Writers who believe they should write about what they know are often terrible storytellers.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 4:56 PM on December 6, 2009

I don't regret hoping Obama would be a breath of fresh air, because hoping is one of those activities that don't make me into an asshole. But that particular hope is shelved as of now. Now I will be working towards real democracy, direct democracy, people's democracy, because the current model is clearly borked.

Oh, and how will I work towards my little pipe dream? By talking about it. With other people. Face to face, even. Yes, I'm a genius, I've discovered communication.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 9:46 PM on December 1, 2009

"The really comical bit: each crap photo gets hundreds of comments!"

Those photos. My God. What a thundering lack of imagination, vision, insight into the world, self, or how to use a motherfucking camera. This is exactly what I'm thinking of when I say Johnson and his type have a retarded and emotionally stunted child's view of the world. I don't know what else to say. As a motherfucking artist and lefty I run out concepts to explain how important the... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 7:17 PM on December 1, 2009

Actually, I should follow myself up here: I grew up around right wing dullards aplenty. As I go into my forties I'm seeing people my age making the transition from vibey, happening dudes, to boring drips with dead eyes.

If people put themselves in a mental zone beyond communication. Fuck 'em.

I sound like a lefty Ayn Rand or something, but I no longer care. Just this morning local talk radio let climate change deniers onto the airwaves and... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 7:21 PM on December 1, 2009

Science is great and everything, but control freak scientists who are trying to win at reality are a colossal drag. Their transparent frustration at not being able to railroad any conversation that strays into their precious intellectual territory! It's sad that so fucking many scientists aren't interested in communicating, they just want to be seen to be pwning.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 6:37 PM on November 28, 2009

I tried reading Annie Proulx, Cormac McCarthy and Don De Lillo and gave up in each case as soon as I could, realizing my limited life span made choices about enjoyable reading of quite literally mortal importance.

I found all three irritatingly, annoyingly, boringly, wilfully pretentious. I don't think they're bad people, and there's no accounting for taste, but I do feel strongly they speak with the big fat buttery voice of privilege.

I hates... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 6:37 PM on November 26, 2009

Actually, I've realized it's about something quite simple: "literature" is a wank.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 6:38 PM on November 26, 2009

The blog may be fake, but this thread made my soul die just the same. Also, it made me feel old. About 85, come to think of it.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 5:50 PM on November 25, 2009

"Anything that doesn't take years of your life and drive you to suicide hardly seems worth doing."

Put that quote on your fridge door, grandma!
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 4:29 PM on November 20, 2009

"First amendment, baby. Love it or leave it.

EXACTLY."


That is so sad.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 5:49 PM on November 19, 2009

People wanted Bush impeached because of the real actions he did in the real world. Other people want Obama dead based on stuff they're making up in their own tiny minds.

No comparison.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 6:04 PM on November 19, 2009

As for letting people off the hook because they don't know the context of a Biblical pearl? Rubbish.
If the religion you wrap your life around is practiced at the level of some half-baked hobby you are an idiot. Ignorance is no excuse.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 6:07 PM on November 19, 2009

"per your logic, all of those who were at the October 2008 Obama rally in Denver were in favor of severing Bush's head -- correct?"

The link you provided points out a "satanic ear plug!" I happen to have that same design on my arm. So, people who see Satan everywhere want to argue the point about the meaning of symbols? Gosh.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 6:18 PM on November 19, 2009

"a mother in a minivan picking up her kids at school"

But what if she's Sarah Palin!
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 6:30 PM on November 19, 2009

Person gets hurt feelings while defending the right to wear a shitty asshole teeshirt? Good.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 7:11 PM on November 19, 2009

Mmm...delicious hurt feelings. Nutritious too!
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 7:18 PM on November 19, 2009

" "Person gets hurt feelings while defending the right to wear a shitty asshole teeshirt? Good.

Remind me to donate some cash to the ACLU. I'll put you down as the honoree. "

Guess what? I draw the line at good, honest hardworking folk wearing a teeshirt praying for the death of Barack Obama. Guess I'll have to hand in my progressive lefty credentials, eh?

By all means stick to your principles- especially... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 7:28 PM on November 19, 2009

"People seem to be glossing over the difference between wishing/praying that someone was dead, and actually threatening them."

How about praying for the death of Barack Obama, the current President of The United States of America, in public? How is that not causative?
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 8:06 PM on November 19, 2009

"What is the other reason that they should be banned?

Feel free to answer without insulting anyone's mental capabilities."

There's no need to attack anyone's capabilities, these people are fucking cunts and they know it.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 3:57 PM on November 20, 2009

The people wearing the shirts are the fucking cunts here, the people angrily defending that are possibly brain damaged.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 3:58 PM on November 20, 2009

I can't wait to tell the world how smart I am.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 11:23 AM on November 17, 2009

Wow, Americans with no respect for the laws of other countries? Never heard of that before.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 7:37 PM on November 13, 2009

Else: really? Reaaally?

Yeah. Really.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 9:53 PM on November 13, 2009

Forgetting the DANGER element, which is everywhere overstated all the time, and also dismissing the ILLEGAL angle, which I think is such a sad way to deal with real people- this is inspiring.

If the cops can turn a blind eye and customers are going with drivers they know, you've got a beautifully simple system.

Yep, I will be milking this hacking business for all the inspiration I can get, because you simply cannot beat the feeling of people... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 6:14 PM on November 9, 2009

The article made plenty of sense to me, but then I actually read it, so I would say that.

My parents were full-of-shit fucking idiots, and I have tried to understand what happened to me when I was a child. The article rang true, jibed with, what I've managed to work out so far.

I feel I was experimented on as a boy, by a mad scientist who was always getting angry about complete bullshit. Can't complain though, it's made me the article reading man... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 1:44 AM on November 8, 2009

I have no sense of humor about people who have no sense of humor about humor.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 5:49 PM on November 6, 2009

I usually buy books based on author interviews, reviews, articles, anything I can find. The method never lets me down, but I'm not going to build some skyscraper of bullshit Gladwellian "theory" about how that works, I just know what works for me. And what also works for me is knowing- without reading his books- that Malcolm Gladwell caters to an audience who's head is so far up its own arse it has zero chance of seeing daylight ever again.

He reminds me of The... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 6:25 PM on November 5, 2009

For a split-second there I was......but no.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 12:25 AM on November 5, 2009

Car free cities are a really good idea.

If only there was some way we could harness the hopelessness that explodes like pus whenever a good idea raises it's ugly head.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 4:41 PM on November 4, 2009

Ayn Rand was a really evil version of Hitler.

Come to think of it, that might even be true.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 4:17 PM on November 2, 2009

Rand's ideas are stock aristocratic drivel, but they sure sound great at a cocktail party!
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 4:42 PM on November 2, 2009

"Well, if admiring serial killers...."

There aren't enough stones. You're comparing things- or maybe stuff?-- that have no relationship at all. Is this that moral relativism I keep hearing about?
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 4:54 PM on November 2, 2009

I've just realized I can't be Objective about Ayn Rand. Sweet.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 5:20 PM on November 2, 2009

When did we slip into the parallel universe where comparing one thing to another is exactly the same as saying those things are... exactly the same?
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 3:46 PM on October 28, 2009

"I am only saying I don't see anything wrong in the sense of legality, as a business owner."

Yeah, workers don't need their dignity. They need to work!
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 6:46 PM on October 26, 2009

"I'm just the messenger, dudes."

That's nice, but do you have your own point of view? No. No, you clearly do not.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 9:29 PM on October 23, 2009

Firstly, I don't believe in God. Secondly, Dawkins is a scientist, so when he comments on religion he's a big fakity-fake-fakey-pants faker.

But hey, smart people know everything, or something.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 4:19 PM on October 22, 2009

"the woman should definitely be allowed some recourse."

Just some?
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 3:04 PM on October 19, 2009

Contrarianism is bullshit.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 9:53 PM on October 18, 2009

"I actually know some global warming deniers. To a one, they all had the "computer programmer who figured out computers, and subsequently thinks they can figure out anything" personality."

Nailed it. Thank you, I now have a giant stick with which to thrash my denier friends to within an inch of their deluded attitude.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 10:07 PM on October 18, 2009

"But when a group says they're going to actively work towards dominating me with their own values and force me to pray to whoever they pray for it scares the living shit out of me."

Yeah, they "say" they're gonna do that, but they have no power, so your fear is a waste of energy.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 11:16 PM on October 17, 2009

The TSA funsters are clearly retarded, but geez, so is that woman. Her panic is ridiculous. What a victim.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 10:48 PM on October 16, 2009

As a badass motherfucking survivor of mental illness, listening to people whining about their "anxiety issues" just makes me smile. My "that's hilarious" smile. Because- quite often- I'm getting a very strong reading that tells me, "This person is full of shit , and all medication in the world won't help one little bit."

(I posted after beer and will now go away to enjoy my awesome sense of humor and blinding insights in a convivial... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 1:31 AM on October 17, 2009

If you can't control yourself when it comes to insane over-reactions to anything to do with your child, you're a parent- sure - but you are also a big shiny tool. Kids don't need vigilante-style protection, they need adults who have their act together.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 7:22 PM on October 17, 2009

HOW EMBARRASSMENT!
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 4:48 PM on October 15, 2009

This is why the world of science is so deeply fucked: conventional thinking- that purposely avoids any intersection with imagination- rules the roost.

This retarded approach- often called 'skepticism' by it's sports fans- is age-old control freak bullshit and is why we can't have anything nice.

This theory might be bullshit. So what? In the world of non-anal thinkers, bullshit is Fucking Useful.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 6:38 PM on October 14, 2009

"They gave one to Kissinger and another to that Dali Lama douchebag, so it's not like there isn't precedence."

Yes, Henry Kissinger and the Dalai Lama. They're like twins.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 7:44 PM on October 9, 2009

"Oh give me a break--there are countless numbers of serious critics of American culture and political policy with greater intellectual rigor and moral depth, not to mention contemporary relevance, than Gore Vidal."

Moral depth? What the hell is that? Contemporary relevance? Jesus Christ. So, this moral depth, it occurs in a very limited time frame of Popular Culture Now? Or what? (My mind is blown every time I see or hear 'moral' put in front of another word to... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 8:27 PM on October 7, 2009

That picture needs lots and lots of penises to make it really pop.
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 10:20 PM on October 6, 2009

"Nothing in China is unfiltered."

Agreed. I'd go further and say nothing anywhere is unfiltered, but it's just better to not have a journalist explaining to me what I can read with my own two eyes. I like that. :)
posted to MetaFilter by Gamien Boffenburg at 7:31 PM on October 4, 2009