Dick v. Dick... The Saga Continues

[klr]

Have you tried to inform RD about The Chalkster's back-stabbing ways?

[PsychoSerenity]

I always enjoy your commentary on this subject, LP.

[lordpasternack]

Have you tried to inform RD about The Chalkster's back-stabbing ways?

I could try to send an email to him, but I actually suspect Richard may have finally been convinced to, uhm, filter me out for the time being, so to speak. I emailed him (and CC'd the Moderator address) a few things about his recent book - particularly pointing out that it was available for preorder from Amazon. This is something that I'd at least have expected him to get onto putting on his site, if he'd read it. I tried again. Nothing...

I have some reason to surmise vaguely that some(one) close to him may be jealous concerned about the jarringly direct, pertly familiar and trenchantly perceptive manner in which I communicate with Richard. And I of course have far more reason to surmise that they at least have more vested interest in convincing him to block me out, than convincing him to hear me out and translate my 'polemics' into less feeling-hurty formats that they can perhaps stomach and gain from. It's not in their interests to have me giving them both barrels between the eyes in writing to Richard. And it hurts Richard's feewings, too. So a bit of gentle nudging from those he woves, with me not backing down in my usual persistent forthrightness - and off I quite possibly go to the spam filter.

I'm not too worried, really. I have principles. I'm right. And he can't stay irked at me forever. And whatever any of them may say about me - I'll spectacularly fail to live down to their expectations, and any 'warnings' to Richard.

[lordpasternack]

I always enjoy your commentary on this subject, LP.

I'm flattered, and glad it's appreciated.

[charlou]

It looks more than a tad obsessive and narcissistic to me.

[lordpasternack]

It looks more than a tad obsessive and narcissistic to me.

Obsessive and scab-picky, maybe - but narcissistic?

[Coito ergo sum]

Interesting stuff.

The long and the short of it is, look for Timonen to finally file an answer to the complaint on Monday, June 6.

Plaintiff is going to want to take Timonen's deposition for sure. That will be interesting.

[charlou]

It looks more than a tad obsessive and narcissistic to me.

Obsessive and scab-picky, maybe - but narcissistic?

Narcissistic may not be the right word for ... blowing your own trumpet ... pride, bordering on smugness, in how personal you can get in your communications with him and about him, and couching it in terms of insightfulness.

You certainly seem to believe you've got RD worked out on every level, and that you know what he thinks and what he should do better than he (or anyone else around him) does.

This may seem harsh. Perhaps I'm the one who's analysing things wrongly ... but since you're open to communicating with blunt honesty, those are my bluntly honest thoughts about it.

[lordpasternack]

It looks more than a tad obsessive and narcissistic to me.

Obsessive and scab-picky, maybe - but narcissistic?

Narcissistic may not be the right word for ... blowing your own trumpet ... pride, bordering on smugness, in how personal you can get in your communications with him and about him, and couching it in terms of insightfulness.

Thanks for this criticism. I'd say it's more that I become blinkered and somewhat oblivious to how I'm appearing when I get caught up in a passion about something. If you track my record more widely, you'll see that I really very rarely mention any kind of interaction/insight/whatever to do with Richard - and when I said that he had complimented me in the past in response to someone, I quite consciously refrained from saying anything more on that.

The main thing I would say about myself that might also fit here is that I can be quite PERVERSE. I poke and prod people and things and strain boundaries every now and again. Not with real ill-intent, and I'm a pain in the arse even to myself sometimes. And I'm mildly manic-depressive, which means I do go off on little flights from time to time…

I have been mildly manic in the past few days (typical for mid-late spring) - but am levelling out now. I have to admit I cringed not long after I posted the contents of that email yesterday, which is why I decided to have it shifted to the Pub. I'm not completely oblivious - just less aware than I should be at times.   

You certainly seem to believe you've got RD worked out on every level, and that you know what he thinks and what he should do better than he (or anyone else around him) does.

I don't think I have him worked out on every level. I think I have a feel for his demeanor and personality - and that's nothing just particular to Richard. I have a feel for many people. Some people wear their hearts on their sleeves, or are otherwise transparent.

As for knowing what he should do better than he does (and those around him do) - I actually think, speaking completely objectively, that a sizeable crowd around these parts and over on RatSkep would presume that ability. It was certainly applicable during Timonengate - and I think you'll find very few people who actually think the revamped RD.net is overall better than the old set-up. 

And a number of people have been as robust, and in some cases as personal as I have been - except that they haven't put it directly to Richard or his colleagues. Ilovelucy, for example, once stated that Richard "has the social intelligence of a sponge"…

This may seem harsh. Perhaps I'm the one who's analysing things wrongly ... but since you're open to communicating with blunt honesty, those are my bluntly honest thoughts about it.

I am more than happy to take as good as I give as criticism goes.

[charlou]

haayeaahh perversity ... as you describe it (and in other ways) .. I know this one.


Thanks for the measured response to my rather blunt criticism.

[charlou]

You certainly seem to believe you've got RD worked out on every level, and that you know what he thinks and what he should do better than he (or anyone else around him) does.

I don't think I have him worked out on every level. I think I have a feel for his demeanor and personality - and that's nothing just particular to Richard. I have a feel for many people. Some people wear their hearts on their sleeves, or are otherwise transparent.

It's this transparency thing ... your certainty and doggedness about how you read it ... and how you just know better than all concerned. Do you ever consider how patronising and/or insulting that might be ... not only, but particularly if you're not necessarily right?

As a side note ... here are some thoughts from personal anecdote for you. I've been misinterpreted before, and had my views misrepresented, and felt like it doesn't matter if or how I respond my response will not be taken into account because the person doing so is wedded to their view of it. Even on explanation, the person maintains an unyielding stance.

Has this ever been your experience?

[charlou]

[lordpasternack]

It's this transparency thing ... your certainty and doggedness about how you read it ... and how you just know better than all concerned. Do you ever consider how patronising and/or insulting that might be ... not only, but particularly if you're not necessarily right?

Yes - and I suppose it's the same flaw I accuse the RD.net moderators of (with the exception that I don't presume the necessary qualities to be moderating a board). I am quite cautious to try to be correct in the content of what I say, but my conviction when I do think I am right can make me overbearing. 

I will reiterate that this is a flaw that the RD.net moderators have/had. For all that anyone may accuse me of arrogance or presumptuousness - it seems to take a hell of a lot of those qualities to presume that you have the proper 'vision' for that site, without even bothering to consult the previous moderators, without possibly having ever moderated a board before, without having much experience of being on the other side of the moderators. 

I said to Richard myself a little while back (sorry) that I didn't consider it arrogance because I didn't even consider it a compliment that I had quite objectively observably had more valid insight than those around him. And much of the views I've put forward are also 'obvious', again, to a number of people besides myself.

It's a matter of objective public record that the opinions I've expressed (and many others have expressed) have been more accurate than those Richard has preferred (likely influenced by those around him) on those particular issues at those particular times. That that still doesn't warrant my tone at times, I can appreciate…    

As a side note ... here are some thoughts from personal anecdote for you. I've been misinterpreted before, and had my views misrepresented, and felt like it doesn't matter if or how I respond my response will not be taken into account because the person doing so is wedded to their view of it. Even on explanation, the person maintains an unyielding stance. 

Has this ever been your experience?

Not that I can call to mind specifically. 

But I would say that I personally think that I'm never beyond reasoning with. I can be stubborn, wilful, perverse, over-the-top, uncompromising or anything else at times - but I'm never beyond reasoning with.