This is a mobile optimized page that loads fast, if you want to load the real page, click this text.

Should the "Yes Men" be able to change the world?

Does anybody know what the record is? If anybody can break it I'm sure Some Dude will. He has already vanquished basilio on verbosity.

The irony being that I tried to not to be verbose in my initial post by addressing both points with one set of small text
 
I see it as a fundamental principle that people do have a right to express their views regardless of what they may be.

We do however have a democratically elected government to make laws on our behalf. Provided that a business, any business, is operating within those laws then those opposed to it have no moral right to inflict harm upon it. By all means voice your opinion, but if the business is legal then its' operations ought not be interfered with in any way.

My personal observation of the environmental movement is that there has been a sharp move toward "radical" measures since Bob Brown ceased to be Greens leader. That applies both within and outside the actual party.

I don't agree with many of the Greens' policies (though I agree with some). But that doesn't mean I'll be chaining myself to Christine Milne's car or putting out false press releases trying to shut them down. I won't blow up any engines or produce scary reports that just happen to forget that the hazard referred to exists with or without the development proposal in question either.

Those familiar with the term "jump the shark" will likely recognise these actions for what they are. With the rivers flowing free, the Tas forestry industry dead, the WA gas infrastructure relocated, renewable energy actually being built and a carbon tax introduced etc the party and the movement generally is desperate to remain relevant.

Being a Green right now is akin to being a union leader after the bosses just handed the workers everything they wanted. It's hard to remain relevant as an activist (for anything) when the issues you represent have all been resolved and everyone is happy with your supposed opponent.
 

+1,
well put, smurf
 
You were never,
ever,
eveerrrr
going to accept the validity of my criticism anyway!!!
It was placed solely for the benefit of other visitors to this thread whom are perfectly capable of making their own determination as to the validity (or lack thereof) of my statements.
(I'm a little surprised that you weren't already aware of this! I cannot help but wonder what other things you may have failed to notice!)

Some Dude said:
Again, I'm not really sure what you are inviting us to infer here? Perhaps you could be clearer by constructing an argument and utilise cliches less?

So you want clarity now!
I do wish you'd make up your mind!
My original post was very clear and cliche free!
Unfortunately, some dudes came along and made various lame attempts to distort, debunk and derail that post. Insertion of religious dogma, wiki quotes, and interpolation with other posters' comments were the techniques employed by the aforementioned dudes.


My previous comment refers.


What on earth (you are from earth, aren't you?) made you think that I was seeking your acceptance? Acceptance of the validity of my criticisms is the very last thing I'd expect from your kind. Whilst I like to believe myself highly capable, I am simply not a practitioner of magic!


No thanks!

Yet again, you've attempted to distort my assertions by insertion of your personal religious dogma! I am simply not interested in debating AGW mythology on this thread!


Didn't Wiki explain it to you? Did your google search also fail?
Well, that all goes to show, cyberspace really does have its limitiations!
Virtually anyone is permitted to insert entries into wiki, create webpages etc. Substantiating arguments that are heavily reliant on the accuracy of such potentially erroneous information is simply another exercise in foolhardiness. It would seem that some have achieved "Mastery" in these foolish arts.

Some Dude said:
BTW, thanks for nominating as being elite, cool! I'll add that to my curriculum vitae.

Future prospective employers will undoubtedly be overwhelmed by your modesty when perusing your cv.

Some Dude said:
...You will have to help me out here, I'm really not sure what you are inviting us to infer?...
...Again, I'm not really sure what you are inviting us to infer here?...

Us?... us??!
How many dudes am I debating here? Are you perchance just a Master Dude with a team of some dude proteges acting as delegates, performing your wiki research and drafting your responses?
 
How many dudes am I debating here? Are you perchance just a Master Dude with a team of some dude proteges acting as delegates, performing your wiki research and drafting your responses?

Just when I thought the Some Dude team was going to set a new record for number of posts in one day they suddenly choked at 24. Very odd.:shake:
 

I am beginning to understand your dilemma. How does one explicate a criticism that consists of your opinions about their education, research skills, linking to sources, and what you perceive as their negative personal attributes. In that situation, I can only imagine that you would have no other option but to appeal to others that you believe are like minded.


Do you mean I posed a dilemma that I believe would be an unintended consequence of the principle you outlined? If so, then yes I did. Are you able to address that point, for which I invite disagreement about, or are you content to simply leave it for those of us reading this thread?


Clarke's third law of prediction postulates that "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" but I assure you, I am a mere human with normal technology from this planet earth. While my dudely abilities to engage in a polite disagreement seeking an understanding about the nature of your objection may appear like magic to you, I believe that you are more than capable of engaging in a discussion about why you disagree with me if you wanted to.

No thanks!

Yet again, you've attempted to distort my assertions by insertion of your personal religious dogma! I am simply not interested in debating AGW mythology on this thread!

I'm not in any way seeking to debate the science behind AGW, or your perception of AGW as a religion, in this thread. I am asking you to consider whether there would be unintended consequences when the principle you outlined could potentially be applied to other issues, citing AGW as an example. If you believe that the example, or other issues, would not apply for some reason, then you could simply state why you believe they would not apply. I could respond and we would be engaged in a discussion. Magical!


Could you elaborate on this as I am not understanding the significance regarding why I would search google for your opinion, or the elaboration of said opinion? I did some searches regarding why some people get agitated towards educated people but when it comes to trying to engage you in a discussion about your opinion, who else am I going to ask but you?

As to your comment about wiki etc, the same can be said for people posting on forums but that doesn't automatically invalidate what they post. I will continue to post links and my sources for the readers benefit so that they can choose to read it, discuss it, disagree with it, or even ignore it if they find it objectionable

Us?... us??!
How many dudes am I debating here? Are you perchance just a Master Dude with a team of some dude proteges acting as delegates, performing your wiki research and drafting your responses?

It's always nice when the final point wraps neatly around to the opening point. To quote the great cynic:

It was placed solely for the benefit of other visitors to this thread whom are perfectly capable of making their own determination as to the validity (or lack thereof) of my statements.

I have always been aware that there is an us, the audience.
 
And what really fascinates me is how this poor thread got so totally and comprehensively hijacked from discussion on the Yes Men! (I don't think anyone to date has actually commented on any of their actions.)

Oh well backing to the drawing board.
 

Sorry about that bassillo.

Yes (no pun intended), anyone should be able to change the world, even with hoaxes but as I noted when pixel cited the example of the recent shock jocks prank call gone wrong, the consequences should not be considered inconsequential regardless of the perceived cause.

The ends do not necessarily justify the means and if those means result in significant damage to innocent parties then that is a problem.
 
Another one get's roasted!
(My, my you really have got it in for geese! I wonder what it was that those geese did to upset you so!)

Your ability to perceive the non existent is truly masterful.

Excerpts from two of my previous responses within this thread:

cynic said:
What on earth (you are from earth, aren't you?) made you think that I was seeking your acceptance? Acceptance of the validity of my criticisms is the very last thing I'd expect from your kind...

cynic said:
...Although based on what I can discern of your philosophy, I'm a little uncertain as to whether or not your agreeance is a good thing...



Been there! Done that! ... Still doing it! Hadn't you noticed?
The point has already been addressed in my previous posts. The bridge that needs building is now way behind schedule and long overdue!



You'll have to excuse me on this one because the dog ate the cheque and my homework's in the mail!
(You do believe me, don't you?)

If you believe that the example, or other issues, would not apply for some reason, then you could simply state why you believe they would not apply. I could respond and we would be engaged in a discussion. Magical!

Been there! Done that! ... Still doing it! Hadn't you noticed?



Some dudes walk with wiki, others walk on their own two legs. I fail to see how anything constructive can arise out of a wiki war. If I wanted to substantiate with wiki I would be perfectly capable of doing so, however, I fail to see anything productive arising from the overuse of wiki within the context of this or any other thread.

I prefer to hold discussions with those whom can reason for themselves. When I want wiki's opinion I'll look it up!

As you are already only too well aware, over dependence upon the use of wiki quotes, simply muddies the water and slows the pace of discussion. The target of the quotes usually becomes so overwhelmed by quote after quote (after quote ad nauseum) as to succumb to the "death by 1,000 wikis". Quite pointless really, because this practice only truly demonstrates ineptitude upon the part of the wiki abuser. The abuser then erroneously declares victory and fails to benefit from the direct confrontation with personal inadequacies that would otherwise have resulted.


I have always been aware that there is an us, the audience.


Really!
Have you not noticed what's actually happening here?
 

+1

See original cynic post for context in cynic's reply to Obfuscation Central.

gg
 


...Although based on what I can discern of your philosophy, I'm a little uncertain as to whether or not your agreeance is a good thing...

I have understood what your opinion of me is but that avoids the question I asked regarding the unintended consequences of the principle you outlined. Feel free to continue expressing your opinion about me but I will also keep trying to bring you back to that topic that I asked about.


You'll have to excuse me on this one because the dog ate the cheque and my homework's in the mail!
(You do believe me, don't you?)

Other than setting the context with a prop or example for an unintended consequence that I knew you would find objectionable, hence unintended consequence, can you excerpt where in this thread I have debated the veracity of AGW?

Again, for reference:


If you believe that "being dishonest" (my summary of your comment) is sufficient a response then feel free to leave it as such and I won't ask you for any further clarification.

If you believe that the example, or other issues, would not apply for some reason, then you could simply state why you believe they would not apply. I could respond and we would be engaged in a discussion. Magical!

Been there! Done that! ... Still doing it! Hadn't you noticed?

Would you excerpt from your previous posts a passage or passages that you believe adequately answers the question? I could not find where you elaborated on why you believed it would not apply with the obvious exceptions where you imply a variety of attributes regarding my "integrity, cohesion, impartiality, prejudice, hypocrisy, derailment and obfuscation". If that is an accurate summary then feel free to leave it as such and I won't ask you for any further clarification.


Thanks for explaining your objection.

I believe it is far more problematic when people do not cite the sources from which they formulated their opinions. Asserting opinions as fact with a limited way to follow up on how they were informed diminishes the readers ability to perform informed reasoning. If I want to be informed about a company before I invest in it, I don't just reason it for myself, I search and find information about that company and then apply my reasoning process before deciding whether to invest. By providing links, I am making it easier for people to follow up on the information I have utilised when formulating my opinion.

Have you not noticed what's actually happening here?

My impression is that we are having a discussion I'm certainly enjoying it and I hope you are also.
 
If I want to be informed about a company before I invest in it, I don't just reason it for myself, I search and find information about that company and then apply my reasoning process before deciding whether to invest.

Perhaps you could share your reasoning process and your successful selections with us . After all it is a Stock Forum.
 
+1

See original cynic post for context in cynic's reply to Obfuscation Central.

gg

As per usual, you're very much on the ball!

Congratulations on spotting it so promptly.

I was intending to string the superfluous entertainment along a little further, at least until it became apparent that a certain poster had actually caught on!

However, I think this one's already been thoroughly milked.

My preference is to not overtly state what I believe to be the actual outcome of this debate.

To those whom sincerely want to understand what was really happening in this debate:

I invite you to carefully read my original post within this thread and then note the way in which a certain poster repeatedly and unwittingly exemplified the behaviours aforesaid original post described.

Many thanks to Basilio for providing the arena, and many thanks to all other posters (particularly SD) for their participation.
 

Closing arguments

The original post is here.

The excerpts that particularly caught my eye was this:

The activists mentioned in this thread appear to be self deluded publicity seeking egomaniacs.


I encourage readers to go to the post and read it in full, don't just rely on my excerpts. The opinion appeared to be totally dependent on your perspective of the issue. To demonstrate such, I replaced whom the perceived "self deluded publicity seeking egomaniacs" were and substituted the ability to legally apply the principle outlined.

Here is my post outlining that in brief.


I encourage readers to go to the post and read it in full, don't just rely on my excerpts. There was some confusion because I genuinely believe that both pixel and cynic made some interesting points but I also believe they made some points that I found problematic. I combined them utilising the same counter example but that was eventually separated. The excerpts I have selected were the ones made specifically relevant to cynic's post.

Note the difference in application. If said scenario, and it can be demonstrated in a court of law, then how would the principle outlined not be applied to "self deluded publicity seeking egomaniacs" who oppose AGW. Basilo picked up on it first with his post noting the principle in a tyrannic state i.e. Soviet Union. However, I also agree with cynic in that I believe this was an invalid example of said application. I believe the counter example is an application that I believe is relevant to both the thread topic and cynic's post.

Jonathan Dyles hoax with Whitehaven Coal raises the question of how far should citizens go in challenging what they see as corrupt or illegal behaviors particularly by business interests.
i.e. "save the planet from industrial tyranny"

I chose that example because I believe it would be applicable to the public figures most people on this forum support and thus potentially an unintended consequence i.e. the public figures, or "activists", often considered by the climate scientific community as self deluded or dishonest publicity seeking egomaniacs.

I further encourage people to read the remaining posts. In seeking discussion about cynic's original opinion consider the following which cynic agrees with:

See original cynic post for context in cynic's reply to Obfuscation Central.


Education, linking, wiki, opinions about my attributes, and advocating AGW science and were not topics that I raised.

Thank you for everyone's time. Cynic, you can have the last word about this particular point if you wish and I look forward to our next discussion
 
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more...