Freedomain Radio

A friend a mine is a hard core statist (he would say progressive), and we often engage in some intense email discussions. Now this dude never gives up. He is a relentless statist. The most interseting thing about him, though, is how he almost deliberately misrepresents me in our dialogues (he compares me to Rush Limbaugh, lol). But today, he basically said  that I am close minded and he will not have these discussions with me anymore because they make him "aggro."

He also said that when I am ready he will educate me, lol.

You guys ever had similar experinces with friends who disagree with ya?

 Oh, sure. A few days ago I was compared to Pol Pot. Can't explain why.

By the way, where you discussing the argument from morality? I ask because it tends to work that way.

Of course, he's projecting.

May I ask why you two continued to have these conversations? Why you engaged in them?

Hahahahahahaha, yeah I was man, how'd ya know?   :-p

Pardon my ignorance (I'm American, what can I say, heh), but whose Pol Pot?

Beeztown:

Hahahahahahaha, yeah I was man, how'd ya know?   :-p

Pardon my ignorance (I'm American, what can I say, heh), but whose Pol Pot?

 To you and Charlotte, I guess we still engage in such debates to sharpen our teeths. Do you agree?

I've read about this Pol Pot and he was a genocidal murderer in Cambodia. My friend was comparing anarchy to murderous radical thinking.

There are a few podcasts about this argument from morality, and how it tends to bring the worst in people. You've got to be careful with it, because it will reveal the nature of your relations with these people.

When you debate anarchy, or voluntarism, there are predictable outcomes and reactions from people. Stef has them all listed in the podcasts and the books everyday anarchy and practical anarchy. Have a look.

Victor:

To you and Charlotte, I guess we still engage in such debates to sharpen our teeths. Do you agree?

Mr. C:

When you're doing it, do you feel happiness or excitement or do you feel anger or Buddhist-style calm ?

Oh, man. It's actual kun fu. It's the best game and excersise you can ever imagine and the price of beating the boss is just mindbogling. You get to free a mind.

Victor:

I've read about this Pol Pot and he was a genocidal murderer in Cambodia. My friend was comparing anarchy to murderous radical thinking.

That's quite a difference. But I must admit I debated a libertarian (Ron Paul style) in my statist days and told him he was a socialist. Libertarianism or anarchy can be very hard to place for people, because it is so unknown. When you hear the viewpoints and do not really think about it, you realize they are eccentric, but you can't make up your mind wheather its extreme left or right. I now notice you can just as well end up in the extreme left or extreme right  box.

Charlotte:

May I ask why you two continued to have these conversations? Why you engaged in them?

Because they are there ?

Yeah, debating with my firend is like the hardest, craziest workout.

He actually apologized for getting mad at me. He said he gets mad when good people turn their backs and give up. I told him to think of it as good people taking a different road to similar goals.

And then I told him for the sake of our friendship we'd keep it to video games and Lost theories. Heh.

But, yeah, it really brought out some anger from him. It was pretty intense...for email, lol.

I would suggest asking him about his family history with anger and correction...

Thats funny you say that Stef, as he has had some MAJOR issues with those very things in the past.

 I have been enguaged in an on-going situation much like this with an old friend. The only difference is that instead of getting mad he just blanks out. He is also sometimes a manipulative contrarian as well. I have considered ending my friendship with him many times but then I start thinking about the loss and benefit ratio of such an action and I'm not sure I would be happier without him in my life. He really pissess me off when I can't even tell whether or not he is being serious about his stance and he never get's angry about anything. Almost as if he doesn't really believe in anything. I tell him about my experience as well RTR style and when I do I see a big brick wall on the horizon everytime but he always seems remorsful when he thinks he will lose me as a friend. It is pure manipulation and I know it. But when it comes to the rest of our friendship outside of politics, religion and all the other barroom no-no's we have monstrous amounts of things in common and we tremendously enjoy each other's company. It's insanity. So in a way I can kinda relate.

I've had sort of a similar experience with the difference being he's someone whom I've known for a long time and he also became my brother-in-law. So, it's wierd you know. Now days he has become really religioius and the differences are greater than the commonalities so for me I decided that the "friendship" was more of a habit than anything else. I decided not to speak with him outside of family gatherings because I realized that we're really not friends anymore. Yet he pursists in wanting to debate with me on politics, religion etc.

Until recently (the last year or so) I have always been up for that but, decided it's really fruitless. He will still try to bait me however by saying things like "what a blessing such and such is" or "that just goes to show you the value of paying your tithing". Just nonesense shit that would have produced a response from me in the past. I found out however, he will never ask me directly what I think or how I feel about those ideas. So, now it never really comes up because I know he doesn't really care what I think. I think this follows for most people. They will just make these sort of side wise attempts at getting you to voice an opinion so that they can in fact argue about what they think.

I now realize I don't have to say anything...sometimes it is still very hard.