I Hope Peter Robinson Is Happy
I'm a brand new Ricochet member. Just signed up. I've been lurking on the site, and listening to the flagship podcast (as well as the freebie previews) for months. It's not that I didn't want to join, or lacked the price of a grande latte at the flagship Starbucks in Seattle. It's not even that I didn't want to get some "skin in the game". I did want to join, I could probably afford at least two fancy coffees, and my skin is relatively open to being committed in some manner. However, I feared the ramifications of joining.
I can not count the number of interesting, engaging topic threads I've seen and wanted to weigh in on. And I'm definitely a "somebody is wrong on the Internet" type. And therein lies my fear. Now that I have the ability to comment, I fear for my ability to spend time with my wife and children, and for my productivity at work. Hopefully, I will resist my baser urges and this will be my last post. But if not, it's all Peter Robinson's fault.
They're threatening to take away the flagship Ricochet podcast for us irresponsible lurker types. And while Ricochet is loaded with smart, funny, and interesting people, Peter Robinson is my favorite. His thoughtful questions and insights, coupled with a disarmingly gentle manner, is unique in the political realm (to my knowledge). Uncommon Knowledge will still be around, but losing the podcast would leave a void in my week.
So Mr. Robinson, if you see me arguing some arcane point in a comment thread someday, I hope you can still sleep at night.
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Comments:
Dec '11
Re: I Hope Peter Robinson Is Happy
Welcome!!!
I hope you are using "last" in the same way Peter Robinson uses it in "last" question. What does "EvlMdnghtBmr" mean? I take it the first part is "Evil Midnight".
Edited on September 13, 2012 at 2:41amMar '11
Re: I Hope Peter Robinson Is Happy
Take it from a Ricochet veteran.
You, sir, are done for.
Mar '12
Re: I Hope Peter Robinson Is Happy
Welcome, and if it helps we will periodically remind you to go spend time with the family
Apr '12
Re: I Hope Peter Robinson Is Happy
But the good news is, people are so nice here that you don't often get in those riled-up, I-can't-sleep-because-I'm-thinking-about-my-rebuttal conversations. I know, because I get sucked into them on Facebook occasionally, but it doesn't often happen here. Ricochet is good for your blood pressure.
Dec '10
Re: I Hope Peter Robinson Is Happy
Welcome, EMB. You will learn to moderate... or you will assimilate. Yeah, it's probably too late for you. Bwahahahaha!
Jan '11
Re: I Hope Peter Robinson Is Happy
So how do you feel about gay marriage?
[Sound of multiple gunshots; KC flees for his safety ...]
Mar '11
Re: I Hope Peter Robinson Is Happy
How do you feel about feelings?!
Apr '12
Re: I Hope Peter Robinson Is Happy
Welcome. Peter Robinson is like the teacher who draws the discussion back to the source document. I like the deep foundation if theory that underpins Ricochet. You will spend too much time here!
Mar '11
Re: I Hope Peter Robinson Is Happy
Hope you've got a good pre-nup.
Just kidding, of course. Although it would also be a stretch to claim that this site has never caused any stress between me and my wife.
My suggestion is to let your wife - and your kids if they are old enough - read some of the content. It's a great way to get them exposed to good arguments and great argumentation at an early age.
Mar '11
Re: I Hope Peter Robinson Is Happy
Actually, the opposite holds for me. I can blow off silly, obnoxious, ad hominem attacks pretty easily - they're essentially an admission of intellectual bankruptcy. It's the well-crafted, well-informed ones that drive me nuts trying to formulate a worthy rebuttal.
Edited on September 13, 2012 at 4:28amJun '10
Re: I Hope Peter Robinson Is Happy
Welcome. I think you'll like it here. Enough controversy and well-reasoned arguments to keep the brain working, but more than enough goodness to make you care about other members.
Yes, Peter gets blamed for all sorts of things. He simply accepts it and makes you feel guilty for blaming him. The only time you really need to watch him closely is when he says, "one more question . . . ." That means he's closing in for the kill.
Dec '11
Re: I Hope Peter Robinson Is Happy
Mendel,
Well said!!!
Mendel
Actually, the opposite holds for me. I can blow off silly, obnoxious, ad hominem attacks pretty easily - they're essential and admission of intellectual bankruptcy. It's the well-crafted, well-informed ones that drive me nuts trying to formulate a worthy rebuttal. · 4 minutes ago
Mar '11
Re: I Hope Peter Robinson Is Happy
Welcome to the conversation EvlMdnghtBmr
Re: I Hope Peter Robinson Is Happy
Peter Robinson is happy. Very, very happy, EMB. Happy to have you with us--and happy to have your kind words, which I intend to print and show my teenagers, who do not, for some reason, quite share your view of their father's standing in this world.
Welcome to Ricochet!
Re: I Hope Peter Robinson Is Happy
Mendel
Actually, the opposite holds for me. I can blow off silly, obnoxious, ad hominem attacks pretty easily - they're essential and admission of intellectual bankruptcy. It's the well-crafted, well-informed ones that drive me nuts trying to formulate a worthy rebuttal. · 32 minutes ago
Same goes for me, Mendel. As Gore Vidal once said, "Injustice is easy to bear. It's justice that stings."
Feb '12
Re: I Hope Peter Robinson Is Happy
I'm the same way. I finally joined and posted for the first time, and then ... I had too much to do. I was afraid of getting embroiled in controversies. So for months I never posted, and rarely commented. But the podcasts were still worth the money.
Facebook, on the other hand, has been a timewaster for me because, strangely enough, I keep getting into substantive arguments with a reasonably smart, literate, liberal friend.
Mar '11
Re: I Hope Peter Robinson Is Happy
Welcome, EMB. Like you, I lurked for the longest time. It's well worth the money, though.
Apr '12
Re: I Hope Peter Robinson Is Happy
Ah, well! Peter and Mendel must be bigger men (in the unmarked sense, naturally) than I! Although I might need to distinguish. Good, well-crafted arguments may compel me to put my kids in the stroller and take a long walk so that I can pleasantly ponder my rebuttal. But good, well-crafted arguments wait politely by my pillow at night, so that I can come back to them in the morning with new vigor.
What keeps me awake at night is seeing the truth dragged through the mud with reckless abandon by a friend or loved one. The folly of anonymous strangers bothers me very little.
Sep '10
Re: I Hope Peter Robinson Is Happy
Bring it on.
May '11
Re: I Hope Peter Robinson Is Happy
Welcome EMB!
KC Mulville: So how do you feel about gay marriage?
[Sound of multiple gunshots; KC flees for his safety ...] · 2 hours ago
I for one would rather wish to learn what EMB thinks about the subject :)