Comments on: Me and Christopher Hitchens http://crookedtimber.org/2005/02/10/me-and-christopher-hitchens/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:54:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Cleve Blakemore http://crookedtimber.org/2005/02/10/me-and-christopher-hitchens/comment-page-2/#comment-60735 Cleve Blakemore Tue, 15 Feb 2005 02:43:58 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2862#comment-60735 Christopher Hitchens writes like a man who has taken a blow to the head in some kind of industrial accident. A more bizarre tapestry of awkward grammar and strangely inappropriate metaphors could scarcely be found in the mass media. This is the kind of kid who used to get forwarded on for special remedial help in English class ... and yet he is paid to write for a major newspaper ... and paid well. Does anyone really believe that this man is hired based on his talent or ability? I think not. This guy is kept on payroll because however inarticulately he articulates the political viewpoints that the owners of his paper want disseminated. It's not an exaggeration to say that anybody could write better than Hitchens. I mean anybody. The guy is worse than bad, he's incomprehensible bordering on autistic. I've never been able to glean a solid conclusion or even a point to a single column ever authored by this village idiot outside of "Empire good, peasants bad." Right, Chris - the check is in the mail, good buddy. Christopher Hitchens writes like a man who has taken a blow to the head in some kind of industrial accident. A more bizarre tapestry of awkward grammar and strangely inappropriate metaphors could scarcely be found in the mass media. This is the kind of kid who used to get forwarded on for special remedial help in English class … and yet he is paid to write for a major newspaper … and paid well. Does anyone really believe that this man is hired based on his talent or ability? I think not. This guy is kept on payroll because however inarticulately he articulates the political viewpoints that the owners of his paper want disseminated. It’s not an exaggeration to say that anybody could write better than Hitchens. I mean anybody. The guy is worse than bad, he’s incomprehensible bordering on autistic. I’ve never been able to glean a solid conclusion or even a point to a single column ever authored by this village idiot outside of “Empire good, peasants bad.” Right, Chris – the check is in the mail, good buddy.

]]> By: nick http://crookedtimber.org/2005/02/10/me-and-christopher-hitchens/comment-page-2/#comment-60734 nick Sun, 13 Feb 2005 19:54:59 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2862#comment-60734 <i> I don’t know which one is sadder. Probably Hitchens—at least Totten will bumble through life, oblivious.</i> Hitch, undoubtedly. For a supposed admirer of Orwell, he appears to regard the narrative of <i>Homage to Catalonia</i> as something to be repeated as farce. <i>Anyway, I’m done.</i> No, dipshit, you were done before you started trolling. I don’t know which one is sadder. Probably Hitchens—at least Totten will bumble through life, oblivious. Hitch, undoubtedly. For a supposed admirer of Orwell, he appears to regard the narrative of Homage to Catalonia as something to be repeated as farce. Anyway, I’m done. No, dipshit, you were done before you started trolling.

]]> By: consigliere http://crookedtimber.org/2005/02/10/me-and-christopher-hitchens/comment-page-2/#comment-60733 consigliere Sat, 12 Feb 2005 17:25:01 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2862#comment-60733 "...you practically never encounter 'sour grapes' in its classic form." Well, John Prine's "Sour Grapes" off his Diamonds in the Rough album is perhaps a long way to go to find an exception to "practically never", but the Chicago folksinger and former postal worker certainly understood the classic form. “…you practically never encounter ‘sour grapes’ in its classic form.” Well, John Prine’s “Sour Grapes” off his Diamonds in the Rough album is perhaps a long way to go to find an exception to “practically never”, but the Chicago folksinger and former postal worker certainly understood the classic form.

]]> By: consigliere http://crookedtimber.org/2005/02/10/me-and-christopher-hitchens/comment-page-2/#comment-60732 consigliere Sat, 12 Feb 2005 17:23:53 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2862#comment-60732 "...you practically never encounter 'sour grapes' in its classic form." Well, John Prine's "Sour Grapes" off his Diamonds in the Rough album is perhaps a long way to go to find an exception to "practically never", but the Chicago folksinger and former postal worker certainly understood the classic form. “…you practically never encounter ‘sour grapes’ in its classic form.” Well, John Prine’s “Sour Grapes” off his Diamonds in the Rough album is perhaps a long way to go to find an exception to “practically never”, but the Chicago folksinger and former postal worker certainly understood the classic form.

]]> By: x http://crookedtimber.org/2005/02/10/me-and-christopher-hitchens/comment-page-2/#comment-60731 x Sat, 12 Feb 2005 13:06:46 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2862#comment-60731 "I tried, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to do it. I persist in believing that my usage is defensible." Yeah, well dipnut, you're <a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1323289/replies?c=18">not alone</a>, <a href="http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/sour.html">indeed</a>. “I tried, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to do it. I persist in believing that my usage is defensible.” Yeah, well dipnut, you’re not alone, indeed.

]]> By: Luc http://crookedtimber.org/2005/02/10/me-and-christopher-hitchens/comment-page-2/#comment-60730 Luc Sat, 12 Feb 2005 09:51:42 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2862#comment-60730 <blockquote> “Wine. Is. Red!” Hitchens said, and I couldn’t agree more. I had a 24-hour hangover from cheap white wine in a box when I was 14 years old. I haven’t been able to touch the stuff since. Even the thought of the taste of white wine makes my stomach do somersaults. </blockquote> I found that a fitting allegory for the opinions of Totten and "<a href="http://www.counterpunch.org/mccarthy02212003.html">dry drunk Bush's wet drunk apologist</a>" Christopher Hitchens.
“Wine. Is. Red!” Hitchens said, and I couldn’t agree more. I had a 24-hour hangover from cheap white wine in a box when I was 14 years old. I haven’t been able to touch the stuff since. Even the thought of the taste of white wine makes my stomach do somersaults.
I found that a fitting allegory for the opinions of Totten and “dry drunk Bush’s wet drunk apologist” Christopher Hitchens.

]]> By: Pollie Anon http://crookedtimber.org/2005/02/10/me-and-christopher-hitchens/comment-page-2/#comment-60729 Pollie Anon Sat, 12 Feb 2005 00:59:41 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2862#comment-60729 Oh, and while we're talking about embarrassing exercises in sycophancy, what do you all think about charles Pierce,s regular appearances on Eric Alterman's Blog. "Hey Doc." Plz, plz, tell me that you CTers actively discourage people from calling you "Dr." Oh, and while we’re talking about embarrassing exercises in sycophancy, what do you all think about charles Pierce,s regular appearances on Eric Alterman’s Blog. “Hey Doc.” Plz, plz, tell me that you CTers actively discourage people from calling you “Dr.”

]]> By: Pollie Anon http://crookedtimber.org/2005/02/10/me-and-christopher-hitchens/comment-page-2/#comment-60728 Pollie Anon Sat, 12 Feb 2005 00:40:09 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2862#comment-60728 Totten's post was indeed an embarrassment, but I totally agree with dipnut. Just letting the dipper know he's not alone. Totten’s post was indeed an embarrassment, but I totally agree with dipnut. Just letting the dipper know he’s not alone.

]]> By: dipnut http://crookedtimber.org/2005/02/10/me-and-christopher-hitchens/comment-page-2/#comment-60727 dipnut Fri, 11 Feb 2005 23:27:39 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2862#comment-60727 <I>Gee, dipnut, would it have hurt so very much to simply say “Ok, x, you were right and I was wrong?”</I> I tried, but I couldn't quite bring myself to do it. I persist in believing that my usage is defensible. Anyway, I'm done. See you all on some other thread. Gee, dipnut, would it have hurt so very much to simply say “Ok, x, you were right and I was wrong?” I tried, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to do it. I persist in believing that my usage is defensible. Anyway, I’m done. See you all on some other thread.

]]> By: dipnut http://crookedtimber.org/2005/02/10/me-and-christopher-hitchens/comment-page-2/#comment-60726 dipnut Fri, 11 Feb 2005 23:25:54 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2862#comment-60726 <I>Gee, dipnut, would it have hurt so very much to simply say “Ok, x, you were right and I was wrong?”</I> I tried, but I couldn't quite bring myself to do it. I persist in believing that my usage is defensible. Anyway, I'm done. See you all on some other thread. Gee, dipnut, would it have hurt so very much to simply say “Ok, x, you were right and I was wrong?” I tried, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to do it. I persist in believing that my usage is defensible. Anyway, I’m done. See you all on some other thread.

]]> By: rm http://crookedtimber.org/2005/02/10/me-and-christopher-hitchens/comment-page-2/#comment-60725 rm Fri, 11 Feb 2005 22:13:33 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2862#comment-60725 Dipnut: <i>No, but the cynicism I complain about is this making Totten out to be what he is not. For instance, when he says “we differ from the colonialists and imperialists of the past”, he may be missing the point, and he may be an ass. But he’s sincere, and he knows specifically what he means by it. It won’t do, to pretend he’s being sinister or deliberately ignorant.</i> Dipnut, the point is that Totten's sincerity is clueless and arrogant in the exact manner of Mr. Pyle in _The Quiet American_. He feels astonished and hurt by his Iraqi dinner companions for sentiments that seem entirely logical and understandable to any normal thinking person. If indeed there's a chance now for self-determination and democracy, then they want exactly that, not condescending lectures and threats. Totten is amazingly obtuse in not seeing that, instead wondering where they get off being so ungrateful. Moreover, Totten is self-deluded in thinking he has any role in the conversation; he's not a player, just some guy who happens to be at the table, which is fine if he realizes it and if not not. The ridicule here is to the self-refuting nature of Totten's writing. The heart of his problem is that, as you say, he's not sinister or deliberate in his ignorance. He's innocent. He has the deadly innocence of Mr. Pyle or Thomas Sutpen. Dipnut: No, but the cynicism I complain about is this making Totten out to be what he is not. For instance, when he says “we differ from the colonialists and imperialists of the past”, he may be missing the point, and he may be an ass. But he’s sincere, and he knows specifically what he means by it. It won’t do, to pretend he’s being sinister or deliberately ignorant. Dipnut, the point is that Totten’s sincerity is clueless and arrogant in the exact manner of Mr. Pyle in The Quiet American. He feels astonished and hurt by his Iraqi dinner companions for sentiments that seem entirely logical and understandable to any normal thinking person. If indeed there’s a chance now for self-determination and democracy, then they want exactly that, not condescending lectures and threats. Totten is amazingly obtuse in not seeing that, instead wondering where they get off being so ungrateful. Moreover, Totten is self-deluded in thinking he has any role in the conversation; he’s not a player, just some guy who happens to be at the table, which is fine if he realizes it and if not not. The ridicule here is to the self-refuting nature of Totten’s writing. The heart of his problem is that, as you say, he’s not sinister or deliberate in his ignorance. He’s innocent. He has the deadly innocence of Mr. Pyle or Thomas Sutpen.

]]> By: wufnik http://crookedtimber.org/2005/02/10/me-and-christopher-hitchens/comment-page-2/#comment-60724 wufnik Fri, 11 Feb 2005 20:38:34 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2862#comment-60724 "Totten’s a good time, just don’t get sucked into thinking that there’s a lot of there there." That's Totten's problem--he's just not very smart. For someone who has read a lot and travelled a lot, and probably means well (or at least thinks he does) he has whatever the opposite of insight is (to borrow a phrase). Hitchens at least used to be smart. I don't know which one is sadder. Probably Hitchens--at least Totten will bumble through life, oblivious. “Totten’s a good time, just don’t get sucked into thinking that there’s a lot of there there.” That’s Totten’s problem—he’s just not very smart. For someone who has read a lot and travelled a lot, and probably means well (or at least thinks he does) he has whatever the opposite of insight is (to borrow a phrase). Hitchens at least used to be smart. I don’t know which one is sadder. Probably Hitchens—at least Totten will bumble through life, oblivious.

]]> By: r http://crookedtimber.org/2005/02/10/me-and-christopher-hitchens/comment-page-2/#comment-60723 r Fri, 11 Feb 2005 19:55:08 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2862#comment-60723 item! item!

]]> By: r http://crookedtimber.org/2005/02/10/me-and-christopher-hitchens/comment-page-2/#comment-60722 r Fri, 11 Feb 2005 19:53:37 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2862#comment-60722 item! item!

]]> By: Randy Paul http://crookedtimber.org/2005/02/10/me-and-christopher-hitchens/comment-page-2/#comment-60721 Randy Paul Fri, 11 Feb 2005 19:51:53 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2862#comment-60721 X: I'm fond of Bushiite. X: I’m fond of Bushiite.

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