That'd be Reader Participation Requested. I'm in a time crunch & I'm trying to get something else finished but there's something that should be addressed.
Strawman responded to my posted critique of his comments over at miss Annika's. I probably will get around to posting my thoughts on his most recent statement, but as I said I've got something else I'm working on at the moment that takes priority. While he is addressing me I think he would feel the same about most of, if not all of, my readers (well except for th elong winded bastard part which I'll readily own up to). So what I'm going to ask of you is to take, in whole or in part, Strawman's comments & discuss them. So if you have a minute post your thoughts on his assertions. I'll post his comment unaltered in the extended entry.
"Pub,
You spoke the truth when you said you were long a winded bastard.
I think we can reduce our positions to one simple concept-FEAR. I am too tired to debate the law.
You choose to live your life in fear and I don't. You find guns to be an antidote to that fear and I find guns to be a symptom of your pathology.
I know my check casher friend got shot because he carried a gun and you see the man who shot him as a "bad guy" who wanted to shoot him anyway as well as rob him. I know he (the robber) was a bad guy but my understanding of human nature, as little as you may think of it, tells me people rob for money and do not think life in prison is a chance they want to take for it. The "crazy" killers are another story e.g. our recent BLT fellow. No robbery, only their illness. The statistics tell me I will be far more likely to die in a car crash then of a gun shot. (a gun is not a seatbelt, so don’t tell me that since I buckle I should carry)
You seem to me to be a terribly fearful fellow who finds in gun culture and fantasies of protection and preparedness the antidote to your fears. So be it Pub. I don’t think the fear is real and that your fantasies will ever make you feel safe. A life of fear is your choice; I choose differently.
I have lived in a violent city, Brooklyn, for 30 years and have, I think, seen far more of it (violence) than you have, I am not afraid and would find a gun on my hip or in my glove compartment to be the furthest thing from security. To the contrary, in fact, it would cause all situations that threatened me to become lethal. You will answer “what’s wrong with killing a guy who is threatening you with unimaginable harm?” And I have no answer that will get through your fear.
Thanks for the exchange.
Posted by: strawman at August 31, 2005 07:53 PM "
I gave up trying to debate with people a long time ago, especially people who say things like, "You choose to live your life in fear...[and]...guns [are] a symptom of your pathology. You seem to me to be a terribly fearful fellow who finds in gun culture and fantasies of protection and preparedness the antidote to your fears."
Well, thanks for the diagnosis, Dr. Freud. Tell me something: why does every single policeman carry a gun? Is it because they're afraid? Keep in mind that every year quite a few police officers are killed by shots fired from their own weapons. So why would a cop WANT to carry a gun, since it's a danger to him, and, according to you, useless for "security?"
What's the cop's gun for? Is it to shoot fleeing suspects? Is it to shoot the guns out of the bad guy's hands, like in Cowboy movies?
Or is it that sometimes the only way to save your life or somebody else's life is to use sudden, lethal force against the threat?
I think it's a waste of time to answer this fellow, because he's not listening. But maybe there's a spectator who might be persuaded.
Posted by: Thibodeaux at September 1, 2005 09:30 AMThibodeaux,
I'm listening. I understand why cops carry guns:to protect their lives since they are paid to stick there noses into all manner of civil disturbance and law breaking. Most of the time they get it right and their guns are not needed, sometimes they get it right and their guns are needed. I don't see why you would think I have a problem with the police carring guns. I have a problem with you carring a gun.
Maybe you saw this film on Public television:
http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2004/everymothersson/
A study of three occasions when the police didn't get it quite right and three innocent people died. The police, who are pretty well trained, get it wrong plenty of times. I think the more citizens carrying guns the number of bad outcomes will skyrocket.
You have a problem with my carrying a gun? But why? You're...you're not AFRAID, are you?
Posted by: Thibodeaux at September 2, 2005 05:41 PMWhy deal with this strawman character as if he made a serious point? Because he didn't. This 'you must be so AFRAID if you carry' idea is a cheap and nasty attempt at manipulation. Strawman knows he can't win the argument by using reason or logic, so he resorts to a bizarre form of emotional blackmail. You carry a gun...you 'live in fear'...you do not meet with his approval. And you should.
He seems to have quite an abusive personality, as do all gun-hate nuts who use this ploy. Methinks they just like attacking people's confidence (whether their attacks are successful or not).
Posted by: The Happy Rampager at September 6, 2005 12:11 AMStrawman: "The police, who are pretty well trained, get it wrong plenty of times. I think the more citizens carrying guns the number of bad outcomes will skyrocket."
If you do a little research, you will find that Law Enforcement gets it "wrong" more times than non-law enforcement citizens; this is in spite of the fact that law enforcement officers are conciderably out numbered by non-law enforcement fire arm users/owners.
Posted by: Bob at September 11, 2005 04:56 PM