents -- and Kroo knows they deserve them -- and be guaranteed to receive applause, laughter, and pats on the back. Of course, the people cheering us on believed what we said before we said it, but gee it feels so nice to get the praise we get.
And the bubble is valuable. We need a place to get our enthusiasm recharged, to get this sort of applause -- but too many of us stay in it. (And anyone who comes by and differs with us gets an immediate -- and frequently deserved -- 'trollsorcism.')
But we forget the big difference between tv (or, more directly, radio) and the net. Someone can 'stumble across' Beck or Limbaugh or Savage or the rest by accident -- Savage used to station-drift in NY enough that he'd pop up during Mets games. They can hear a rant, and okay, maybe they aren't political junkies, maybe they aren't as knowledgeable as we are, or as sensitive to 'dog-whistles.' So they hear the comment and it sounds sensible, and if it were true, it would be very scary.
And we -- and this is our main mistake -- assume that what we know, everybody else "really" knows. We (perfectly accurately) know that deficit spending is necessary in a recession, that the "Social Security crisis" is a myth, as is the one that says the unemployed are 'lazy and just need the inspiration of losing their checks to get them working at a lower paying job.' We know that the NBPP was, in fact, an anti-Obama group that seems to have been kept in business by FOX News the way the FBI kept the CPUSA in business -- they were the only ones who actually paid their dues. We know that, based on the evidence presented at trial, any judge including Scalia would have had to rule the way Judge Walker did -- and that, despite being gay he had ruled against or worked against gay organizations in the past. We know Breitbart is a lying liar who lies a lot.
And yes, anyone who has been reading us for a couple of months knows the same things. But a lot of people -- who don't have the will or desire to spend valuable leisure time on politics, who aren't 'political junkies' really don't know what we know. They aren't idiots or morons, just ignorant. They aren't really racists hypocritically quoting things they know are false to hide their racism -- though a lot of the people they listen to are. They aren't corporate shills. They are just people who are wrong.
(Sometimes some of us sound just like the Christians who are determined to find some reason for my atheism -- because, after all, like everyone, I really know in my heart that Jesus is my saviour, so if I deny this, it's because I 'love my sins' too much, or have enrolled in Satan's Army, or resist acknowledging what I know to be true because Christianity is just too hard to follow. Okay, the difference is that our group of 'everbody knows's' happen to be true and theirs are false, but the attitude is the same.)
In fact, I'd offer one slot a day here to the best 'opposing view' post -- which would have to be documented and referenced -- that our 'trolls' could produce -- and insist that our commentators respond not with name calling but with facts -- which we will have in abundance because we happen to be right. This will actually accomplish two things. It will get some trolls actually trying to do what we offer then the chance to do, defend their position -- and when they try and research their position, some of them will find out they have been wrong. And it will give us a chance to focus all our best research and writing on these refutations, so someone who reads then -- even the original troll -- may be convinced to change their mind.
Because while we need the 'self-encouragement' of the bubble, we have a unique opportunity this year. there are a lot of moderately conservative Republicans out there who would be as revolted at the inanity and insanity of the Angles, Pauls, Johnsons, Rizzis, Toomeys and the rest as we are -- if they realized just how wrong they were. We can use the extremists' ideas not just against them, but to challenge Republicans in other states. "These are the people that Republican primary voters chose this year. Is this the way you want your party to go?" And if just a small percentage of them say "No" and vote Democratic, or just stay home, that will be as efective as an equivalent GOTV drive.
I know, i wandered, but i hope those who plowed through this at least think about it.
I am getting very worried that liberals are retreating to our own 'internet bubble.' We have a choice, to just talk among ourselves, or to actually get 'outside the bubble' and make our case to other people, and maybe even to communicate with those who are totally opposed, and convince at least a few of them. (And for the people who are gonna yell "It ain't gonna happen" look at Little Green Footballs -- which, when I got involved in the net, was one of the most offensive and bigoted sites around,. and which has changed.)
It is so comfortable inside the bubble. We can write brilliant and nasty comments about our opponents -- and Kroo knows they deserve them -- and be guaranteed to receive applause, laughter, and pats on the back. Of course, the people cheering us on believed what we said before we said it, but gee it feels so nice to get the praise we get.
And the bubble is valuable. We need a place to get our enthusiasm recharged, to get this sort of applause -- but too many of us stay in it. (And anyone who comes by and differs with us gets an immediate -- and frequently deserved -- 'trollsorcism.')
But we forget the big difference between tv (or, more directly, radio) and the net. Someone can 'stumble across' Beck or Limbaugh or Savage or the rest by accident -- Savage used to station-drift in NY enough that he'd pop up during Mets games. They can hear a rant, and okay, maybe they aren't political junkies, maybe they aren't as knowledgeable as we are, or as sensitive to 'dog-whistles.' So they hear the comment and it sounds sensible, and if it were true, it would be very scary.
And we -- and this is our main mistake -- assume that what we know, everybody else "really" knows. We (perfectly accurately) know that deficit spending is necessary in a recession, that the "Social Security crisis" is a myth, as is the one that says the unemployed are 'lazy and just need the inspiration of losing their checks to get them working at a lower paying job.' We know that the NBPP was, in fact, an anti-Obama group that seems to have been kept in business by FOX News the way the FBI kept the CPUSA in business -- they were the only ones who actually paid their dues. We know that, based on the evidence presented at trial, any judge including Scalia would have had to rule the way Judge Walker did -- and that, despite being gay he had ruled against or worked against gay organizations in the past. We know Breitbart is a lying liar who lies a lot.
And yes, anyone who has been reading us for a couple of months knows the same things. But a lot of people -- who don't have the will or desire to spend valuable leisure time on politics, who aren't 'political junkies' really don't know what we know. They aren't idiots or morons, just ignorant. They aren't really racists hypocritically quoting things they know are false to hide their racism -- though a lot of the people they listen to are. They aren't corporate shills. They are just people who are wrong.
(Sometimes some of us sound just like the Christians who are determined to find some reason for my atheism -- because, after all, like everyone, I really know in my heart that Jesus is my saviour, so if I deny this, it's because I 'love my sins' too much, or have enrolled in Satan's Army, or resist acknowledging what I know to be true because Christianity is just too hard to follow. Okay, the difference is that our group of 'everbody knows's' happen to be true and theirs are false, but the attitude is the same.)
In fact, I'd offer one slot a day here to the best 'opposing view' post -- which would have to be documented and referenced -- that our 'trolls' could produce -- and insist that our commentators respond not with name calling but with facts -- which we will have in abundance because we happen to be right. This will actually accomplish two things. It will get some trolls actually trying to do what we offer then the chance to do, defend their position -- and when they try and research their position, some of them will find out they have been wrong. And it will give us a chance to focus all our best research and writing on these refutations, so someone who reads then -- even the original troll -- may be convinced to change their mind.
Because while we need the 'self-encouragement' of the bubble, we have a unique opportunity this year. there are a lot of moderately conservative Republicans out there who would be as revolted at the inanity and insanity of the Angles, Pauls, Johnsons, Rizzis, Toomeys and the rest as we are -- if they realized just how wrong they were. We can use the extremists' ideas not just against them, but to challenge Republicans in other states. "These are the people that Republican primary voters chose this year. Is this the way you want your party to go?" And if just a small percentage of them say "No" and vote Democratic, or just stay home, that will be as efective as an equivalent GOTV drive.
I know, i wandered, but i hope those who plowed through this at least think about it.
Cheers
Kid probably would have switched sides for some ice cream.
I wonder if this was one of those guys who got a hostile/violent reaction from the Congressman from NC?
Lots of nose rubbing in this video!
Touching the Nose:
When Bill Clinton testified about his affair with Monica Lewinsky, he touched his nose every four minutes when lying, but rarely touches his nose when telling the truth. Blood pressure goes up when a person lies and otherwise feels anxious, angry or upset, which causes a tingling in the nose. People will often lightly touch the underside of their nose, by the nostrils, to satisfy this itch. This touching is quicker and gentler than the more deliberate, vigorous, repetitive rub to satisfy a typical itchy nose. It may occur several minutes after the lie, when the attorney is speaking with another juror.
Lying movements link for above note...
So, it appears that he knows he's being untruthful with his questions in his own video. That and he just appears anxious and antsy as if he just got caught doing something he shouldn't have been doing.
This is probably one of those Digg infiltrator azzholes.
MediaMatters HAS an office???? I thought they were an underground commie-pinko outfit operating out of Soros' basement.
Gosh darn, you learns somethin' new everyday around here.
And a special thanks to Cecil B. DeMille for his creative work.
Eating the ice cream cone..was any on his jacket? Reminds me of the monkey joke who had a flat tire.
This just proves that you should never get your talking points from Glenda.
That is all.
Stupidity is just the begining of this kids problems... its quite sad in all honesty.
We are just in the preliminary stages
Well, that is just peachy Spence.
Now wipe dear, youre soiling your upper lip.