Sunday 16 January 2005

Another one starts to blog!

Welcome to the newest Scottish blog. It's from our very own Stuart Dickson.

3 comments:

David Farrer said...

Comments made on previous template:

Paul Lewis
Stewart: "I am genuinely glad that you have clarified what you admit yourself was an obscure statement." 
 
Good God man! 
 
How can you read this: "If what I said is so obscure,.." to mean this: "what I said is so obscure,.."? 
 
And you have avoided my question, "why on earth would you ask a third party what it means?"  
 
David Farrier may be THE libertarian oricle around here but I doubt he is a mind reader. 
 
Stewart: "Lamentable taste in women by the way." 
 
de gusdibus non disputandem. (Apologies to the true latinsitas on list.)

20 January 2005, 10:05:45 GMT
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Stuart
Paul 
 
I am genuinely glad that you have clarified what you admit yourself was an obscure statement. 
 
Why did you make it so obscurely the first time, when you are clearly capable of making a lucid declaration of principles? 
 
Lamentable taste in women by the way.

20 January 2005, 07:27:30 GMT
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Paul Lewis
Stewart: "You are a fibber. Here is what you said:" 
 
Extraordinary!! If what I said is so obscure, why on earth would you ask a third party what it means? He is likely to be as mystified as you.  
 
As far as I know, the Libertarian position on the initiation of force is, not to. Translation: Libertarians do not initiate violence. 
 
Unless somebody else has done so first [initiated violence]. Translation: If you have been attacked. 
 
In which case, look out. Translation: then it is legitimate to hit back hard. 
 
Stewart: "Now, if that is not a threat what is it?"  
 
It was my attempt to describe my understanding of the [general case] Libertarian position on violence. 
 
Stewart: "If not, then I suspect that you just threatened me with physical violence" 
 
It gets better!! I am 43 years old, six foot one inch tall, the last time I had a fight was when I was eleven. Christopher Thomas had just accused me of being in love with Margaret Oliver, it was necessary to satisfy my honour. 
 
Margaret, in case you are reading this, get in touch. She was *A* dish! 
 
Hindsight eh!

19 January 2005, 23:09:54 GMT
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Stuart Dickson
Paul 
 
You are a fibber. Here is what you said: 
 
-"As far as I know, the libertarian position on the use of force is, not to. The real world being a complex place there are exceptions, one being someone else has done so first. In which case look out!" 
 
Now, if that is not a threat what is it? David Farrer reasured me that all you meant was that you consider that ALL centrist people like me have initiated force against fundamentalist libertarians like you because we advocate some form of central state, with the power to raise taxes. 
 
Is that what you meant? If so, it is loony. If not, then I suspect that you just threatened me with physical violence. 
 
(So you didn't check out Rebbikers website did you?)

19 January 2005, 20:50:37 GMT
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Paul Lewis
Stewart: "I thought your statement regarding the use of "force" was borderline insane.." 
 
Unless you know to the contrary the only time I have expressed an opinion on the use of force is when I wrote... 
 
"As far as I know, the libertarian position on the use of force is, not to..." 
 
I can see no reason to change my opinion nor any reason why you might think this position 'borderline insane'. 
 
Stewart: "..and yet you chose to pick an argument with me." 
 
Rebbiker is entitled to his opinions. I rather doubt that too many people who contribute here would, after reading one of his posts say to themselves, "Boy was that a good idea! I'm off to get me a Catholic".  
 
Rather, I think the majority of the folks here are grown up enough to sift the wheat from the chaff. Rebbiker, if he was trying to rabble rouse was doing a pretty poor job.

19 January 2005, 19:55:01 GMT
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David Farrer said...

Stuart Dickson
Paul 
 
You may get better reviews if you set your sights on the real target. 
 
Rebbiker was publishing the most offensive sectarian and racist material imaginable, and yet you chose to pick an argument with me (by flinging a strong insult at me) instead of targeting a genuine totalitarian. 
 
While I'm on the subject, I thought your statement regarding the use of "force" was borderline insane, and definitely anarchistic. I find your view on when it is legitimate to iniate force against an opponent to be evidence of utter extremity and isolation. 
 
Think again if you think that it is legitimate to initiate force against someone who merely advocates the setting and collection of some tax.

19 January 2005, 13:51:43 GMT
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Paul Lewis
Squander Two "If you're willing to accept help from a 'nasty little racist'" 
 
You are in good company. Just about anyone who takes issue with Stewart in the comments section has been labelled a racist, a bigot or one of his other choice epithets.

19 January 2005, 11:24:35 GMT
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Squander Two
Well, I can't say I'm surprised. Your comments on this blog far exceeded the size of David's posts, so I thought you should start writing them down in your own space.

19 January 2005, 10:10:39 GMT
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Stuart Dickson
Squander Two 
 
I've just remembered: "Independence" blog has been launched all because of you! 
 
Yes, that's right, you have given birth to a blog unbeknowingly. It was you asking me months ago if I had a website that first planted the seed in my brain that is currently germinating in public view from the fertile medium of my brain. 
 
(In my post above, it scans better if you say "The Chartered Institute of Galley Skivvies and Assistant Bottle Washers")

19 January 2005, 08:19:51 GMT
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Stuart Dickson
Allegedly. 
 
The Queen even gave the blighters a royal charter! 
 
www.cim.co.uk/ 
 
Now I am not one to argue with architects, engineers or accountants receiving a charter or two from the de jure head of state. It is only symbolic after all. But I do think that you must draw the line somewhere: - purchasing managers, ad men, human resources blokes ... for crying out loud! Who next, the Chartered Institute of Galley Skivvies and Bottle Washers?

18 January 2005, 17:44:09 GMT
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Squander Two
Marketers are educated?

18 January 2005, 16:19:23 GMT
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David Farrer said...





Stuart Dickson
Being educated as a marketer I do actually like pretty packages, though being a glutton I can't wait to get at the real goodies inside!

18 January 2005, 13:44:59 GMT
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Stuart Dickson
I hereby publicly withdraw the completely unwarranted insult. You are actually one of the few people on F&W Comments who has made a convincing (or any) statement of your clear opposition to racism. 
 
I can't recall why I made it, and I haven't the time or the inclination to trawl through David's archives. I think it was because someone else referred to the Scots as "caucasians", which I considered to be racist, and then everyone else jumped in to support him and got caught in the crossfire. My then formula of "if you defend a racist you are a racist" does not stand up to reflection and scrutiny. 
 
In my opinion Scotland is a civic nation (an example would be the USA), not a nation based on ethnicity, language or religion (an example would be Japan). Scotland is a classic mongrel nation - a wonderful blend of many, many ethnic strands. 
 
I think that you said that he was not being "racist" but merely "old-fashioned". Fair enough, but those "old-fashioned" concepts can be very damaging and offensive. There is a very good reason why such concepts are being abandonned in the modern world. 
 
Thanks for the offer. I will do. Please do it in your own good time though. Time is not a pressing issue because I can easily live with the sub-optimal layout for a period. I think that content & substance are far more important than pretty packaging. 
 
I hope you find my site useful. You are very welcome.

18 January 2005, 13:39:49 GMT
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Squander Two
Stuart, 
 
If you're willing to accept help from a "nasty little racist", email me and I'll advise you on HTML and CSS and editing blog templates. If I have time.

18 January 2005, 12:04:35 GMT
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Stuart Dickson
Come all ye. You are most welcome. 
 
David, you are a thoroughly sterling chap for the notice. One might even say gilded. 
 
I am in the process of learning yet another modern language: HTML code. I fear I will never be fluent. Where can a man find a nice relaxing "Conversational Template Editing" evening class for beginners? How do I get an RSS feed from "Scottish Blogs"? Why do I have a yucky old-Labour maroon banner at the top? These are the mysteries of life I am currently grappling with. When on earth am I going to get the time, and mental space, to get down to writing some quality prose? 
 
Ah well, I'm trying my best.

16 January 2005, 11:35:23 GMT