Best of the Week

[Guyau]

I deplore the hatefulness that is sometimes directed to Diana Hsieh at this site. Most recently it takes the form of referring to Dr. Hsieh as “Dr. Death.” Each time I see her referred to by that vicious name, I think of the man who truly deserved it: Mengele. I request that people not refer in this horribly wrong way to Dr. Hsieh.*

[9thdoctor]

I deplore the hatefulness that is sometimes directed to Diana Hsieh at this site. Most recently it takes the form of referring to Dr. Hsieh as “Dr. Death.” Each time I see her referred to by that vicious name, I think of the man who truly deserved it: Mengele. I request that people not refer in this horribly wrong way to Dr. Hsieh.*

I think she deserves a healthy dose of scorn, and “Comrade Sonia” fits the case. But Dr. Death? How does that characterization match her past behavior?

I just assume ignore her at this point, let the poetic justice of Peikoff’s denunciation relegate her to well deserved irrelevance.

[Philip Coates]

> Then PERIGO! was even worse. The episode assumes far too much on the part of its audience. [Ted]

Like what and how often? In the introductory part, he explained about the Greeks and about Aristotle, about the painting behind him, and most semi-educated people have heard about post-modernism and political correctness. And, I presume, New Zealanders know about the political figures he was referring to.

[Philip Coates]

> the poetic justice of Peikoff’s denunciation

ND, where did Peikoff denounce her? Do you have a quote?

Edited March 31, 2011 by Philip Coates

[Philip Coates]

> I deplore the hatefulness that is sometimes directed to Diana Hsieh at this site. Most recently it takes the form of referring to Dr. Hsieh as “Dr. Death.”

Stephen, I haven't been following who said that and in what context, but the worst part of the style of responding to one's opponents by name-calling and epithets is that it's taking an easy shot, a way of getting in a zinger and not having to do the heavy-lifting of looking up and naming exactly and precisely rebutting a position in a little bit of detail.

Sort of a going back to the insults that a ten-year old would use:

"Nyah, nyah, nyah, Judy's a Potty Face."

"Billy's got Boogers for Brains."

(And "Dr. Death" isn't even a clever form of parody or ridicule. At least when Perigo called me a Schoolmarm, he was original and it had an element of truth - unlike his imitators.)

Edited March 31, 2011 by Philip Coates

[caroljane]

I deplore the hatefulness that is sometimes directed to Diana Hsieh at this site. Most recently it takes the form of referring to Dr. Hsieh as “Dr. Death.” Each time I see her referred to by that vicious name, I think of the man who truly deserved it: Mengele. I request that people not refer in this horribly wrong way to Dr. Hsieh.*

You are entirely right and I apologize, I will stop doing it. I picked it up from someone else and just added the Mrs to make it sound funnier, and to my shame I forgot the Mengele association altogether."Dr Death" I thought of as a video-game comic book type character.

I usually write satirically but I would never, ever consciously make such an allusion.

I'm sorry.

[Jonathan]

> Perigo's piece was bad, mostly because it was boring, a very stereotypical Objectivist bromide rehash.

Ted, it wasn't aimed at Objectivists. It's a boring rehash -to us-. We have to get past thinking about what would appeal to us when we listen to someone doing a broadcast.

What makes you think that the show is not aimed at Objectivists? I think it's quite likely that hardly anyone other than Pigero's tiny band of toadies will tune in or be willing to sit through an episode, plus it looks as though it's basically a zero-budget vanity production. Does New Zealand have an equivalent of a community access channel? That's what the PIGERO! show looks like: the angry Objectivist version of Wayne's World.

J

[Jonathan]

I deplore the hatefulness that is sometimes directed to Diana Hsieh at this site. Most recently it takes the form of referring to Dr. Hsieh as “Dr. Death.” Each time I see her referred to by that vicious name, I think of the man who truly deserved it: Mengele. I request that people not refer in this horribly wrong way to Dr. Hsieh.*

Hatefulness? I've never taken anyone's laughing at Comrade Sonia as hatefulness.

J

[kiaer.ts]

> the poetic justice of Peikoff’s denunciation

ND, where did Peikoff denounce her? Do you have a quote?

Yes, again, please explain this and the excommunication remark.

Phil, as for PERIGO!, its not worth the effort--I am not trying to convince people not to watch him, nor am I hoping his subsequent episodes will be as boring, narcissistic, and badly produced as the first one.

Compare his effort with Newberry's Manifesto:

[caroljane]

Nice. But you need to add links.

Shayne

Thanks Shayne. And congrats on your assist on the Best Retort winner which was scored by Brant. He couldn't have done it without you!

[caroljane]

"Only on the outside" was said by Ted.

Now the technical credits.....

Edited March 31, 2011 by daunce lynam

[caroljane]

The Perigo t.v. thing wasn't as bad as you guys like to post in mutually supporting quick succession. If it weren't P. who you despise, you would notice some good things about the show, about the points he's making that need to be said, for example.

Your objection is that people dare agree with one another?

Perigo's piece was bad, mostly because it was boring, a very stereotypical Objectivist bromide rehash. If he's not going to say something new and topical he might as well just recite Philosophy, Who Needs It?

That's not even to mention that he calls the podcast "PERIGO!" Not only all caps, but an exclamation mark AS WELL! Should have left off the PERI part.

Maybe he should call it Perogi to attract more viewers who will think it's a cooking show. Perogies are very tasty and perhaps not well known in New Zealand, thus would be new and topical.

[Jonathan]

Maybe he should call it Perogi to attract more viewers who will think it's a cooking show. Perogies are very tasty and perhaps not well known in New Zealand, thus would be new and topical.

I think he should focus a few episodes on diet, wardrobe and grooming, since his physical appearance is as much of a disgusting blight on our cultural landscape, and is as within his power to correct, as the trivial matters over which he incessantly damns others. I think he should lead by example: take the time to study and learn something about diet, fashion and hygiene, and then actually acquire the discipline to improve himself before demanding that others improve themselves.

J

Edited March 31, 2011 by Jonathan

[kiaer.ts]

Have a look at this: USC Roof Sex

[9thdoctor]

> the poetic justice of Peikoff’s denunciation

ND, where did Peikoff denounce her? Do you have a quote?

Yes, again, please explain this and the excommunication remark.

The statement is no longer on Peikoff’s site, but ARIwatch quotes it::

http://ariwatch.com/WhosWho/ARIvsJohnMcCaskey.htm

About halfway down.

Another episode to remember is that Peikoff’s anti-GZ Mosque podcast came out immediately after Comrade Sonia’s public defense of it. She engaged her characteristic “my way or the highway” policy in her pre-Peikoff podcast exchanges on the subject, then had to shut down further discussion soon afterward. Don’t forget his “you don’t know anything about Objectivism” line from that rant.

Does all this amount to a denunciation? I think so, but as Peikoff becomes increasingly irrelevant (and loony) it may not function as an “excommunication”, with the subsequent shunning that follows from that honor. A pity, in this rare case, for if there’s anyone in O-land who has earned the leper treatment, it’s the author of “Dialectical Dishonesty”.

[caroljane]

Maybe he should call it Perogi to attract more viewers who will think it's a cooking show. Perogies are very tasty and perhaps not well known in New Zealand, thus would be new and topical.

I think he should focus a few episodes on diet, wardrobe and grooming, since his physical appearance is as much of a disgusting blight on our cultural landscape, and is as within his power to correct, as the trivial matters over which he incessantly damns others. I think he should lead by example: take the time to study and learn something about diet, fashion and hygiene, and then actually acquire the discipline to improve himself before demanding that others improve themselves.

J

And he should have memorized his speech thoroughly so as to not have to refer to notes. It wasn't that long. Surely he is an experienced enough speaker to do that.

[Philip Coates]

ND, Peikoff doesn't refer to Hsieh by name in the bit you mentioned, nor does he 'denounce' her. Being critical of someone (as he has been of Binswanger and many others) doesn't amount to excommunication.

That's how gossip and rumors get started.

[PDS]

I once was banned (and believe I still am) from Noodlefood for making a pun about circumcision (something about telling DH not to be so "snippy" about the topic, if I recall, and then, upon being chastised for insensitivity, asking for a list of Peikoff-approved puns). She does wield a very heavy cudgel over there, and applies it liberally when potential heresy is afoot, as the Mindy N dialogue demonstrates. With that being said, I think DH is far less doctrinaire today then she was even a year ago, and I think she has far more intellectual integrity than many on this site are willing to credit her with. Calling her Dr. Death is clearly too harsh, and I am not particularly comfortable that she is called Comrade Sonia either. I know many would say she has brought this on herself, especially with the Kelley Escapades, and this may be true, but I was AWOL for those wars, and can't muster the energy to untangle them. She is an Objectivist, and she is trying to move the ball forward, so to speak--this is better than most human beings are doing with their lives.

Edited March 31, 2011 by PDS

[Dennis Hardin]

I deplore the hatefulness that is sometimes directed to Diana Hsieh at this site. Most recently it takes the form of referring to Dr. Hsieh as “Dr. Death.” Each time I see her referred to by that vicious name, I think of the man who truly deserved it: Mengele. I request that people not refer in this horribly wrong way to Dr. Hsieh.*

You are entirely right and I apologize, I will stop doing it. I picked it up from someone else and just added the Mrs to make it sound funnier, and to my shame I forgot the Mengele association altogether."Dr Death" I thought of as a video-game comic book type character.

I usually write satirically but I would never, ever consciously make such an allusion.

I'm sorry.

Daunce,

Major kudos to you for the mea culpa.

BTW, my alter ego Donald and I agree that this topic was a "winner." Very clever.

[Selene]

I deplore the hatefulness that is sometimes directed to Diana Hsieh at this site. Most recently it takes the form of referring to Dr. Hsieh as "Dr. Death." Each time I see her referred to by that vicious name, I think of the man who truly deserved it: Mengele. I request that people not refer in this horribly wrong way to Dr. Hsieh.*

Stephen:

I typed in Dr. Death without any mental connection to Dr. Mengele. Carol merely played off that Dr. Death post which I made.

I also did not make that connection. Since that post, I believe that I have called her Dr. Noodles which is how I will refer to her hereafter.

My apologies to all for inartfully [sp?] making any reference to that evil Nazi. No one deserves that reference except it's evil owner.

Sorry.

Adam

[caroljane]

I deplore the hatefulness that is sometimes directed to Diana Hsieh at this site. Most recently it takes the form of referring to Dr. Hsieh as "Dr. Death." Each time I see her referred to by that vicious name, I think of the man who truly deserved it: Mengele. I request that people not refer in this horribly wrong way to Dr. Hsieh.*

Stephen:

I typed in Dr. Death without any mental connection to Dr. Mengele. Carol merely played off that Dr. Death post which I made.

I also did not make that connection. Since that post, I believe that I have called her Dr. Noodles which is how I will refer to her hereafter.

My apologies to all for inartfully [sp?] making any reference to that evil Nazi. No one deserves that reference except it's evil owner.

Sorry.

Adam

It was folie a deux again Adam, as when we simultaneously discovered Dennis's hideous secret.(I was just going to type DH! talk about putting both feet in it) I shall refer to her as Dr Mrs Dr or DMD for short henceforth, defying your ban on acronyms.

Yet...yet...Dennis Hardin, Diana Hsieh...they're both Doctors... I don't even want to know what Rumsfeld-s middle name is...get those yaks back in the pasture!

Edited March 31, 2011 by daunce lynam

[Selene]

Carol:

I am not a socialist, therefore, there was no ban.

I called for a voluntary moratorium on the ALPHABET shorthand words in honor of the release of Atlas Shrugged the movie.

Run DMD might work.

I am going to stick to Dr. Noodles because they are so much like slippery worms.

Adam

[caroljane]

We must warn the others - but how can we know who isn't in on it too? Who can we trust? Ninth Doctor, I don't think so. And who knows how many PhD's those guys in the Corner of Insight have.? There may not be much time! Oh, what to do, what to do?

Edited March 31, 2011 by daunce lynam

[Selene]

As long as it was not a folie à trois, now a ménage à trois...

[caroljane]

As long as it was not a folie à trois, now a ménage à trois...

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