Artful Dodger: A wicker man? The original flick (1974) is really pretty good. :o)

The Usurper:Seriously you jest.

Artful Dodger: I jest seriously. There's a difference. Just don't ask me to explain it.

The Usurper:Next time I'll use this



so there's less confusion.

Artful Dodger: I read your exchange below with (V) so wasn't really confused. But my response just seemed so appropriate...lol

The Usurper: That's fine. I have fixed the problem with a new pic and and explanation. Just so there's no more confusion.

Artful Dodger: Now I'm doubly confused. I'm afraid you'll have to put the two pics side by side and explain more fully. Preferably you'll back up your explanation with evidence & links to the source. I still believe those are Wicker Men!

Just an aside....if the arguments are straw men, in what way are they so? Ought a picture really to be considered a thorough refutation? I mean, I know that works for O'Reilly & Hannity, but come on... :o)

The Usurper: Clearly you know what a strawman is? If so, then you understand that there is no refutation required on my part. If someone refutes and argument I'm not making, all I need to do is point that out. If then, they insist that I am making that argument, I can ignore them. The onus is upon the other to show I have actually said what they say I've said. The smart thing of course, is to ask for clarification, instead of building a straw man and then blowing over.

If I say, "I'm against gun control."

and you say, "Oh. So you're in favor of criminals murdering innocent citizens then."

you get one of these:

Strawman  Your argument didn't address my own, but nice try.  


no refutation is needed as your argument speaks for itself

Artful Dodger: Actually, I must confess I wasn't following the argument to which your straw man was a reply. A bit befuddled & off-focus. I was mostly just teasing.....

About MSNBC....you are correct. Likewise, Fox News is the Bush channel.

The Usurper:I don't agree with your Fox analysis.  I've seen Bush's policies smacked around plenty.  O'Reilly routinely criticized his administration for the blunders in Iraq.