General Discussion

Californeeway

(97 posts)

36. the comparison is still hyperbole

Reply to Waiting For Everyman (Reply #22)

Thu Jul 11, 2013, 05:11 AM

Jul 2013

I even pasted a few paragraphs describing Stasi tactics to illustrate just how far off the mark the comparison is.

I am familiar with MKultra and Cointelpro. But a handful of creepy government programs does not equal a whole nation living in oppression.

As bad as the spying is in America, we are not in a full blown police state and most people can tell that because they aren't being thrown in federal prisons for criticizing the government.

But when you claim that we are in a police state and it's obvious that we are not, people start to tune you out and assume you are full of shit.

It's the same arguments I would have at Occupy. If you are trying to build a movement you have to seduce less politically motivated people to your side. Reckless hyperbole drives people away. Why is that so hard for Liberals to understand?

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Germans illuminate message on US embassy [View all] Ichingcarpenter Jul 2013 OP

Merkel rejects Stasi comparisons and defends data interception Cali_Democrat Jul 2013 #1

Yah, but...Merkel is a good German. HereSince1628 Jul 2013 #69

Of course she would, there have been some questions about her own background sabrina 1 Jul 2013 #74

Good one! Waiting For Everyman Jul 2013 #2

You do know who that slob pictured on the slide is? MADem Jul 2013 #10

Oh, because that's what's important in this story Le Taz Hot Jul 2013 #14

You are showing your complete lack of knowledge with your response to me. MADem Jul 2013 #18

Thanks for proving my point Le Taz Hot Jul 2013 #25

I didn't prove your point. You didn't understand the issue. nt MADem Jul 2013 #28

Cloud storage is not theft of intellectual property. Waiting For Everyman Jul 2013 #20

Please--when what's in the "cloud" are movies that haven't been released to DVD yet, MADem Jul 2013 #29

You'd find the same on YouTube, for instance. Waiting For Everyman Jul 2013 #30

It did not "incidentally happen to use his face." He was IN ON IT. MADem Jul 2013 #33

See it your own way. Waiting For Everyman Jul 2013 #37

I'll "see it" based on the picture of the bootlegger projected on the building. MADem Jul 2013 #40

I did better than that MADem, I went to his Twitter page Waiting For Everyman Jul 2013 #43

Really? What did you see that was "different?" You're saying he didn't steal intellectual property? MADem Jul 2013 #46

Um... Who gives a shit about downloaded movies? leeroysphitz Jul 2013 #90

1992 called and wants their "Blah blah called and wants blah blah back" line back... MADem Jul 2013 #91

you can haz all my copyritz? lol.. nt galileoreloaded Jul 2013 #96

What, no Nazi references? Those would get that assclown arrested! MADem Jul 2013 #3

NPR too which I added for your acceptance Ichingcarpenter Jul 2013 #4

I've no doubt NPR copied it from RT... MADem Jul 2013 #6

Are you being sarcastic? Ichingcarpenter Jul 2013 #8

That's not what I said--but good "dense" (your word, own it) interpretation. MADem Jul 2013 #12

he's protected by Godwin's Law markiv Jul 2013 #5

You can't say that "N" word in Germany--they'll arrest you in "Stasi-like" fashion. MADem Jul 2013 #7

they try to stamp out nazi-dom, with a nazi jack boot markiv Jul 2013 #15

It isn't illegal to say the word Nazi in Germany. It's illegal to be a Nazi Solly Mack Jul 2013 #75

I think they use that "Stasi" word as a sneaky substitute, for the purposes of insulting people... MADem Jul 2013 #80

Jesus Christ, that is not Godwin's Law. How many times must I explain this? Gravitycollapse Jul 2013 #11

And it's not a law, but that doesn't matter when you're tasked with trying to defend Egalitarian Thug Jul 2013 #17

actually its an internet meme that needs pictures galileoreloaded Jul 2013 #97

As Germans they should have more respect for the people who suffered under the Stasi Californeeway Jul 2013 #9

That sloppy guy on the slide is mad because the "STASI" don't want him stealing MADem Jul 2013 #13

Well let's see... there's MKultra, Cointelpro, and this guy from my neighborhood Waiting For Everyman Jul 2013 #22

the comparison is still hyperbole Californeeway Jul 2013 #36

"But when you claim that we are in a police state" Really? Where did I say that? Waiting For Everyman Jul 2013 #38

This whole "I didn't say that" is typical hackneyed debate tactic BS Californeeway Jul 2013 #47

I'll say it Scootaloo Jul 2013 #57

And you said it very eloquently, indeed! Divernan Jul 2013 #61

I can appreciate and respect your ability to say it and stand by it. Californeeway Jul 2013 #68

Regarding the president... Scootaloo Jul 2013 #70

+ + byeya Jul 2013 #72

Excellent post. woo me with science Jul 2013 #79

Who are you to say "what gets used way too often around here"? Divernan Jul 2013 #62

more or less the assumptions you make about me are way off Californeeway Jul 2013 #64

The post is about pertinent hyperbole PATRICK Jul 2013 #73

9/11/2001 Guantanamo detention camp 2002 Progressive dog Jul 2013 #116

you're correct in part temmer Jul 2013 #32

the data collection has scared the shit out of me since I heard about it Californeeway Jul 2013 #39

My sig is a quote from a former Stasi colonel. Pholus Jul 2013 #59

Hey, the Stasi wasn't intercepting my phone calls here in the USA back in the day Fumesucker Jul 2013 #67

Ahh, pious lectures to foreigners that they're not using their own history in a way you like... (nt) Posteritatis Jul 2013 #87

It came out of artist own pocket Ichingcarpenter Jul 2013 #16

Kim Dotcom, defender of freedom....NOT. MADem Jul 2013 #19

Not a fan of piracy I see. Gravitycollapse Jul 2013 #21

If I were an actor, producer, director, key grip, makeup artist, best boy, craft services provider, MADem Jul 2013 #24

People who pirate are generally those who could not afford it anyway. Gravitycollapse Jul 2013 #26

Naaaah--because this guy charges a fee. MADem Jul 2013 #27

Your post reminds me of something... Scootaloo Jul 2013 #52

I don't disagree that much of what Hollywood churns out is dreck, but I'll also bet that MADem Jul 2013 #56

You fail to grasp the point of the analogy Scootaloo Jul 2013 #66

Of course it's not the "primary" loss leader, but it is one--and for you to compare it to a seal is MADem Jul 2013 #81

yeah...let's attack the messenger ***yawn*** temmer Jul 2013 #34

Yes, because the messenger has been indicted for intellectual property theft. YAWN... nt MADem Jul 2013 #48

I can hear the Church Choir already. Outraged lectures to the Germans coming in 4,3,2,1... Catherina Jul 2013 #23

"I have a relative from East Germany and HE says...." sibelian Jul 2013 #31

The NSA has gathered more information, renditioned more people, than the Stasi ever did Catherina Jul 2013 #42

A stasi comparison is quite valid, according to a loyalist's own post Divernan Jul 2013 #44

Thank you Ichingcarpenter Jul 2013 #45

Exactly. Waiting For Everyman Jul 2013 #50

This message was self-deleted by its author woo me with science Jul 2013 #53

Hoisted, indeed. Thank you. woo me with science Jul 2013 #54

Another one today Waiting For Everyman Jul 2013 #71

Thank you for posting this. nt woo me with science Jul 2013 #77

You can't even debate me directly, perhaps to escape rebuttal? Californeeway Jul 2013 #63

Hit a nerve, didn't I? Divernan Jul 2013 #65

The Stasi comparison is appropriate temmer Jul 2013 #78

"When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser" Catherina Jul 2013 #111

+100000 "If you don't want to be compared to the Stasi, quit acting like it." woo me with science Jul 2013 #49

My personal favourite Choir Hymn "it's disrespectful to REAL victims of ....". One word - Hypocrites idwiyo Jul 2013 #60

Yep. "How dare they invoke their experiences in a way that makes us uncomfortable?!" (nt) Posteritatis Jul 2013 #88

If they're that worried about disprespecting REAL victims, they can address Guantanamo Catherina Jul 2013 #113

That's a stupid fucking insult to those who suffered Cha Jul 2013 #35

Ahem. woo me with science Jul 2013 #51

I've visited a Stasi (not staTsi) prison camp Divernan Jul 2013 #55

Except that the Patriot Act didn't disturb habeas corpus, the right to be publicly accused, geek tragedy Jul 2013 #82

Patriot Act, expanded byMilitary Commissions Act,National Defense Authorization Act & SCOTUS Divernan Jul 2013 #84

Derp Someone didn't read Hamdan vs Rumsfeld. geek tragedy Jul 2013 #85

That was 2006 - try to keep up. Divernan Jul 2013 #92

Yes, and the NDAA explicitly states that it doesn't change the law regarding detainee geek tragedy Jul 2013 #93

YOU brought up Hamden v. Rumsfeld; I don't rely on it. Divernan Jul 2013 #94

I'm saying Hamdan v Rumsfeld disproves your entire argument. nt geek tragedy Jul 2013 #95

The law doesn't work the way you think it does. Divernan Jul 2013 #98

You're aware that Congress can't overrule a constitutional ruling by the SCOTUS, right? geek tragedy Jul 2013 #101

I'm the retired law professor & you're not Divernan Jul 2013 #106

A retired law professor who can't read a statute. geek tragedy Jul 2013 #107

You get A for persistence; F for legal knowledge/reasoning Divernan Jul 2013 #108

Nope, I just had much better professors than you when I attended law school. geek tragedy Jul 2013 #109

Well you better tell Obama, cause that's not the way he sees it. Divernan Jul 2013 #112

Too much misinformation to debunk from geek tragedy Jul 2013 #115

Oh the irony - that should leave a mark malaise Jul 2013 #41

It's a stupid insult to those who did suffer under the German Cha Jul 2013 #100

I'm an Obama fan but I don't support malaise Jul 2013 #103

Yes, I know, malaise.. the real German Stasi.. Cha Jul 2013 #105

Well your Fundie neighbors are watching you now malaise Jul 2013 #110

Don't have any fundy neighbors thank Goodness.. but, I see your Cha Jul 2013 #114

Hilter, Stasi and Stalin -- the Hair of Fire Trifecta DontTreadOnMe Jul 2013 #58

These germans... Accusing the NSA of Stasi tactics without asking our permission first! Democracyinkind Jul 2013 #76

Germans have every right to make idiotic comparisons to their own past. nt geek tragedy Jul 2013 #83

Evidently, they can insult those who did suffer under the German Stasi and Cha Jul 2013 #104

Oh dear! Rex Jul 2013 #86

Absurd. n/t Blackford Jul 2013 #89

That looks like a really Shankapotomus Jul 2013 #99

How idiotic BainsBane Jul 2013 #102