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afew - stevesim is a complete waste of time, I was tired yesterday and needed some adrenaline so launched into the fray :-) and I enjoy checking things out.

But he "argues" like typical conspiracy nuts: someone authoritatative, Prof "Angry Arab" in this case, has alleged this. Refute that because, despite his academic qualifications, he gets simple things wrong about what was actually said in the NYT report he criticises, and you get accused of racism. There's no acknowledgment of any error.

Then further junk is added, refute that, they move on to other allegations, smears, etc. Refute them, they dig up an obscure paper of little merit and quote selectively from that. Show the inadequacies of that - no admission - they will move on in the next few days.

Then they go back to the original source, etc.  Round and round. Chomsky wisely pointed out that he doesn't get into debating conspiracy theories like 9/11 was a gov job, obviously ludicrous, but you can get sucked into debating at what temperarture  metal melts etc. As Chomsky says, having people get into these arcane debates about patently absurd ideas suits those in power very well. But it was fun :-) and I agree with Progressive Mag's editor that Gene Sharp is an international treasure and worth defending.

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice.

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Tue Feb 22nd, 2011 at 06:06:37 PM EST
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I thought it was worth investigating the "reviewed doctoral thesis", and I note that stevesim avoided recognizing the facts. It's from the rulebook: when your specious "evidence" is debunked, talk about something else.
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed Feb 23rd, 2011 at 01:39:28 AM EST
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Ted Welch:
Chomsky wisely pointed out that he doesn't get into debating conspiracy theories like 9/11 was a gov job, obviously ludicrous, but you can get sucked into debating at what temperarture  metal melts etc. As Chomsky says, having people get into these arcane debates about patently absurd ideas suits those in power very well.

Not getting into such debates is written into ET's guidelines:

European Tribune - ET Editorial Guidelines

Users are free to write diaries on any subject they want, as long as these are not

  • personally offensive,
  • defamatory,
  • do not blatantly falsify scientific or historical facts or
  • advocate theories involving pervasive high-level conspiracies
and to comment on contributions by other users.

You are free to write whatever you want - from whatever perspective you choose, as long as what you write is not offensive, defamatory, blatantly false scientifically and/or historically or propounding a conspiracy theory.

Just a reminder.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed Feb 23rd, 2011 at 04:02:59 AM EST
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