Is This Acceptable Behavior?

[BigSkyBob]

There is a moderator here who has as his .sig a photograph of a sign that allegedly reads,

"Libety or Tranny?"

In the background is a trailer park.

The sign is a rather obvious work of Photoshop. [The background color changes between the words, which can't be explained by differences in lighting because the shadows, and areas around the shadows are quite uniformly lit. The handwriting is quite different for "T's" and "R's." And, the coloring for Libety is in the patriotic scheme of alternating red and blue letters on a white background while Tranny is in Black lettering.]

Is presenting Photoshopped images without labeling them as such acceptable behavior here?

Does the fake quote appeal to bigoted prejudices against folks who live in trailer parks? Would the same technique of assigning embarrassing quotes by use of Photoshop be deemed acceptable if the neighborhood featured homes with Menorahs in the windows, or such?

[BigSkyBob]

So, you live in a trailer park. We got it. My condolences.

That is exactly the prejudice that I wonder is acceptable.

You would think that the partisans here would consider it counter-productive to gratuitously insult entire classes of people for reasons of expediency if nothing else. My point is that there are folks here who simply don't seem to care. Had a sign with misspellings been taken in front of a homeless encampment folks here would be outraged to be mocking these poor unfortunate souls. By all accounts mobile homes are more substantial shelter than cardboard boxes. My condolences would be for the folks who live under bridges or over steam grates.

[BigSkyBob]

The sign is a rather obvious work of Photoshop. [The background color changes between the words, which can't be explained by differences in lighting because the shadows, and areas around the shadows are quite uniformly lit.

The sign seems to be bent.

An explanation that simply doesn't make sense. Presumably, the variations in shading would be fairly uniform left to right, while in the Photoshopped image the transition from gray to a whiter background color magically circles around the top of the "T" before dropping up and down.

[BigSkyBob]

So, you live in a trailer park. We got it. My condolences.

That is exactly the prejudice that I wonder is acceptable.

You would think that the partisans here would consider it counter-productive to gratuitously insult entire classes of people for reasons of expediency if nothing else. My point is that there are folks here who simply don't seem to care. Had a sign with misspellings been taken in front of a homeless encampment folks here would be outraged to be mocking these poor unfortunate souls. By all accounts mobile homes are more substantial shelter than cardboard boxes. My condolences would be for the folks who live under bridges or over steam grates.

Nobody cares. Stop whining.

If "nobody cares" then why don't they just admit that the image is Photoshopped?

[BigSkyBob]

The sign is a rather obvious work of Photoshop. [The background color changes between the words, which can't be explained by differences in lighting because the shadows, and areas around the shadows are quite uniformly lit.

The sign seems to be bent.

An explanation that simply doesn't make sense. Presumably, the variations in shading would be fairly uniform left to right, while in the Photoshopped image the transition from gray to a whiter background color magically circles around the top of the "T" before dropping up and down.

Take it up with the moderators. If you're going to whine about having to deal with political views different from your own, go hang out in the comments section at TownHall.

But, I am not "whining about" dealing with political views different from mine. I am complaining about an obvious use of photo-shopped forgeries to pursue a political point of view. If a conservative poster were using photo-shopped forgeries to belittle a liberal I still would complain. Political discourse ought to occur in the context of Truth, and the Truth is that this photo is a photo-shop forgery.

[BigSkyBob]

Bob, my man, just how deep do you want to dig your grave here, as it were? If you want to mix it up with Joe, you need more careful placing of your pieces on the chessboard than this - much more. This is amateur hour. Your end might be worthy here, your means pathetic.

The underlying facts here are that the photo in question is a photo-shop forgery. The inconsistent background color that just happens to curve around the "T" in "Tranny" clearly shows that fact. Since when is Truth not a complete defense? Your statement that my "end might be worthy here" indicates that you seem to agree that the photo in question is a forgery.

You would think that someone taking the position of moderator would attempt to hold themselves to a higher standard to set a better example for all. The message sent by using photo-shopped forgeries that is that in politics winning is what is important. Actually, that does seem to be the tone set by many of those in politics. I see that as unfortunate.

Since you wish to discuss strategy, my answer to you is to note you might want to rethink your strategy. There was a poster here named Dan, I think, who seems, as best I can tell, to represent a viewpoint one might consider conservative talk radio. He was banned from posting here, in part, it seems due to a campaign to have him removed by certain posters here. To the best of my recollection, he stuck to advocating his position. His banishment seemed motivated by a desire to not see his viewpoint expressed rather than any wrongdoing on his part.

We live in a world were there exists widespread attempts by folks on the Left to limit political speech by those on the Right. Tactically, some on the center-Right have saw fit to cooperate with such tactics to punish what they see as their common enemies on the Right. While in the short-run such tactics might seem advantageous, they are in the long run suicidal since the process of censoring "conservative" speech doesn't end with limiting the right to speak by those furthest Right. Once they are excluded, those mostly Right will be targeted next. After they are excluded, those on the near Right will be excluded. Then, those on the center Right will be excluded. At some point the person being excluded will be you. Eventually, even the DLC viewpoint will no longer be  welcome. Censorship has its own internal logic that follows to natural conclusions.

[BigSkyBob]

BS Bob and white southerners have something in common

"You shouldn't pity me for living in a tornado prone tinder box!  What about those living under bridges?"

"I know welfare and good governance might do me some good...but... BLACK PEOPLE!"

As long as you're not on the bottom, you're entitled to act like you're on top...amirite?

First of all, to the extent you wish to compare to Southerners I thank you. To the extent I want Southerners to vote Republican I again thank you for the tone with which you speak of Southerners.

Second, Why should people "pity me for living in a tornado prone tinder box?"  Generally, the economics of trailers are poor. And, as you have noted, they aren't as substantial structures as stick-built structures. On the other hand, they seem to offer more privacy than an apartment. That said, there are people for whom that is what their finances provide. Furthermore, in more remote areas, modular structures make more economic sense. All I have stated is that I find it an odd prejudice to look down on people who live in trailers. One explanation for my objecting to such condescension is that I happen to live in a trailer. Another explanation for my objecting to such condescension is that I find it to be bigoted and wrong. The fact that you jumped to the first conclusion rather than the second says more about you than it does me.

In the most recent election, one of the upset winners for the Republicans was Tom Tillis. He spoke in a dignified manner of growing up in a trailer. I don't judge him for that fact. I don't see why anyone should.

[BigSkyBob]

BS Bob's capitalization of the word 'truth' is hilarious for reasons I can't quite put my finger on.

Mortimer J Adler wrote of six great ideas: Truth, Goodness, Beauty, Liberty, Equality, Justice.