Trying to be even-handed

People who followed yesterday's debate on political tribalism, and who don't have eyebeams as a friend, might want to swing by his journal and check out a post explaining why he unfriended me.

The only comment I can make, really, is that he's still responding to what he thinks I said and his expectations of my attitudes, rather that what I actually believe. It's a fascinating rebuttal he's posted - but it's a rebuttal of something else entirely. He also seems to remain unaware that accusing me of having a hidden agenda, and a lack of comprehension of other people's attitudes could be considered "various snide insults" all by themselves, or, at the very least, extremely patronising and insulting.

It's a shame, but if people will only engage with what they assume your "hidden message" is, then any meaningful discussion is impossible. I also find the decision to lay out an attack on my assumed position without direct facility for reply revealing.

Ah well, go check it out, and form your own opinions based on the evidence, rather than making the evidence fit your opinions. That's all I was advocating anyway. I mean, perhaps the evidence does show that I was being a complete ass, and I'm just too close to see it. :-)

That's all I've got to say on that subject.

Photographer as abuser?

The BBC posts a fascinating analysis of the US Iraq torture photos written by an award-winning photographer. Thought-provoking stuff.

[Cross-posted from my blog, just because]

Poll of the day: G-string

The LJ polls are a badly underused feature (andrewducker is an honourable exception here.) So, to get a clearer idea of what sort of people are reading this nonsense, stimulate some discussion and have a bit of fun, I'll be using the nifty poll-building function of fraserspeirs's xjournal to post a news-related poll as often as I can.

First up, a legislator in Louisiana is attempting to ban those hipster trousers and visible g-strings that have become a common sight on the streets in recent years.
[Poll #292766]

More on the UK photos

A minister says that the photos were 'categorically not taken in Iraq'.

So, either a minister's head is going to roll for lying to the public, press and house, or somebody is faking Iraqi abuse pictures.*

Interesting times ahead, yes?

*please note: just because the pictures are faked DOES NOT meant that abuse isn't happening at the hands of serving UK soldiers. Other sources, such as Red Cross and Amnesty International report reports, suggest that it is.