Subject: Re: recruiting nonderanged bloggers for your project
From: twictor@earthlink.net
Date: 1/23/10, 16:12
To: Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com>


"But the content of your message seems to be dependent on such characterizations, which of course can be made about anyone regardless of what the facts may be, and which are thus not very convincing."

Oh, the irony!  Chiding me for mischaracterizing poor Charles Johnson, even though you yourself mischaracterized Pajamas Media as "deranged" when you suggested to Charles that this time you recruit bloggers who aren't deranged. Not very convincing, are you, especially since Pajamas is one of the least deranged outfits in the blogosphere?

Actually, it's not irony at all.  It's rank hypocrisy, one of the core principles of liberalism.

You and Charles will be very happy together, I'm sure.  You both see disagreement as a sign of mental illness, which is a truly brilliant business model.  Look at Air America, for example.  Actually, look at Little Green Footballs and the way it expanded after Charles began patrolling his threads, eliminating every single voice of dissent and telling those who disagree with them that they're fascists, racists, and idiots.  He's increased his daily hits by, what, 5000 percent?

Best,
TW
-----Original Message-----
From: Barrett Brown
Sent: Jan 23, 2010 2:41 AM
To: Thomas Wictor
Subject: Re: recruiting nonderanged bloggers for your project

Mr. Wictor-

I'm appreciative of your phrasing, particularly "cyber-execution" and "from frothing spewer to gently simmering." But the content of your message seems to be dependent on such characterizations, which of course can be made about anyone regardless of what the facts may be, and which are thus not very convincing. Of course I'm aware of what Johnson's detractors think of him; obviously I don't agree with those characterizations, or I wouldn't be collaborating with him.

As for the project as a whole, I have my reasons for going about it in the way that I am.

Regards,

Barrett Brown
Brooklyn, NY

On Sat, Jan 23, 2010 at 4:35 AM, Thomas Wictor <twictor@earthlink.net> wrote:
Barrett, you said without any sense of irony: 

"I suggested to him that, in contrast to that particular project, we try to recruit bloggers who aren’t completely deranged. He agreed that this might be an effective approach."

You said this to Charles Johnson, man!  Charles "Everyone who Disagrees with Me is a Fascist!" Johnson!  The guy who spends all day, every day, patrolling the Web, looking for mentions of his name which he can draw to the attention of his cult, whose soothing chants of praise calm him from frothing spewer to gently simmering sourpuss.  The guy who mercilessly culls his followers for daring to even question him.  He runs LGF like Kim Jong Il runs North Korea.  Anything but zombielike support is grounds for immediate cyber-execution.

Your project is already doomed.  You're building your castle on a foundation of writhing eels and rancid, well-dipped pudding.  And he'll turn on you like a greasy steak knife in your hand.

Run, while you still have the chance!

Best,
Tom W.