I try not to be judgmental, but it's really hard when it comes to adults taking money from their parents so that they can be comfortable (rather than out of real need). I judge the parents, too. If you're buying your college graduates $500 haircuts, something is wrong with you!
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 3:59 PM on July 25, 2008

I am going to take this opportunity to lament the descent into cliche of that wonderful poem referenced by MJJJ above, "The Road Not Taken" (Robert Frost).

It's a lovely poem, a breath of resignation, regret and self-realization amid the usual evocative description of Frost's beloved New England countryside.

Isn't it kind of the opposite?
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 10:59 AM on July 24, 2008

grobstein: that is indeed my reading, but I don't think that resignation, regret, and self-realization are the dominant ideas. However, I see what you're saying. Also, this thread is really crashing my browser. Wow.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 12:23 PM on July 24, 2008

maxwelton: it occurs to me that I didn't actually communicate my point of view, such as it is, except to disagree, which was sort of cryptic of me.

Essentially, it seems to me that it is not clear that the protagonist of the poem (so to speak) is actually aware, wryly or otherwise, of his self-mythologizing. It is possible, and I can see how you might read it that way, but I think it's also possible that Frost's awareness is greater than the awareness of the subject of... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 12:47 PM on July 24, 2008

This is fantastic! Thanks!
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 7:26 AM on July 13, 2008

Holy CRAP Olga represents for the Commies. Wow.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 4:37 PM on July 11, 2008

I just watched some of these videos with a friend who is a former gymnast, and she pointed out that the bars are much farther apart now. She felt that what today's gymnasts do is more difficult than what gymnasts were doing in the 70s. Here is a video she felt provided some good contrast. The speed is very different, the way the motion flows, everything. It's hard for me to understand how difficult different moves are, because I have never really studied gymnastics. Nevertheless, it's... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 8:50 PM on July 11, 2008

1 "The rules would be clear and applied equally to all.
Rule #1 would be a zero-tolerance policy
For speech codes and “free speech zones.”
Let academic freedom reign—"

"Each day I educate myself on the Internet."

"As things now stand, higher education in this country is largely in the business of creating ideological conformity, producing successful job applicants, and providing fun for... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 11:39 AM on July 9, 2008

The NAS has some specific concerns which likely account for what miss tea and Monday have noticed.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 11:45 AM on July 9, 2008

prefpara, thanks for the post, but I wish you hadn't done all the pull quotes for maximum outrage. Sometimes it's better to let more complicated thoughts stand on their own, for slower but more honest absorption.

That's a fair point. I thought it might work to have a sort of preview, since there were so many articles, but I see what you mean about that creating a sort of funhouse version of the articles. For what its worth, I really don't think most... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 5:27 PM on July 9, 2008

The therapists admitted to feeling jealous or contemptuous on occasion, and though Dr. Karasu said of his patients, “They are, almost all of them, smarter than I am, and certainly more competent,” he rarely missed an opportunity in interviews for a joke or aside about the absurdity of talking about wealth as an affliction.

I wonder if anyone here will choose to share some jokes or asides on this topic. Magic 8 Ball, is this likely?
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 11:23 AM on July 9, 2008

This is one of the saddest things that I have recently read.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 1:51 PM on July 8, 2008

After updating her site every few days, she hasn't had a single update since May 25th. After eviction, how long could she stay at a Motel 6 making $12/hour? :(

In fact, she has continued to update her webpage.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 10:46 AM on July 9, 2008

Gorgeous. Thank you.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 8:04 AM on July 9, 2008

This one made me a very little bit uncomfortable because it's basically highlighting the freakishness of identical twins. They basically gave the subway passengers permission to stare at the twins because OMG WTF they look just like each other, which you can't do under normal circumstances without being rude.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 6:31 PM on July 8, 2008

Also see.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 12:43 PM on July 3, 2008

In related news, you catch more flies with vinegar.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 9:49 AM on July 3, 2008

Fascinating. Thank you for posting.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 7:36 PM on June 25, 2008

Assuming this article is accurate, it seems to be a powerful argument for those who believe that gender is a social construct. I would be extremely interested in a more detailed account of how these women/men are perceived. It sounds like they are treated as men and afforded male privileges, but are they also seen as "really" being women? Which bathroom do they use? Etc.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 7:45 PM on June 25, 2008

Wait, they call themselves men, they're treated as men, they have the same access to male culture that men do, yet the article keeps using feminine pronouns? What the fuck is that?

Similar reaction in a blog comment.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 8:33 PM on June 25, 2008

I've looked at the first dozen or so comments, and it's interesting that most assume that the 21st century time traveler is at an advantage relative to the people he will encounter. Really, guys? Despite not speaking the language, not having any farming or construction skills, not having any real means of self-defense, etc.? I don't see "Teach them Bayes's Theorem" as realistic advice here.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 9:28 AM on June 11, 2008

Seriously, I do not understand statements like "I also have a bullshit detector about 10x more accurate than anybody living."

The 20th century did not invent con artists and bullshiteers. People in the past were not bumbling around like big trusting babies.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 12:08 PM on June 11, 2008

Musical update.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 4:23 PM on June 24, 2008

Doctors didn't help this guy, a magazine writer channeling a neuroscientist did.

To be fair, Atul Gawande IS a doctor.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 3:47 PM on June 24, 2008

Did no one else react to these books with dismay? They really felt like propaganda to me. And by no one else, I mean to exclude people who also are opposed to Harry Potter because he is a witch. Grammar fail, but you get the gist.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 5:07 PM on June 23, 2008

I felt they had an anti-religon bent, prefpara. But should all books that express a philosophy be categorized as propaganda?

What makes me uncomfortable is not the anti-religious bent, per se, but the combination of two things: the fact that the books are aimed at and marketed to children, and the fact that, in my estimation, the books are neither even-handed nor (for lack of a better term) intellectually honest. In other words, I think that by... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 5:41 PM on June 23, 2008

Let me complete my thought:

In other words, I think that by pitching the books to people who lack the sophistication to identify the ways in which the books are manipulative, Pullman crosses a line, at least for me.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 5:45 PM on June 23, 2008

The complaint that children's lit shouldn't have a point

This is, I think, a pretty obvious straw man. I don't think anyone (at least in this thread) has said that they are upset because Pullman's trilogy has a message. What I have expressed (I won't speak for others) is discomfort with the way in which he communicates his message. I am not a fan of any manipulative, dishonest, myopic, or unfair presentation, whatever the content.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 7:36 PM on June 23, 2008

So, you'll be forming the burning party for Animal Farm, 1984, and Horton Hears a Who, then?

Right after I torch this Pullman garbage, amiriiiiiite?! That's clearly what I've been clamoring for. Now who's with me?
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 7:47 PM on June 23, 2008

Interesting. Thanks.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 1:59 PM on June 23, 2008

I had a lot of trouble with the first epic fight until I started going back to old fights, killing them, and leveling up. Once I hit 22 or so, I was able to get past it pretty easily.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 10:19 AM on June 20, 2008

This gives me pause:

"we used a two-step screening process for potential participants to exclude any individuals who might have a negative reaction to the experience. . ."

Doesn't this significantly stack the pool of subjects?
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 4:59 PM on June 19, 2008

Sorry, I meant to add:

"Fourth, like Milgram, we administered a sample shock to our participants (with their consent). However, we administered a very mild 15-volt shock rather than the 45-volt shock Milgram gave his participants."

This also strikes me as a serious flaw.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 5:00 PM on June 19, 2008

More work by this artist:

a series of photographs of recently abandoned offices. (via)
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 3:15 PM on June 19, 2008

Clearly the misogynist material needs to be illegal

Dittoing skot, this is far from clear.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 2:26 PM on June 11, 2008

Clearly the misogynist material needs to be illegal, and the bestiality, too (animals can't give consent)

Neither can women?
posted by ND¢ 1 minute ago [1 favorite -] Favorite added!


"animals" encompasses "women," presumably.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 2:35 PM on June 11, 2008

Oddman:

1. "I'm not a big fan of thought crimes."

2. Except this time, and here are some reasons why.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 6:33 PM on June 11, 2008

Thoughtcrime is OK if a thought/expression harms half of the population?
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 7:00 PM on June 11, 2008

oddman, you seem to be working from the assumption that the following things justify the abridgment of a fundamental right (free speech):

--if that speech makes people feel bad
--if that speech creates an atmosphere you dislike
--if that speech makes people, in your estimation, less happy
--if the people who dislike the speech have been oppressed or are somehow outnumbered

What can I say, I too am at a loss for common ground here.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 9:26 PM on June 11, 2008

I'll thank you not to act as if I'm part of the problem.

You can thank her all you want, but in your utopia, you'd be doing it from your jail cell.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 8:46 AM on June 12, 2008

actions should be clearly illegal when they harm someone else

This is just off the top of my head, but here are some examples of actions which would, presumably, be illegal in your utopia:
- violent action taken in self defense (hi, England!)
- opening a successful competing business in your industry
- publicizing the truth about something you have done of which you are ashamed
- publicizing scientific... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 3:58 PM on June 12, 2008

I'm tired of defending my view against obtuse interpretations of what you all think I'm saying.

Alternate explanation: you use vague, undefined terms sloppily, refuse to articulate your position in a consistent manner, and rely on assumptions and assertions. Then, you demand that we use specific terms with precision and define them, articulate our position in a consistent manner, and explain our arguments.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 7:41 PM on June 12, 2008

As for the, um, original topic of the post: apparently, Kozinski is now calling for an investigation of himself.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 8:36 PM on June 12, 2008

Also, oddman, how can you demand that we take you seriously when you've said that people of whose attitudes you disapprove are mentally ill and should be forbidden from expressing their thoughts freely? I don't feel like giving you any more benefit of the doubt than you've demonstrated.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 8:43 AM on June 13, 2008

Love it. Thanks.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 7:46 AM on June 11, 2008

I had the privilege of growing up in a city that had a theater dedicated to showing classic movies, and it ran a Satyajit Ray festival when I was in high school. His films were amazing on the big screen. Thanks for the post.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 7:27 PM on June 4, 2008

Tell me, slyrabbit, how do you feel about the rich and their problems?
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 4:28 AM on June 2, 2008

Speaking of poor reasoning, ewkpates, seriously, you make a lot of assertions, but you seem unable or unwilling to articulate the reasoning behind the positions that you take, some of which seem to me to be patently absurd, e.g.:

If you were to seriously put this analogy forward as an argument, then we would have to consider brain surgery as a way to reverse GID as well. How often is this discussed as a possible treatment option?... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 4:47 AM on May 21, 2008

I wish I had more time to respond in depth, but I am having a crazy week at work, so I am just going to comment on a few points and for the rest second hippugeek, desuetude, nebulawindphone, and aok.

ewkpates, you insist that the role of a therapist is to help a patient accept themselves as they are. This strikes me as absurdly narrow. Isn’t it fairly obvious that in many cases, the role of the therapist is to help the patient change themselves or their circumstances?... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 3:23 PM on May 21, 2008

UM, in my third paragraph, I meant disbelieve in the latter.
posted to MetaFilter by prefpara at 3:57 PM on May 21, 2008