“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Yet another child . . . .
I will concede that a toddler may indeed have shot him- or herself “accidentally,” because a toddler would likely not understand the consequence of picking up a portable phallus, but someone’s negligence allowed him or her to do so.
We must needs hold oxymoronic “responsible gun owners” responsible.
But we won’t, for we are a society of stupid enraptured by our portable phalluses.
“History Does Not Repeat Itself, but It Often Rhymes”* 0
Kean University Professors Christopher M. Bellitto and Frank Argote-Freyre hear a rhyme from over the millennia.
We are sad to report that our modern republic – like Rome at that moment – is not well. The era of Trump offers interesting parallels with the reign of the dictator Sulla (138-78 BCE), who marched on Rome from exile in 82 BCE and slaughtered his enemies.
Follow the link for their parsing of parallels.
__________________
*Mark Twain.
Karen Karen-Like 0
Karen wields a mean meme.
It’s All about the Algorithm 0
The Privatization Scam 0
At the Idaho State Journal, Randyu Sttapilus argues that it’s all about the Benjamins.
Facebook Frolics 0
Zeynep Tufekci offers a theory as to why Mark Zuckerberg seems to have thrown his lot in with Donald Trump (while simultaneously getting rid of fact-checking). Here’s the gist:
Follow the link for context.
“But It’s the Only Possible Explanation” 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Jeffrey S. Debies Carl takes a two-part dive into why persons spread conspiracy theories. One of his most disturbing findings at persons may benefit from doing so, but the evidence that they do benefit from fomenting falsehoods is all around us in dis coarse discourse. I commend both articles to your attention.
Here are his summaries of the main points from both parts (emphasis added):
Part One, titled Why Do People Spread Conspiracy Theories?
- Many people assume people who spread conspiracy theories will be subject to ridicule.
- Research suggests that conspiracy theories might actually improve the reputations of people who spread them.
- Spreading conspiracy claims and thinking positively of those who spread them might be part of human evolution.
Part Two, titled Does It Pay to Spread Conspiracy Theories?
- A new study examines the reputational consequences of spreading conspiracy theories.
- The findings show that conspiracy claims can either improve the reputation of spreaders or harm them.
- Social conflict improves positive reputational outcomes of conspiracy spreading and minimizes negative ones.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
It is generally considered not a good idea to play with one’s portable phallus.
Guns and stupid, guns and stupid.
They go together like love and Cupid.
Let me tell you brother,
You can’t have one without the other.
