tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post7999937334743520063..comments2024-03-28T21:16:08.117+00:00Comments on SCOT goes POP!: My response to the KBFCJames Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-37363646079940489022010-11-12T04:59:36.377+00:002010-11-12T04:59:36.377+00:00This is hilarious. You're totally oblivious t...This is hilarious. You're totally oblivious to the fact that you're busily destroying the whole basis of your own side's argument. You claim that the idea that the American government would use WMDs against its own people - who you don't and can't deny would be helpless if they did - as an obvious straw man. Why? Presumably because it's laughable, and the image of American citizens having to rely on pocket nuclear and biological weapons as a 'deterrent' against their own government is silly beyond words.<br /><br />I agree with you. It is silly.<br /><br />Which should finally give you a glimmer of understanding of why most Britons react in the way they do when you earnestly invite us to believe that we are a "helpless" people simply because we don't arm ourselves to the teeth with guns on the off-chance that our democratic government might turn into a fascist dictatorship while we're not looking.<br /><br />I've expanded considerably on my thoughts on Mr Whittle's rather eccentric views <a href="http://scotgoespop.blogspot.com/2010/11/we-live-in-free-world-i-whittle-down.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>.James Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-34581254382987287182010-11-11T20:07:27.628+00:002010-11-11T20:07:27.628+00:00On the contrary: I understood it completely. The R...On the contrary: I understood it completely. The Romanians had little or no access to private arms. The correlation of forces there is effectively what it is here in all important respects.<br /><br />Is it your contention that the U.S. government would use WMD within its own borders against its own tax batteries? I call that a straw man strapped to a Saturn V and shot to the moon, but just for the heck of it, let's pretend it isn't. If <i>you</i> had such a government, what would you seek to do about it?<br /><br />That's a rhetorical question, by the way. I know exactly what you'd do. It's what you do every day: go on trying to convince yourself you're "safe" because your fellow citizens are disarmed, while whistling past the graveyard erected by the sociopaths with flags, badges, and WMD.Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780425923108876647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-52982551520548296592010-11-11T16:32:31.039+00:002010-11-11T16:32:31.039+00:00Oh dear, Ken. You really didn't understand wha...Oh dear, Ken. You really didn't understand what I was talking about, did you? Communist Romania didn't have weapons of mass destruction at its disposal in 1989, let alone the will to use them.James Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-56718453498026618902010-11-11T01:26:23.504+00:002010-11-11T01:26:23.504+00:00...how the hell does the Second Amendment's ri...<i>...how the hell does the Second Amendment's right to own puny firearms even begin to protect the citizenry against a government that has at its disposal weapons of the most unimaginable power, up to and including nuclear weapons?</i><br /><br />Indeed. I recall to this day the horror as it unfolded on our television screens: the brave but feckless and underarmed Romanians shot like partridges, corpses lined up in windrows under the muzzles of the implacable state. I think it's a little unseemly of the Ceauşescus to commemorate it with an annual parade, though.Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780425923108876647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-76311471819511178212010-11-10T00:39:16.708+00:002010-11-10T00:39:16.708+00:00Well, that's 8 minutes and 21 seconds of my li...Well, that's 8 minutes and 21 seconds of my life that I'll never get back.<br /><br /><i>"have you ever wondered why the people who really enjoy telling others what to do and how to live, those fun-loving intellectual elites, seem to be so in love with totalitarian states where people are unarmed, and where survival is utterly dependent on some of the worst people in the world"</i><br /><br />Is he talking about the likes of David Cameron? If so, while I'm not exactly the UK government's biggest fan, I think 'totalitarianism' may be getting a slightly bad rap. On the other hand, if this chap is really asking his viewers why 'the liberal elite' are so in love with leaders like Hitler, Pol Pot and Stalin, then the phrase "straw man argument on stilts" springs to mind.<br /><br />Incidentally, he also glosses over the blatant contradiction that seemingly no-one can answer - how the hell does the Second Amendment's right to own puny firearms even begin to protect the citizenry against a government that has at its disposal weapons of the most unimaginable power, up to and including nuclear weapons? Safety from the government by means of physical defence is an illusion. What you're actually reliant on in the US is democratic safeguards - every bit as much (arguably more) than we are in the "unarmed, helpless" UK.James Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-9367056170272644012010-11-09T22:40:18.712+00:002010-11-09T22:40:18.712+00:00http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRAw3VWVyD8&fea...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRAw3VWVyD8&feature=player_embedded <br /><br />Probably one of the better arguments for this issue I've heard..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-60234670671932557932010-06-30T20:23:15.887+01:002010-06-30T20:23:15.887+01:00The only "issue" I'm having with you...The only "issue" I'm having with you is that it's impossible to meaningfully respond to someone who leaves a million comments that never actually say anything. Two weeks on and you still pop up again for yet more of this pointless behaviour.James Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-58254547637820182972010-06-30T19:53:53.969+01:002010-06-30T19:53:53.969+01:00James - You're still having issues with the si...James - You're still having issues with the simple questions posed to you.<br /><br />They really aren't that hard, but your inability to answer them says much about the weakness of your positions.Mike W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03425962910696301026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-24933207188050173312010-06-14T23:12:23.440+01:002010-06-14T23:12:23.440+01:00Mike, do you want to stop and have a think about j...Mike, do you want to stop and have a think about just how stupid a "criticism" that is? You've been spraying comments all over the place randomly, on literally about ten different threads. No-one in their right mind would try to keep up with them all, even if they were making much logical sense.James Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-129439529995465542010-06-14T20:45:04.023+01:002010-06-14T20:45:04.023+01:00It would appear James has now abandoned the discus...It would appear James has now abandoned the discussion on virtually all of his posts.<br /><br />And thus, he has completed the final stage of "sad but predictable"Mike W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03425962910696301026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-82884707566266579062010-06-11T19:13:35.384+01:002010-06-11T19:13:35.384+01:00or indeed to insist that easing those restrictions...<i>or indeed to insist that easing those restrictions would somehow make things...better. </i><br /><br />Do you have some evidence to suggest that increasing individual freedom will somehow make things... worse?<br /><br />We're easing restrictions here in the States and things are getting better. Perhaps you've forgotten why (and how) we threw off British rule. You forget that the Scots and Irish did the same to the Brits, and like us privately held arms played a role in their gaining independence.Mike W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03425962910696301026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-10451724338639725392010-06-11T18:02:22.416+01:002010-06-11T18:02:22.416+01:00Care to explain (logically please) how carrying a ...<i>Care to explain (logically please) how carrying a knife, gun or other object "endangers fellow citizens?"<br /><br />Do you actually believe that my gun, knife, etc. can jump out on it's own and kill, or compel me to engage in predatory violence against my will?</i><br /><br />Simple questions James. Let's see if you can provide rational answers.Mike W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03425962910696301026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-10687785630052853242010-06-11T18:00:14.303+01:002010-06-11T18:00:14.303+01:00Who said anything about "gun crime." I ...Who said anything about "gun crime." I thought we were talking about violent crime in general?<br /><br />Unless of course you think only "gun crime" counts. I mean who cares if someone is robbed, raped, murdered, carjacked etc. as long as the assailant doesn't use a gun that's fine right?<br /><br />Of course I've already shown you data showing that only 1.2% of murders in the UK were committed with firearms.<br /><br />BTW - Easing those restrictions has demonstratably made things better in the U.S. Perhaps you folks across the pond just can't handle freedom.Mike W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03425962910696301026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-10880268634520813612010-06-11T16:22:39.463+01:002010-06-11T16:22:39.463+01:00There can hardly be a more outsatnding example of ...There can hardly be a more outsatnding example of 'wild guessing' and 'blind faith' than to suggest that the UK's massively lower gun crime rate than the USA's has got nothing at all to do with our gun restrictions, or indeed to insist that easing those restrictions would somehow make things...<b>better</b>.James Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-8800387079042454212010-06-11T14:58:10.243+01:002010-06-11T14:58:10.243+01:00My guess would be that there's a saturation po...<i>My guess would be that there's a saturation point beyond which having even more guns around can't really make matters much worse. And, yes, I do say guess.</i><br /><br />Why should your position be considered credible if you openly admit that the crap you peddle here is nothing more than wild guessing, "shots in the dark" if you will?<br /><br />Someone like yourself who resorts to guessing and cannot back up his positions should not be considered credible.Mike W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03425962910696301026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-79381095744685478692010-06-11T06:39:03.852+01:002010-06-11T06:39:03.852+01:00Why not? Because they can't be guaranteed in ...Why not? Because they can't be guaranteed in every case? That's as silly as saying the 'right to life' is meaningless because people regularly die of natural causes, accidents and homicide - it doesn't mean to say the state shouldn't protect people's lives as much as practicably possible.James Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-25426778463831173462010-06-11T06:22:36.725+01:002010-06-11T06:22:36.725+01:00the unlimited right to amass tools for the purpose...<i> the unlimited right to amass tools for the purposes of self-defence, and b) the right not to be attacked, and perhaps even more importantly, not to have to live in constant fear of being attacked by fellow citizens.</i><br /><br />The "right" not to be attacked is not a right. Likewise, "freedom from fear" is not a right, nor could it logically ever be a right.Mike W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03425962910696301026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-1837739745306784332010-06-11T04:18:17.117+01:002010-06-11T04:18:17.117+01:00Mike, you really should set up in business as a sp...Mike, you really should set up in business as a spiritual development coach. (You might have to keep your prices fairly low...)James Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-38308226458079989002010-06-11T04:03:01.310+01:002010-06-11T04:03:01.310+01:00Supposedly?
You have, as a matter of actual fact,...Supposedly?<br /><br />You have, as a matter of actual fact, not commented on what I cited from that article. In fact, you fail to provide rational responses to much of anything.<br /><br />Just saying "Yes I did" or "I believe this to be so" does not make it so. It would do you good to learn this.Mike W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03425962910696301026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-56525518701884772212010-06-11T02:00:53.607+01:002010-06-11T02:00:53.607+01:00"Linoge. He will not click on your links, jus...<i>"Linoge. He will not click on your links, just as he will not click on mine. He cannot allow himself to acknowledge said facts."</i><br /><br />You've gone on and on about this link that I supposedly didn't click/comment on - was it the Washington Times article? If so, I not only clicked on it, I read it, and I then commented on it. Incidentally, that article read more as a political manifesto rather than a proper journalistic analysis.James Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-68042038814019636682010-06-10T20:05:05.337+01:002010-06-10T20:05:05.337+01:00But, as with all facts, I will not hold my breath ...<i>But, as with all facts, I will not hold my breath waiting for James here to acknowledge them. </i><br /><br />Linoge. He will not click on your links, just as he will not click on mine. He cannot allow himself to acknowledge said facts. <br /><br />Remember, as I said in a previous post regarding the Sad but Predictable mentality of anti-gunners like Mr. Kelly,<br /><br /><i>They live in a world ruled by their feelings. In such a world facts don't matter, reason succumbs to emotional outbursts, and logic is in short supply.</i><br /><br />....<br /><br />"<i>admitting he's got nothing would be far too emotionally damaging. For him it's more than just a basic logical, reasoned argument with facts, points, and counterpoints. He has to attempt to argue a factually indefensible position without tying himself in an emotional knot. Deep down he knows it's indefensible, which is why the progression of the discussion leads to evasion, projection, and self-inflating puffery via childish attacks on his dissenters. Such tactics, and then eventually running away from the discussion altogether are unavoidable given the mental gymnastics necessitated by his positions.</i><br /><br />We are seeing the mental gymnastics, the evasion, obfuscation, puffery and projection from Mr. Kelly all over this blog and at Kevin's. He has no choice, since his ideology backs him into a corner.<br /><br />In short, Mr. Kelly cannot allow his emotionally based positions to crumble by admitting he's wrong and acknowledging facts & objective truths.Mike W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03425962910696301026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-75027989167075211032010-06-10T17:56:31.003+01:002010-06-10T17:56:31.003+01:00Now, what "the heck" was Ed saying about...Now, what "the heck" was Ed saying about projection?James Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-54118462048208450112010-06-10T17:32:24.535+01:002010-06-10T17:32:24.535+01:00Still ignoring the parts of my comments containing...Still ignoring the parts of my comments containing inconvenient questions and evidence that disproves your beliefs.<br /><br />Is that how it works in your reality Mr. Kelly? If you ignore it, does it cease to exist?Mike W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03425962910696301026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-50140839133389446622010-06-10T17:25:22.095+01:002010-06-10T17:25:22.095+01:00And yes, I do own a passport and I've been to ...<i>And yes, I do own a passport and I've been to London. Amazingly I was there for a week and saw sunshine the entire time.</i><br /><br />In that case, I hope you weren't 'rationally' carrying your knife around with you, otherwise you were not only putting people in danger, you were committing a criminal offence.<br /><br /><i>"Out of curiosity, do you have any personal exposure to guns, CCW holders, or law-abiding gun owners, or do you make your claims from a position of ignorance on the entire subject of guns?"</i><br /><br />I have a number of American relatives, many of whom hold the same views that you do. And yes, I've visited them, but as you can imagine I didn't ask to admire their weaponry. Probably the biggest concentration of weapons I've seen was right here in the UK - by the security forces patrolling the streets in Northern Ireland. And I also know the town of Dunblane very well. So no, this is not an alien subject to me, although I'm very glad it's become more alien in recent years.James Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-25594197205177723972010-06-10T17:14:39.017+01:002010-06-10T17:14:39.017+01:00Out of curiosity, do you have any personal exposur...Out of curiosity, do you have any personal exposure to guns, CCW holders, or law-abiding gun owners, or do you make your claims from a position of ignorance on the entire subject of guns?<br /><br />If carrying those items is so dangerous than I'm shocked that there wasn't a huge bloodbath at the last two NRA conventions I attended. Tens of thousands of Americans in close proximity, the vast majority of whom were carrying a gun, a knife, or both. Depsite this, there was not a single incident. Not one. Oh, and the crime rate in charlotte dropped while all those gun & knife toters were around.<br /><br />http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/05/19/1444226/events-last-week-attracted-85000.htmlMike W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03425962910696301026noreply@blogger.com