Obamaniac<\/p>\n
Billary<\/p>\n
Snobama<\/p>\n
Elephascist<\/p>\n
McSame<\/p>\n
etc.<\/p>\n
If you have a good argument, then make it. These phrases just make you seem juvenile.<\/p>\n
Frankly, I feel the same way about illustrating negative comment on a candidate with the most unflattering picture you can find. Don’t we generally complain that too MUCH emphasis is placed on candidate’s appearances and irrelevant characteristics? Running a picture of a sneering McCain or Hilary with a distorted expression is the equivalent of running a long series of footage about Bush looking cowboyish on the ranch. It’s a non-sequiteur, designed to appeal to visceral likes or dislikes apart from the actual substance of the quote you’re criticizing (or, in the case of the cowboy footage, the masculinity narrative you’re underlining).<\/p>\n
If that’s actually what you want to do — just produce propaganda to make people’s visceral reactions more distinct, and allow that level of discourse to take a prominent role in your blog or debate — then I guess that’s fine to an extent. It’s not a good argument, but sometimes debates are won by bad arguments, and if you feel it’s totally necessary, then I guess I can swing with that.<\/p>\n
But I hope you realize that’s what you’re doing. And also that it seriously undermines your ability to be outraged when it turns out that the media and your opponents use visual images in the same way.<\/p>\n
(Places I feel do this include — but are not limited to — Pandagon (usually Pam) and Shakesville (often Melissa). I like both blogs a lot, but this use of visual imagery nettles me.)<\/p>\n
UPDATE<\/b>: I also see the use of derisive nicknames in comments at both Pandagon and Shakesville. It irritates me a lot. I see from the comment thread that inspired me to make this post<\/a> that it’s not thrilling Portly Dyke either. She writes in response to a commenter who repeatedly refers to Snobama:<\/p>\n IBW — I’ve defended you on this thread, and sided with you many times — but I’d really appreciate it if you cut out the “Snobama” thing. I don’t like it when people call Clinton “Billary”, and I don’t like it when people think up cutesy, derisive names for Obama either. I know that you can do as you wish in this regard, but I notice that it’s been grating on me a bit in this thread.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Obamaniac Billary Snobama Elephascist McSame etc. If you have a good argument, then make it. These phrases just make you seem juvenile. Frankly, I feel the same way about illustrating negative comment on a candidate with the most unflattering picture … Continue reading