Rhode Islands Future: Politics & Culture - Recent Comments

Interesting defense...

Justin Katz — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:31:26 GMT

Curious choice of defense, Paul: improve the impression that David makes by outdoing his cocky, childish petulance. I'd suggest that, if you run in such circles as consider his writing to be effective hyperbole, then you'd do well to differ.

Hyperbole requires that the writer's exaggeration be clearly impossible, typically through excessive modification of an adjective (e.g., modifying "hungry" to be inclusive of desiring to eat a horse). The tricky thing about using it in socio-political commentary is that the impossibility of holding a particular belief is a murky assessment. It's quite plausible, that is, that the likes of Master Segal would think a veto of a bill to "study" euphemistically titled pot dispensaries to be a step or two removed from book-burning fascism.

It would have been hyperbolic to suggest that "next the governor will veto the menu at my forthcoming hip fundraising event." The aspect thus highlighted via exaggeration is the inconsequentiality of the thing vetoed.

Declaring "hyperbole," in other words, isn't a shield against intemperate comparisons of minimally important political decisions to intellectually violent dictatorships.

You must have been hungry

Paul Bovenzi — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:30:18 GMT

You had a role in the play Eqqus, huh? Were you the horse? :)

If he does go. . .

joeouellette — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:48:29 GMT

I will be picketing

Never eaten a horse

BobbyO — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:42:19 GMT

However, back in the old fraternity days, did swallow 32 goldfish at a sitting.

However, I'm not sure "I'm so hungry I could eat 32 goldfish" is as effective as the equine reference.

That reminds me of the time I had the role in the play Eqqus.

Justin, you should have paid attention in English class

Paul Bovenzi — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:17:35 GMT

Actually, Mr. Katz, I believe the writer was employing a technique known, in some circles, as hyperbole.

Hyperbole is defined as a figure of speech in which statements are exaggerated. It may be used to evoke strong feelings or make a point.

Kind of like saying, "I am so hungry I could eat a horse."

It was not meant to be taken literally.

It's ok though, don't feel too stupid. I get confused sometimes too.

Happy 4th of July.

I think you have me mistaken for someone who believes your crap.

Paul Bovenzi — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:11:08 GMT

Actually Eric, percentage wise, teachers are no higher than any other group except, of course, Catholic Priests.

A whopping 60% of molestation cases were committed by FAMILY MEMBERS. Therefore, since I assume you are a member of a family, YOU belong to America's biggest pedophile organization.

The links you provided are garbage. The first quote doesn't even make sense. notice how careful the writer is not to make a serious case - "Likely more than 100 times" is a lot different than "100 times more likely." The reason? There is absolutely no data to back it up.

An estimated 5 Million - how would they not know? Forgot to count? What horseshit!

And from the second:

"Reports aren't being made by administrators when these allegations come to light," she said. "They are allowing too many teachers to quietly resign and move on to go molest somebody else's children."
Miller says the percentage of teachers who molest students is small, but when they're allowed to quietly resign, it casts a cloud of suspicion over all educators. She called it 'passing the trash' and said school administrators should be held to account.

You expect me to believe that administrators are not reporting teachers who are molesting. Don't be a rube. Citizenlink.org is obviously a right wing smear site that's almost as creepy as you.

"Quietly resign" my ass. If a teacher says someting innappropriate it makes the evening news.

And, by the writer's own admission, the percentage is very small. Not just small - VERY small. Unlike the Catholic priests where the percentage is actually relatively large.

Stop wasting everyone's time with your inane comments and go back to trolling the internet for the latest news of the coming of the Rapture!

Book Burnings?

Justin Katz — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:35:20 GMT

Wow. I didn't realize your petulant childishness was that extensive.

The better half of your readers will not fail to comprehend that you're much more likely actually to come around to support for burning books than the governor is.

If Cicilline Goes. . . .

joeouellette — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:29:11 GMT

Let's Hope The Local 799 PICKETS!!!!!

You belong to America's biggest pedophile organization

Eric — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:56:54 GMT

5 million molested kids...and counting.

"[T]hink the Catholic Church has a problem?" she said. "The physical sexual abuse of students in schools is likely more than 100 times the abuse by priests."
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories...

The mainstream media have heavily covered sex-abuse scandals in the Catholic Church, but some say the national news media have ignored an estimated 5 million students who have been sexually abused by their public-school teachers.
http://www.citizenlink.org/CLN...

Roberta's entire family is "enormously embarrassing"

MNero — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:56:16 GMT

Someone needs to tell poor Roberta that Buddy Cianci is saintly compared to her sleazy clan.

Roberta Cicilline-DiMezza, the sister of Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline (who will also march), called Cianci's participation in the parade "enormously embarrassing" to Bristol.
"Unless we want our Fourth of July parade to become another parade of horribles, we better think twice about who takes part in our celebration and the message we wish to convey to the world," wrote Cicilline-DiMezza, who lives in Bristol.

Also there

Eric — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:46:09 GMT

will be the admitted felon and vile perverted corrupt current mayor. Maybe flanked by his convicted felon brother, his convicted felon law partner, his convicted felon employees (Juan Giraldo, Lisa Torres, etc.). Maybe his twice-indicted "got off on a hung jury" father and any of the murderers, child molesters, dope dealers and other assorted felons he got off by using his family's corrupt ties to Judges like Sheehan.
Maybe Marcos Riz can get a furlough to march right next to the fat freak.

All good vetoes.What about the Cicciline Fire Hydrant Tax?

Eric — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:33:43 GMT

If I'm going to let you tell the story

BobbyO — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:09:13 GMT

with so many modern elements missing, you at least have to tell me who's playing the Richard Licht role??

No, I was three...

Chris Fierro — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:06:32 GMT

Nope brass. Fill us in!

Where is the enthusiasm?

PDM — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:36:56 GMT

Then on to Rhode Island! YEEEEEAAAAAAAAH!!!