A funny thing happened over at Lem's Comment Home this weekend:
As soon as Lemmy curiously declared he'd prefer for those angry at Meadehouse not to diss them (which forced me to bow-out, on free speech grounds, right after I'd told you guys to take a look) Ann Althouse's "second" husband, Meade, showed up at Lem's in a mood to fight, taking on all comers.
Now, Lem's a nice guy - a sweetheart even - so this was seen by the Comment Home community as Meade, maybe a little tipsy, showing up to take a shit on his protege's new property.
So that gave me an idea:
Have you ever been at a house party, where two guys were so determined to go at it, everyone just said, "Fuck it" and moved the furniture out of the way for them?
Well, why not host online smokers, here?
Like we used to do in the Navy?
I mean, I love a good fight - watching or participating - so it's not like it's going to fuck up the ambiance or anything.
But there'd be one caveat:
This would be an actual contest - online - so there's a 1-3 point system and hard rules.
For instance, though given a wide berth, participants would have to deal with FACTS when presented - lying, or a denial of something everybody's seen happen, that could easily be proven by, say, looking at Google (or Meadehouse's old comments threads) will lose points, BIG TIME.
This wouldn't be like the Althouse, where a commenter could be right and Ann and Meade would just stand by and let the group pummel them into leaving, or submission to the preferred lie.
No - at TMR you'll have to come correct - and, if proven wrong, accept it.
(As I wrote that last sentence, I got a voice in my head that said Meade will never accept such rules because, as I said, he and the lawyer never showed much allegiance to truth, which, in a weird way, is their online strength. Personally, I think he ought to accept a challenge just to prove that idea wrong, but that's just me.)
And there's one more thing:
Since I'm hosting - and have the biggest bug up my ass for honesty - I'm The Ref.
I think, using facts as our guide, I can be fair even to those who don't always share my outlook.
Anyway, Meade, Ann, Trooper, EBL's Cow, Pallaidian, Ritmo, Darcy, Deborah, Synova, Inga, even - everybody - what do y'all say?
Let me know and, once we have two contenders, I'll get a ring set up and hang the bunting,...
Brilliant, Troy! I accept.
ReplyDelete(Of course, Troy, the ref, already told two lies himself. Heh.)
I mean, for one thing, you didn't really get an actual voice in your head, did you. That would be, what, New Agey? So tell the truth, Troy - was there or was there not a "voice in your head"?
ReplyDeleteThat's what I thought. 3 points me -3 Troy.
ReplyDeleteAlso, for this fight thingy - could you remove the "please prove you're not a robot" protection? It's a little girly unmacho, don't you think?
ReplyDelete2274gaterrno
Hey I would love to participate.
ReplyDeleteYou name the time and the place and I am there.
Great idea Crack.
The only problem I can see is that everyone wants to smack around Meade and nobody is on his side. So that might not be fair to someone of such limited talent. Just sayn'
ReplyDeleteBy the way Crack, how do you feel about Meade posting your real name all over the place. There was a lot of bullshit flying around about how it was wrong to broadcast someone's personal information.
ReplyDeleteIs that a problem for you?
The Althouse thing doesn't really interest me excessively, but hey I'm game.
ReplyDeleteCan we engage in kicks, bites, throttlings, rabbit/kidney punches and eye gouges?
PW
In fact, I've already got some things going in my head (by way of strategery...or maybe it's just things I'd kinda like to say but am not feeling energetic enough to say at this time -- but get a bell ringing and I might).
ReplyDeletePW
"Is that a problem for you?"
ReplyDeleteOf course it's not a problem for Troy. Troy is no pussycat. Troy brings the Macho response.
That's why the facts are so important.
ReplyDeleteDoes the name "George Zimmerman" ring a bell?
Ann just wrote today of us not comprehending what she's been through. Well DUH - it's the internet. I'm more-than-willing to entertain that Meade has a story we don't understand, too. AND he pulled up a wickedly good Palladian quote last night that told me - coupled with this new, kinda obnoxious, way with the fisticuffs (see above) - he understands how the game is played.
As a matter of fact, as Althouse's inside man, I'd think he'd have a huge advantage.
As far as "nobody is on his side" is concerned, as The Ref, I don't give a fuck. I have my own complicated interactions with Ann and Meade. Part internet and part personal. Both have done me a solid and both have let me down greatly. I'm probably laying in bed right now from doing the exact same work everyone's teasing Meade for. I'm not without compassion. If he's George Zimmerman I'm, at least, rooting for him.
Look, unlike everybody else, I don't give two cents about how anybody talks here. But what they say matters a lot. That's a good place for a rumble. And this isn't about just Meade. It's acceptance of the web. Shit, before all this bullshit started, Ritmo wasn't everybody's darlin' either. Sixty Grit Vs. Anybody. Inga?
Inga Vs. Deborah!
Shit, I'd set up a cage match for that shit alone,...
Oh - and if you think I'm bullshitting about not being without compassion:
ReplyDeleteThe song that opens the post is by one of my old bands,...
Tell you what: I'll take Mr. Althouse's side concerning the snotty remarks about being a lawnboy (I read some of the comments, and yeah, that was a low shot; that's some pissy shit right there...then again, don't start no shit won't be none).
ReplyDeleteI'll even go for a couple of rounds on the basis of I don't completely disagree with Mrs. Althouse concerning that nuclear thread about men/women/family (although you shouldn't get into a fight if you've already given away the high ground).
But dude, I will not tag in on the basis of you acting like a bitch (seriously, not only is this not "right" or even "nice" but it isn't even tactically sound in the long term).
I'll do it because (while I am not Mary) I am not a nice person and like to get mean with people from time to time.
Just an offer.
PW
Meade has gone full retard. You never go full retard.
ReplyDeleteWho is "PW"? Thanks but I generally don't care for other people "taking my side". You fight your fights, I'll fight mine.
ReplyDelete11507enedeupl
Poor Mulch,er Meade...Mom has shut down the house to all visitors and Meade is feeling very lonely. Buck up, Meado. You can always go to Lem's place and behave like a drunken ass, if it gives you some relief from the stress of living with mom.
ReplyDeleteHey, I was just offering to be hospitable -- and help out Trooper York, who wants to get this ball rolling but correctly surmises that it would likely lose steam before its time thanks to everyone wanting to go after you.
ReplyDeletePW
And yeah, honestly, there were some things in that blog post that started(ended?) it all where I could have said...eh, she has a point, but...
However, you all shit in your own nest on that one. (just my opinion on that one, not probably worth much)
Althouse blog is now just a festering sore. And it was a self- inflicted wound.
ReplyDeleteAnger brings out the best in people, doesn't it?--Bob Dylan
I'd like to hear from some more folks - and get something more concrete from Meade on whether he'll really fight his battles - before I go to work on it.
ReplyDeleteAnybody else interested?
"I'd like to hear from some more folks - and get something more concrete"
ReplyDeleteThat's what Trayvon Martin said.
1093sseerat
ReplyDeleteMeade,
ReplyDeleteThat's what Trayvon Martin said.
Yes, and based on your answers so far, you're an unarmed Zimmerman,...
and that is what Trayvon Martin guessed.
ReplyDeleteBut what you prove with every remark.
ReplyDeleteAs many have said, you're making a fool of yourself. I'm not saying that to bash you, but because - like Ann's history of public breakdowns - it's obvious to everyone who engages you now.
It may be natural to defend yourself, but it ain't always appropriate. Most of us are waiting for some sign you and Ann are actual human beings, and not just two narcissistic individuals beyond self-reproach. In other words, in a weird way, we're actually pulling for you.
If you continue to not make it worth it, we will laugh when you fall - and you will.
As the old saying goes, it's your funeral.
It's you and Ann who've attacked first. It's you and Ann who've defended the wrong things. It's you and Ann who've been inconsistent. It's you and Ann who've been full of yourselves. It's you and Ann who've paraded your wealth. It's you and Ann who've exploited your readers in exchange for misinformation. It's you and Ann who now being taken seriously as grifters.
And it's obviously YOU in this scenario who is Trayvon.
Skin color means nothing when you're a dick.
You're being a dick, son, and a limp one at that,...
Little Larry Althouse is unworthy of your time and attention.
ReplyDeleteHope you're feeling better.
Not yet, but thank you.
ReplyDeleteI get an MRI today, so I'll at least be pin-pointing the problem(s).
How'd the MRI go?
ReplyDeletesupses15
I'm on my way to get it now.
ReplyDeleteWe really need to talk.
Anytime. Email me when you get back from the MRI.
ReplyDeleteI’m a bit new to the fray, but I’ve been a reader of both The Macho Response and Althouse for a long time, so I’m going to toss my two cents in.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, a level playing field for debate is a good idea, but there must be a topic to be debated. I could be wrong, but “Is Meade a Dickhead?” seems a bit thin, particularly when, over beers, I think you, and I, and Meade, would agree about a whole lot of things.
If we all agree that Zimmerman was not guilty of any crime, then we—as right/libertarians/conservatives—are already on the same page where the heart of the matter is concerned (law, the Constitution, the right to defend yourself, the misuse of race) and are then arguing about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. Doesn’t strike me as particularly productive.
Now, if you could entice a genuine New Ager, a Ted Danson or Woody Harrelson or Sandra Fluke or Valerie Jarrett into the debate, we’d have something worthwhile. In a fair, fact-checked argument, those asshats would implode.
I don’t see that happening. Me? I waffle a bit. I don’t share the beliefs of the religious, of any sort, but I tend to apply my Good Neighbor Measure. If a Mormon family moves in next door, how likely is it that they’ll have an impact on my life? Not much. They won’t steal my stuff, abuse my cats, or party until the early hours. Ditto for Christians. So I tend to just shrug when they go dogmatic and not care much so long as they leave me alone. I get that you have a huge hair across your ass where religion is concerned (and for good reason), it just hasn’t had that impact on me. If the guy next door think recycling sanctifies him, go for it. When they demand that I join them in their sacrament is where I draw the line.
I’m rambling. Define a topic. Pick a point of contention that needs debate, first, and THEN set the ground rules.