At this point, to admit that everyone else is right and he is wrong would be psychologically devastating, I think, because he's set so much of his thinking up based on this very idealistic attitude.

Syc, or Wolf, did you ever read anything about that kind of thing? Maybe related to cognitive dissonance and people's approaches to it?

At this point he's really so far into it, that getting out is going to be a project. Becoming a tax protester means that you've put yourself into specific danger for your viewpoint. He could go to federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison for a long time. There's something psychological about that too, something reinforcing. Someting that makes him stay on his current path.

The odd thing is how he's still with us.

There could be some dissonance there...much like you seemed to experience before dumping the LP.

But as I mentioned, it almost sounds like a damned cult. The "minders" got their foot in the door with him, and now he's like one of their soldiers. Unfortunately, he's only a one-dimensional person on the Cellar, but maybe he's one of those people that needed something to believe in, and voila! The Libertarian Party said all the right things and made him feel like somebody.

My bill will be in the mail...

Perhaps it's because being the object of derision is better then being dismissed as a kook or ignored completely.

     No, I think Syc is closer on this one. I honestly believe that Radar sees himself as a noble crusader fighting for us.
     His approach is very cult-like. He tells you things that aren't true but sound nice are facts. He uses half-truths whenever possible. Then, if the desired response isn't given, he insults and derides the person as beneath his consideration.
     All the while doing that which he believes is for our own good. After two+ years of using the same lines I really don't think he's capable of thinking anything different. UT's probably right, opening his mind to anything else would probably destroy him.
     The scary thing is how easy it would be to be like him. Juju's talked about this in his forum. I mean dude has all the answers. Stating an opinion is proof. If he says the same thing repeatedly, even after it's torn apart, he's proved it repeatedly. It must be very soothing. To be so much above the masses. (Note: that wasn't sarcasm)

Well I'm keeping with it for now, because it's fun and because I want to give him a few sticking points that should gnaw at him a little.

By the way, I agree with him that a lot the current system of income tax *should be* unconstitutional. The government of a free country should never set up holes for people to fall into, or have big agencies that the citizens have to rigidly conform to. Taxation should be extremely simple.

But it's not my decision to make :)

     Yeah, I've actually said in the thread that I'm into the "Should be unconstitutional" idea. But he says that it isn't. Two seperate things. And yeah, the system is screwed.
     Still, I believe that if you discuss something politely and try to make valid points then "Fuck you" and similar statements really means "You win." I kinda feel he's on the verge of saying "Fuck you, you collectivist bastards" right now. At that point I'll know that the only reason he hasn't conceded the point is 'cause, as we've discussed, he can't.

I suspect he has a batch of files on various topics and he cuts and pastes as necessary. I also suspects he assumes that others exposed to his gems of wisdom would ever bother to search out other places to which he posts.

But luckily, somewhere between few and no followers.

Oh Boy.

He's crazy.

I don't remember one damn thing about that "cognitive dissonance" stuff. I deal with real crazy people on a daily basis.

He's crazy.

     He strikes me as middle management. He's shown that he can't come up with anything new. That is a basis of leadership. He's been using the same lines for years. That's not healthy, no. It's also a sure sign that he's repeating what he's been told. It's cult-like alright, but he's not the top dog.

Links on cognitive dissonance:

http://www.dmu.ac.uk/~jamesa/learning/dissonance.htm
http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?...e%20dissonance

I have a headache now.
 

     The whole "How can a case not be heard in court while it has been heard in court, repeatedly, about a subject that is not in effect?" question came up from me trying to follow his logic. It hurt my brain. I understand that he doesn't see any contradiction here though. If they don't see it his way then they are corrupt. I just wish I knew if he believed it was in effect or not...

and he can't spell cannabis.

~james

I think that one ought to enter the hall of fame as one of the Cellar's most amusing comments.

I would like to apologize to the Cellar for my outbursts towards Radar last night, which devolved into outright flaming. Which is why I am posting this to this thread, instead of adding more to the "Happy Tax Day" thread.

Very rarely do I lose my cool towards a Cellarite...there have certainly been some that have worked my nerves, but not like him. I honestly thought I could shut him down, but when I saw that he took one of my last posts and rearranged it to suit him, I knew it was a hopeless situation.

Radar irritates me b/c I find him to be no more than a Parmenion. The only difference is that he has admittedly offered some substance at times. But regardless of that, I think he rule 3'd some time ago. Maybe I don't have the patience that I used to have, but he should have been removed the first or second day he was here.

The issue, of course, is not about content. I don't agree with the majority of you folks in terms of political views...you already know that. However, we generally discuss things on a civil tip, which makes the Cellar so vital to the internet world right now.

I think we've all been guilty at times of being uncivil or disrespectful towards each other. Some more than others. If anything, the Cellar has helped me become a better person, by helping me become more understanding towards different POVs, and by helping me become a better debater.

I know that these type of folks are unavoidable in the end, but I just hate disrespectful assholes online...and take great pains to dodge them as much as possible. And I know some folks have bad days, but Radar has clearly proven that he can't see other POVs, nor does he wish to engage in thoughtful debate. What's the fucking point of being here then, you know? We have enough of that shit already without him.

Shepps is right though...as he was right initially (though he has also been a goader ;) ): The best way to deal with him is to ignore him. The guy just feeds off the shit we say. And I know it's hard to resist--his one comment last night about being a constitutional follower was too much for me--but short of us showing up at UT's doorstep with picket signs or Radar doing something even more incredulous, he's our "special friend."

Imagine if Radar turned it down a few notches though...imagine the awesome debates we could have. And there's still hope--Slang mellowed out, Dave has toned down...maybe Radar will finally come around too...though I doubt it.

I still think reporting him to the State of CA and the IRS for tax evasion is a good idea. Sending that thread to the Libertarian Party of CA might be fun too. :)