A primary purpose of a paramoralism is to corrode the moral thinking of the other. In the Vick case one way would be to distract attention away from Vick’s killing and torturing of dogs with his own bare hands, and onto a more culpable (imaginary) person. (Another way would be to pooh-pooh the offence: Oh, [...]
Archive for December, 2007
Are paramoralisms catching?
December 31, 2007
Copping a Vick
December 31, 2007
Michael Vick’s letter to Judge Henry E. Hudson asking for clemency before his sentencing for dog fighting (let’s not omit dog torture and dog slaughter by his own hand) can be viewed in full here. I quote:
As you can see, the past six months have been the most difficult of my life. I’ve lost everything [...]
Two’s company
December 30, 2007
Homer Simpson is caught out lying:
Homer: It takes two to lie, Marge. One to lie and one to listen.
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Conclusion: So it’s not really his fault, then, is it?
Gibberish
December 29, 2007
William George Heirens was convicted in 1948 of the murder of three women. He remains in prison.
His modus operandi remained the same. He opened the front door [of the apartment building] and pressed the buzzer panel. When a woman answered, Heirens recalls, ‘I would talk gibberish. In those days, communication in such buildings was [...]
Duper’s delight
December 28, 2007
Dr X writes about duper’s delight – a micro expression revealing the experience of pleasure betrayed by the smile of a lying psychopath. (The term comes from Paul Eckman, the authority on lying.)
Every time he evades the truth or tells an outright lie, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad busts an idiotic smile for his audience. His stupid [...]
We wish you a Merry Xmas
December 27, 2007
Overheard in a queue:
A: So what’s he getting you for Christmas?
B: A silver charm for my bracelet?
A: Oh, that’ll be nice. Did he tell you he’s buying it or did you tell him what you want?
B: Neither! I mean there’s no fun if you have tell him. But if he really cares…
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Criterion: Read my mind [...]
What do you expect? he said
December 26, 2007
In ‘Brideshead revisited’ Julia Flight is engaged to Rex Mottram, MP. Brenda Champion is his old flame. Julia learns that Rex had been staying the week-end with a stockbroker in Sunningdale, when he said he was at his constituency, and that Mrs Champion had been there too:
On the evening she heard of this, when Rex [...]
Who did what, now?
December 24, 2007
Here is Governer Eliot Spitzer’s non-apology, ‘An Apology From Albany‘:
WE made mistakes.
Though two independent investigations proved that no illegal activity occurred on my watch, it is crystal clear that what members of my administration did was wrong — no ifs, ands or buts.
I have apologized to Joe Bruno, the Senate majority leader, and now I [...]
