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August 19, 2007
Anonymous allegations of nonexistent threats
As I've said before, Clayton Cramer has always been a gentleman with me (despite disagreements going back to the very inception of this blog), and I have endeavored to do the same. It seems silly to have to point this out, but Cramer has never threatened me in any way, nor is he the type of person who would utter anything remotely resembling a threat. The idea is laughable. The problem is, I'm not laughing. While I hope it doesn't represent the future of the blogosphere, (because I think it's pretty pathetic) the fact is that an anonymous blogger named "BinkyBoy" has claimed that Clayton Cramer is threatening him. With guns! The blogger, BinkyBoy, began with an implicit accusation wrapped inside what appears to be a demand that Cramer stop threatening him: ....don't threaten me with guns. No matter how big of a gun you buy your penis will never grow, Clayton.I think that's not only a cheap shot, it borders on out-and-out paranoia, for this man does not even know Cramer, and does not point to any threat anywhere. There is no basis whatsoever for the claim of any "threat" -- which seems to be grounded in nothing other than the obvious fact that Cramer has guns and supports the Second Amendment! By this standard, I am threatening anyone who reads this blog, as is anyone else who supports the Second Amendment, belongs to the NRA, or owns a gun. And by the same logic, Glenn Reynolds is threatening everyone with knives! I would consider this non-logic a source of humor (as a matter of fact, I did consider it humor just a few days ago when I accused Glenn of plotting a "Knight of the Long Knives" coup), because it it's silly. But here I am, being forced to address in a serious manner a form of nonsense that struck me as hilarious just a few days ago. Sorry, but I can't. Life is too short. Besides, I'm already worried about Glenn's knife collection, and now I have to worry the guns of Cramer. Hmmm. And probably the penis of BinkyBoy. Well? After all, he does have one -- even if it's an "anonymous penis." Should I feel threatened? Listen BinkyBoy, don't you threaten me with your penis! Just as I've stood my ground against the knives and guns of Glenn Reynolds and Clayton Cramer, I'm not scared of you and your Idaho schlong! (I suppose if I had kids I could also gratuitously interject "don't threaten my children!") My apologies for the crudity and infantilism of the comparison, but it's about the level of the logic of BinkyBoy, and like it or not, such logic passes for "dialogue" in some circles. Is it just comedy? Might I be missing BinkyBoy's subtle humor and clever wit? I don't think so, because after having scolded Cramer for the imaginary threat, BinkyBoy escalated. He now sees Cramer as being somehow connected to anonymous unverified videos posted by David Neiwert purporting to show angry "Minutemen" threatening to shoot -- and actually shooting -- border crossers. Reacting to these videos (at least one of which has been shown to be a hoax), BinkyBoy sees Cramer as not only morally culpable, but poised to threaten him "again": right wing xenophobes that peddle in hate speech, others are about to reap from what you have sown.Obviously, he considers Cramer's mere existence an ongoing threat. Does he really think this, or is it political hyperbole? I can't be sure, but if this is serious, I think it's an example of what can happen when anonymity mixes with hyperbole. As I keep pointing out, we all have an unfortunate human tendency to engage in hyperbole, especially in politics. I try to keep mine under control, but I am human. My identity is public, though, and I think that tends to restrain me a bit more than if I hid behind an anonymous blog. An anonymous blogger could be anyone at all, anywhere in the world, and there is absolutely nothing to restrain such a person. (Not even the threat of loss of credibility, because if you burn one blog, burn one identity, you can just shut it down and start it up again somewhere else.) As I said, I think hyperbole is addictive, because it is fueled by emotion and adrenaline and in return fuels more, and creates the need for more. (That is why hyperbole tends to be self-escalating.) When compounded by anonymity, the process is fueled further, and it explains why anonymous commenters are generally the ones who become the most unhinged, and the same is true with anonymous bloggers. Not that I would censor either, but I do think that, just as a signed document from a known individual has more credibility than an anonymous writing on a piece of paper, it's fair to take a known blogger or commenter more seriously than an anonymous one. I say this not to dwell on "BinkyBoy" (who is as replaceable as a cotter pin), but to comment on a general phenomenon. I noticed that another blogger who disagrees with Cramer, Snowflakes in Hell, has also come to his defense: I may have my disagreements with Clayton on a lot of social issues, but if this is what passes for reasoned discourse among Idaho progressives, no wonder it's a Republican dominated state. I sincerely hope this site isn't run by grown adults.There's no way to know. Whether they are grown adults, or for that matter whether they are Idaho progressives. They could be socialists in Belgium. Or clever right wing agents provocateur pretending to be leftists. To the above, Cramer left this comment: There are days that I wonder if BinkyBoy even lives in Idaho-where gun ownership is the norm, not the exception.That was my first reaction too. There's no way to know anything. Cramer's reply to the allegation: I've never threatened anyone with a gun, much less BinkyBoy. Such a threat is a criminal offense. BinkyBoy needs to either confess that this is entirely in his head, or file a criminal complaint. Then we can see him go to jail for filing a false report.Cramer also notes that another blogger "once tried to have a polite conversation by email with BinkyBoy, and the response was to use the b-word and threaten him with violence if they ever met." (Another example of addictive hyperbole aggravated fueled by anonymity.) Anonymous bloggers who make anonymous allegations don't file complaints. Their smear tactics speak for themselves. When the unverifiability of a statement lies in the anonymity of a source, the net result is a big fat nothing. (At least, nothing to be taken seriously. I think we'll see a lot more of such nothingness, though.) UPDATE: Thank you, Glenn Reynolds for linking this post, and welcome all! (Have to say, it certainly was magnanimous of Glenn to give BinkyBoy free career advice, all things considered.) posted by Eric on 08.19.07 at 11:43 AM
Comments
I dunno. Since binkyboy is so proud of his penis, can't we charge him with every unsolved rape in Idaho, at least? I mean, given his thought processes on Cramer it seems just as reasonable. JorgXMcKie · August 19, 2007 02:20 PM A variation on the theme ... the reverse variation. I found this little note that was left in the comments on my (rather-inactive, but useful for capturing my thoughts) blog a while back. A quick Sitemeter check at least showed me that it was unlikely he was telling the truth. Rich Casebolt · August 19, 2007 02:24 PM Someone needs to get BinkyBoy back on his meds. Heffalump · August 19, 2007 02:30 PM "Hyperbole"? This is delusion. I mean, let's call it what it is. Billy Beck · August 19, 2007 02:42 PM Just to be pedantic, the threat from Glen R. involves blenders, not knives. Keith F. · August 19, 2007 02:44 PM >>the threat from Glen R. involves blenders, not knives Only if you're a puppy. Heffalump · August 19, 2007 02:50 PM Isn't a blender just a bunch of knives whirling around at high speed? But your point is well taken. Glen is only a threat to puppies. Primates need not fear him. Richard R · August 19, 2007 02:51 PM Or clever right wing agents provocateur pretending to be leftists. Hmmm...Karl Rove and Scooter Libby do have a lot of free time on their hands... Tinian · August 19, 2007 03:21 PM How about Binky is neither delusional, nor believing hyperbolically. What if Binky is attempting to convince other parties that Cramer is threatening him? If you want to see more of this stuff--so much it isn't a surprise--try posting something sane on a fem blog. Ref the Duke case, for example, stating "they didn't do it" becomes rape apology, hating, misogyny. I don't think this is a matter of mental abberation. I think it's a deliberate tactic. Or Binky could be a moron. Richard Aubrey · August 19, 2007 03:42 PM Not that I want to get drawn into blogo-tiffs, but what is the 'b-word?' Binky? John F. · August 19, 2007 04:05 PM Eric, "(I suppose if I had kids I could also gratuitously interject 'don't threaten my children!')" Wow, you don't know anything about Professional Journalism™, do you? There is absolutely no requirement for you to have children before making such a claim; it's all about the greater truthiness of your writing. :-(
Kirk Parker · August 19, 2007 04:05 PM Glenn Reynolds threatens people with weblog traffic. And that's a good thing. Cover Me, Porkins · August 19, 2007 04:57 PM Are you aware that "Binky" is a famous brand of baby pacifier? To be a "Binky Boy" is to be a big baby. Is some one pulling your leg? M. Simon · August 19, 2007 07:04 PM Well, then, maybe BinkyBoy will admit he was just kidding about the whole thing. (BTW, the B-word is the one they tried to ban in New York recently. I also happen to own one and her name is "Coco.") Eric Scheie · August 19, 2007 07:55 PM Since BinkyBoy is, like triticale, a nickname, I prefer to describe our posting as nicknonymous rather than anonymous. I don't know about da Bink, but I have an established identity, with over 100 inbound links and at least a few regular readers. I stand to lose all this if I allow myself to unhinge any further than I already am. Shutting it down and starting over would require rebuilding from scratch. There are quite a few other nicknonymous bloggers of whom the same can be said. As a matter of fact, there are people in the blogosphere who know my true name, and my old friend from Chicago 25 years ago, M. Simon, happens to be one of them. triticale · August 19, 2007 08:37 PM I had an email exchange over the Alabama Ten Commandments case with Cramer a few years ago, and while our viewpoints were VERY different, and the exchange was maybe on the cooler side of cordial, it would never have occurred to me in a million years to fear some sort of violent confrontation. He's simply not that sort, indeed, it would be a complete contradiction of what he is, which is someone with strong opinions and the wits and willingness to defend them on their own merits. Mike G · August 19, 2007 09:26 PM Sounds to me as if BinkyBoy suffers from "John Gabriel's Internet F***-/D***-wad Theory". Original F-wad theory available here, while the slightly more socially-acceptable D-wad version is available in t-shirt form. It would be funny if it all weren't so sad. Doug Stewart · August 19, 2007 09:58 PM Idaho Democrats - hah, hah! I live in Idaho and know an easy way to unmask his identity. He's an unwelcome transplant from another state who is one of the three or four males living in this state who doesn't own a gun. Becky · August 20, 2007 01:29 AM This sort of thing is pretty standard stuff on the Left. Like anyone who supports the war is actually a demented sociopath longing to lounge on a mountain of skulls... It's genius. megapotamus · August 20, 2007 11:21 AM enter text? test, sorry PrelKikam · September 7, 2007 12:32 AM Post a comment
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Mr. Binky needs to be threatend with prolonged derisive laughter.