OMG, Watch Kerry Shirts kiss Dan's ass at the Fair conf..

[_Jersey Girl]

Porter,

Why OCD? What makes you think that?

[_Daniel Peterson]

You seem quite congenial in real life (video to me). There seems to be a striking distinction between your real life persona and your online MO.

There isn't, really. I just refuse to use smiley faces.

by the way, do you really care what Scratch says about you?

On one level, no. I have no hope of ever having his good opinion, and I don't see much merit in what he says about me.

On another level, yes I do. I'm concerned that others might credit his accusations.

He accuses me of very serious offenses. He claims, for example, that I've orchestrated and led smear campaigns to destroy people's careers and lives (e.g., in the case of Mike Quinn). He's portrayed me as a liar and an anti-Semite. And so forth.

These are really, really serious charges. I would be deeply ashamed to be guilty of any of them, let alone of all of them.

An anti-Semite? My father was part of the initial unit of the 11th Armored Division that liberated the Nazi concentration camp at Mauthausen, and I grew up with the photo-documentation of Nazi war crimes there that he himself put together, and with his accounts of the horror of the place (which I've visited at least six or seven times now). I don't take being termed an anti-Semite lightly. It's not a joke with me. Not even close.

I'm concerned enough about my reputation that I simply won't let such grotesque and gross public accusations go uncontradicted.

Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls.
Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing;
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him,
And makes me poor indeed.
[Othello III.3.155–161]

for what it's worth, I didn't think you looked as fat as you suggested (really).

Aw shucks. Thanks. Have a doughnut.

[_Some Schmo]

See, unlike you Dan, I don't like to beat around the bush. If I think your argument is stupid, I'll just say it. Why waste time with unclear, disingenuous communication?

And yes, I agree with Yong Xi; you certainly do seem nicer in that video than you do online. You almost seem reasonable.

So clearly, your writing needs work... unless you intentionally want to be misunderstood by so many people.

[_Mister Scratch]

by the way, do you really care what Scratch says about you?

On one level, no. I have no hope of ever having his good opinion, and I don't see much merit in what he says about me.

On another level, yes I do. I'm concerned that others might credit his accusations.

He accuses me of very serious offenses. He claims, for example, that I've orchestrated and led smear campaigns to destroy people's careers and lives (e.g., in the case of Mike Quinn).

I don't believe I have ever used the word "orchestrated" to characterize the role you played in damaging Mike Quinn's reputation. But, the fact remains: the gossip you spread about him on the FAIR/MAD boards, and the articles you allowed to be published in the FARMS Review constitute some pretty appalling attacks on his character. You can claim all you want that you never gossiped about him, but nobody believes you.

He's portrayed me as a liar and an anti-Semite. And so forth.

This is partly false. On the one hand, you certainly *did* like via your "FreeThinker" alias. That is, you deliberately deceived people. Later, you admitted that deceiving people in this way was "ethically problematic," which is why you abandoned the sockpuppet.

Finally, I'm pretty certain I never said, "You are an anti-Semite." On the contrary, I noted that your comments on that Jewish blog seemed "anti-Semitic." Surely you can tell the difference. Consider it "getting a bad review", just like saying, "Quinn is a bad historian," except, of course, that *I* limited my critique to behavior and writings, rather than character.

These are really, really serious charges. I would be deeply ashamed to be guilty of any of them, let alone of all of them.

Well, then, let the shame begin.

[_Daniel Peterson]

I don't believe I have ever used the word "orchestrated" to characterize the role you played in damaging Mike Quinn's reputation.

A distinction without a difference.

You can claim all you want that you never gossiped about him, but nobody believes you.

My wife does.

And, since only one particular affirmative is required to overturn a universal negative, my job is done: You're wrong.

Finally, I'm pretty certain I never said, "You are an anti-Semite." On the contrary, I noted that your comments on that Jewish blog seemed "anti-Semitic."

My my. We're certainly gentle now, aren't we?

Well, then, let the shame begin.

You would love that, wouldn't you? I'll bet the sheer prospect sends goosebumps of quivering pleasure up and down your spine.

But sorry. No can do. I won't plead guilty to fictional offenses just to give you the bizarre gratification that you seem to crave.

[_Hally McIlrath]

Incidentally, Professor Peterson, you should really get one of those tweed jackets and a bow tie, and that hat like Sean Connery wore in the Indy Jones movie...

See? I TOLD you:



(With thanks to "Universal Architect.")

[_Jersey Girl]

Hally,

I like the other hat better. Can you do a post with that hat?

I think it's really the bow tie that I don't like.

Or maybe it's because his head is turned the wrong way.

[_Mister Scratch]

I don't believe I have ever used the word "orchestrated" to characterize the role you played in damaging Mike Quinn's reputation.

A distinction without a difference.

You can claim all you want that you never gossiped about him, but nobody believes you.

My wife does.

Really? What is her posting handle? Do you really discuss the goings-on of this board and other boards with your wife?

Well, then, let the shame begin.

You would love that, wouldn't you? I'll bet the sheer prospect sends goosebumps of quivering pleasure up and down your spine.

But sorry. No can do. I won't plead guilty to fictional offenses just to give you the bizarre gratification that you seem to crave.

Yes, if you were to apologize, I *would* love it. It would be totally without precedent in the entire history of online Mopologetics, and it would completely alter my impression of you.

[_Hally McIlrath]

Hally,

I like the other hat better. Can you do a post with that hat?

I think it's really the bow tie that I don't like.

Or maybe it's because his head is turned the wrong way.

Well, you know, uh, it's just sort of a rough approximation....(blush) The truth is, I don't know the first thing about Photoshop, and someone else did it for me. :)

P.S: You don't like bow ties...?

[_Jersey Girl]

Hally,

I like the other hat better. Can you do a post with that hat?

I think it's really the bow tie that I don't like.

Or maybe it's because his head is turned the wrong way.

Well, you know, uh, it's just sort of a rough approximation....(blush) The truth is, I don't know the first thing about Photoshop, and someone else did it for me. :)

P.S: You don't like bow ties...?

I dunno, Hally. I think Daniel could definitely pull off a bow tie, but it doesn't seem very striking in the photo.

Then again, my reaction could be to the simple fact that you had the audacity to cover Sean Connery's image.

:-)