draculina

The tree falling down isn’t a spur for weak jokes by people trying to stop all serious discussion..

Trump has given the go-ahead for environmental damage in a multutude of dangerous ways, including allowing offshore drilling in nearly all US waters. This is the largest expansion of offshore oil and gas leasing to big companies ever proposed. This…[Read more]

Linda,

Trump is starting a trade war. He says that trade wars are good. Tht’s because it’s the only language he understands. He says the US will always win trade wars, because they’re so strong.

But nobody wins trade wars.

If it’s bluster, we’ll soon see, but he’s getting a reputation for unpredictability and bullying. Policy is being run by…[Read more]

The last time I gave hugs friendly advice to lay off on the Dixon of Dock Green bit, I was told that I was leading the pack against a decent man.

So

Hugs

give it a rest.

But you won’t, coz you lurve the attention hey?

I certainly don’t see anything wrong with a sharp argument.

You can give as good as you get, ms M, but like QE/rudeboy (who has a very coarse sense of humour) you do put forward arguments which stand or fall as arguments.

Except when you talk about religion

No, Ms Mooosey.

You are not the person I had in mind.

I’m keeping it impersonal, as mentioning a name would merely set loose another torrent of personal abuse.

I thought gobbing meant something else.

Doesn’t matter. The whole point of slang is to make a word that sounds what it describes.

Gopping sounds what it describes, and is wider than…[Read more]

Gopping is what it sounds like.

In this context, it’s putting your hand in your mouth and

gop

out comes vomit/phlegm/anything ugly/disgusting.

It’s an effective way of flaming people and destroying argument.

In this context.

I could quote from a recent discussion, but it may lead to more gopping.

another one is when someone tells you, “you’re always depressed, you enjoy it really”.

There is that difference, but arguing and debating can mean the same things.

There is the reasoned debate of the polite salons, but often such discussion can be soporific.

But there is also polemical debate, where the cut and thrust of argument is sharp and the issues clarified. Movement forward can often take place as a result o this…[Read more]

Yes, it was the Lake District.

The lakes is more than pretty tarns and quaint towns.

Crossed the Wrynose pass, and then the Hardknott Pass, while it was raining.

Two of the most stressful roads in England. Nerve-wracking at times.

Hello, Jen..

one of my favourite chatters..

I like a discussion, and a discussion involves argument.

We all have differences, and sometimes these differences need to be argued out.

but whether it’s men or women, you can’t totally separate discussion from ego, and tempers can fray in any of us. I’ve seen that with everybody who posts here.

There is a strong tendency to gopping on somebody…[Read more]

Yeah, of course I remember you, Linda.

I hope you’re well too x

I’m fine after a weekend in the Lakes driving over dangerous passes, not much of a suntan, q.

Hi Jen.

long time no chat.

Hope you remember me?

x

perplexed and overwhelmed? lol. Ain’t we all if we’re honest?

I would answer your fatalistic analysis of human nature but within a couple of hours I’m offline for several days. Morgan, I suggest that you read Kropotkin’s Mutual Aid,the book which inspired Chomsky’s view of human beings. I apologise for not being able to say much more at the…[Read more]

Jamie,

I’ve been a fan of Chomsky since my early 20s, when I read a book of his called American Power and the New Mandarins. He’s never just followed the pack.

He’s a linguistic philosopher, and I once tried reading a book on the revolution he led in linguistics, but i couldn’t make head or tail of it then, and I don’t think I’sd be able to make…[Read more]