How Chain-Yankers Hijack the National conversation

[riqster]

http://bluntandcranky.wordpress.com/2013/03/27/how-chain-yankers-hijack-the-national-conversation/

Snips: "There is a common tactic used by extremists and jackassess of all stripes who wish to dominate public discourse: the most polite term Mr. Blunt and Cranky can use is “Chain-Yanking”. Here’s one example: when it became the law for employers to provide preventative health care (including birth control) to covered employees at no cost (or reduced cost), on Rush Limbaugh called a Congressional witness a “slut” (and worse). The actual merits of the policy were not debated, because nearly everyone (having had their chain yanked) started yelling about the pundit’s sexism blahblahblahbittyblahblah. This suited the pundit and his cronies just fine, as they were in charge of the conversation and could subsequently control the message to suit themselves.

Mind, this writer does not support sexism in any form, at any time, in any way, shape or form. When sexism (or another ism) rears its ugly head, we should indeed whack-a-mole that head right down, and pound it down again whenever it pops up. We must, however, not lose sight of the point that is being obscured, often deliberately, by the chain-yanker du jour. And we must also call the chain-yankers out, especially when they claim that they are “just asking questions”."

"Yesterday, this writer got his chain well and truly yanked, much to his own chagrin. A sexist comment about men was posted, and he wound up swirling around the drain with everybody else, even to the extent of losing his temper and saying some unacceptable things. Apologies are hereby offered to everyone who was offended by those stupid, uncalled-for remarks.

No matter the topic or the political persuasion of the person talking, chain-yanking happens, and we can all get caught if we aren’t careful. Your humble correspondent will redouble his efforts to remain focused on important topics, and hopes all of us can just let the yankers flush themselves away, leaving the rest of America to get some s*** accomplished."

[ZRT2209]

1. Scalia

[riqster]

2. A good example

Sadly, one of several on the Court.

[olddots]

3. Words of wisdom

n/t

[ThoughtCriminal]

4. It hasn't been working out for them like it used to

The backlash from Limbaugh's "Slut" chain-yank did considerable damage to the right.

[riqster]

5. Would that the phenomenon were confined to the Right

Sadly, they exist everywhere.