? Dear Brian | Main | Hurt ?
June 02, 2004
Maxims
Reading "the internet" can be a recurring source of frustration. It helps to remember a few simple errors in reason are often at the root of even the most vexing virtual vituperation. In the spirit of Fran�ois, the Duc de la Rochefoucauld, the Flea offers select maxims for surviving the conversatizione of the blogosphere.
***
Just because someone is willing to die for an ideal does not make that ideal admirable.
Simple lies are often easier to believe than complicated truths. And vice versa.
Conspiracy theories are reassuring. They give the impression someone actually knows what is going on.
The enemy of your enemy is not your friend.
Youthful idealism can be lead tragically astray.
When you discover someone with a regional accent you find amusing is better educated than you are it is time to wonder if you are the one with a problem.
Taking the name of the Lord to justify your hatreds is the worst form of blasphemy.
It is hard to enforce the rules when you do not believe in them.
Our elected leaders will be accused of doing horrible things to defend democracy. Those accusations will often be a false. Sometimes they will be true.
Calling someone a fascist because you do not agree with them means you have no word left to describe actual fascism when it finds you.
People fighting for their nation are not always in the right. Fighting for national glory is not the same as fighting for an ideal.
Saying something over and over again does not make it true.
The left claims to stand for freedom even as it would take freedom away. The right claims to stand for freedom even as it would take freedom away.
God cannot be contained in a building or a book or a word let alone a list of rules.
I don't like your hobbies either.
The stupid will always be with us.
Posted by Ghost of a flea at June 2, 2004 08:44 AM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.ghostofaflea.com/cgi-bin/mt/trackback-engine.cgi/501
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Maxims:
? Words to live by from ***Dave Does the Blog
The Flea provides some maxims for the blogosphere, with supporting links. Good reading.... [Read More]
Tracked on June 2, 2004 11:56 AM
? Posting continues to be erratic from Being American in T.O.
June 2 - Sorry, I managed to sleep through the day (well, I'm both sorry and not sorry. You know what I mean.) The thing that bothers me most though is how little time I've been able to spend cruising... [Read More]
Tracked on June 2, 2004 07:57 PM
? Useful Maxims. from Welcome to Castle Argghhh! The Home Of One Of Jonah's Military Guys.
Being the neanderthal that I am, we all know what kind of Maxims I find most useful in dealing with the world. Fortunately, there are more thoughtful people out there, such as Nicholas of Ghost of a Flea, who has... [Read More]
Tracked on June 3, 2004 02:42 PM
? Submitted for Your Approval from Watcher of Weasels
First off... any spambots reading this should immediately go here, here, here, and here. Die spambots, die! And now... here are all the links submitted by members of the Watcher's Council for this week's vote. Council links:Well HOT... [Read More]
Tracked on June 8, 2004 11:19 PM
? Carnival Of The Vanities from Ambient Irony
Overture, candlelight... And welcome to the Carnival! What we present to you tonight Is something quite remarkable: We've gathered here for your delight A most astounding spectacle And now before your very sight, The unlikeliest of animals - From far a... [Read More]
Tracked on June 10, 2004 07:00 AM
? The Council Has Spoken! from Watcher of Weasels
First off... any spambots reading this should immediately go here, here, here, and here. Die spambots, die! And now... the winning entries in the Watcher's Council vote for this week are INDC Journal Interviews Michael Berg by INDC ... [Read More]
Tracked on June 10, 2004 11:32 PM
? The Council Has Spoken from INDC Journal
The results from this week's Watcher's Council are in, and the winners are ... Non-Council Link: Rant, by Tonecluster Council Link: INDC's own INDC Journal Interviews Michael Berg Thank you to the other members of the council for voting for... [Read More]
Tracked on June 12, 2004 12:21 PM
? A Lesson from Brain Fertilizer
A nice essay, linked.... [Read More]
Tracked on June 12, 2004 01:06 PM
? Council Catchup from King of Fools
While on vacation, I missed a few council votes so here is a recap: June 10 Results: Winning Council Entry: INDC Journal Interviews Michael Berg INDC Journal Winning Non-Council Entry: Rant Tonecluster Honorable Mention: Reagan - The Genius and Wisdom... [Read More]
Tracked on June 23, 2004 10:00 AM
Comments
That. Was. Brilliant.
Posted by: Emma at June 2, 2004 03:01 PM
Awesome. I'll link this later in the week.
Posted by: Bill from INDC Journal at June 2, 2004 06:18 PM
I was hoping for comments on Sir Hiram's best known invention. Oh well, off to the Castle!
Cheers
JMH
Posted by: J.M. Heinrichs at June 2, 2004 09:37 PM
Nicely done! This reminded me of Jenny Holzer's Truisms, but I like your list much much better.
Posted by: Mich at June 2, 2004 10:25 PM
I covered it for you, John - before I saw your comment.
There is now a linkage, via trackback, to make your world rightside-up again!
Great stuff Nicholas - though I thank you more for "Dear Brian!"
Posted by: John of Argghhh! at June 3, 2004 03:04 PM
Nicely done, but one item sticks out like a sore thumb:
The right claims to stand for freedom even as it would take freedom away.
That may be true, but the page you linked to certainly doesn't bear that out. I know far more conservatives than liberals who support school choice and the RKBA, or who oppose seatbelt and helmet laws.
Posted by: Xrlq at June 9, 2004 08:17 PM
Bravo!
Posted by: Gordon at June 13, 2004 09:34 AM
