Post-Traumatic Debate Disorder

You may have PTDD if:

• Nobody really disagrees with you.
  
• People who claim they disagree with you are being dishonest.
• People who claim they disagree with you are out to get you.
• You argue that someone (else) getting mobbed online "deserved it."
• You find yourself not understanding a lot of things but don't ask any questions.
• You consider accounting for differing situations to be hypocrisy.
  
• You don't know what your goal is in an argument, but that doesn't stop you.
• You view all discussions that consist of more than, "Yeah, me too," as arguments.
• All disagreements have a right and a wrong.
• All disagreements must have a winner and loser.
  
• Wrong = evil, unforgivable, delusional.
  
• You alone understand what everyone "intends" by what they say. Better than the speaker.
  
• You consider sympathy for both sides in a disagreement to be the same thing as no sympathy for either.
• You crave real-world consequences for things said online, but not for you.

These are but a small sampling of the symptoms of PTDD. If you find yourself experiencing any of these symptoms, it is highly recommended that you log off the internet immediately. Further treatment may consist of quarantine to avoid denialists of all stripes, lots of face-to-face and eye-to-eye conversation, and outdoor exercise.

News from Chile

Tsunami warnings are dominating the news right now, but if you want to find out what's going on in Chile itself, here are a few outlets getting the news out:

• CNN: Chile earthquake update (mini-feed)
• Wall Street Journal: 8.8-Magnitude Quake Hits Chile
• ABC News (Australia): Chile wakes to death and destruction
• BBC News: Massive earthquake strikes Chile
• BBC News: Chile well prepared for quakes
• Washington Post: Earthquake in Chile (photos)
• Washington Post: Huge quake hits Chile; tsunami threatens Pacific
• CBC News: Chilean earthquake kills dozens, sparks tsunami
• The Huffington Post: Chile Earthquake Relief: How You Can Help

Let me know if there are more articles I should include here.

Fury Eyes

This is not the best version of this song, but it's the least offensive to be sharable right now. It's a song that's resonating with me these days, so I want to share.


If that don't suit you, scream and shout. If thine offend thee, pluck it out.

There is a much less dorked-up version available for listening here.

In my unsuccessful searches, I came across something else I need to share. If you like drums at all, even kinda, start at 1:40. This is why I never get bored listening to The Creatures.

Science Online 2010--Trust and Critical Thinking

Our session from Science Online is now available online. I think we ended up talking about trust more than critical thinking, but it means we still stayed on topic, at least. Thanks to Greg, Desiree, PZ, Dr. Kiki (from left to right) and our "audience" (almost all of whom participated) for a great session.

Bought

Tired of Valentine's Day advertising? Or maybe sick of it, with it. I didn't realize how sick of it I'd been until I found a little something I wrote a few years back.

What will I be doing on Valentine's Day? Celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of my first, very noncommercial date with my now-husband in a very noncommercial way. I hope you enjoy yours.

I Bought My Love...

A fine meal of fine meats and fruits and spices picked with care under the cruel, hot sun. She smiled at me.

Scentless flowers raised in otherwise barren ground. She kissed me.

A fur coat pieced together from small mean creatures kept in wire cages. She slept with me.

A diamond ring, clear as refugees' tears and hard as hearts. She married me.

A house furnished with rare woods, tiles glazed with poisonous paints. She sighed at me.

Rugs knotted over many years by tiny hands, paintings sold by nameless men in windowless rooms. She frowned at me.

A white tiger cub, servants with no legal existence. She laughed at me.

She told me she was leaving. She was bored, and I was cruel.

A square of dirt for eternity, marble walls behind lock and key.

For I bought my love, and she is mine.