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Topic History of: Randall's Reading Recommendation 2
Max. showing the last 5 posts - (Last post first)
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Randall |
wyot wrote:
I think the analogy with witchcraft does fall down in one aspect: none of the witches were actually witches...
OK, fair point. Supernatural witchcraft powers aren't (as far as we know) possible, while mistreating people with a sexual element is. But witches in historical trials weren't actually prosecuted for doing magical stuff per se. The rationale for the trials was that the defendants had deviated from ideological correctness: a point the author includes. Quasi-witchcraft customs that did not conflict with Christian doctrine - lotions, potions and lucky charms* - were not punished. Likewise, sexual conduct is often punished according to its deviance from ideological standards, independent of an assessment of harm caused, so I think the author still makes a fair exploration.
I don't personally read blogs like these because they are so biased: looking for anything - however tenuous and tautologous - to "prove" a pre-decided viewpoint.
Well, it is a "compare" rather than a "compare and contrast." The premise was, what similarities are there? Not, what degree of similarity can be established?
They overwhelm me in that sense, and leave me not knowing what weight if any to put on any of it....
I think the piece is written for entertainment, rather than as a scholarly inquiry. Some of the points are a bit tongue in cheek. Others are more serious. It's a thought-provoker and conversation-starter rather than a determined effort to persuade.
* Is that a song title, or am I thinking of Baubles, Bangles and Beads..? |
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wyot |
I think the analogy with witchcraft does fall down in one aspect: none of the witches were actually witches...
I don't personally read blogs like these because they are so biased: looking for anything - however tenuous and tautologous - to "prove" a pre-decided viewpoint.
They overwhelm me in that sense, and leave me not knowing what weight if any to put on any of it.... |
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Randall |
My very good friend has put up a couple more articles on his website and blog.
The first, here, is about one of the most blatant, bare-faced and flagrant examples of evidence forgery I've ever seen. I remember some posts about the same kind of imagery planting by the police, from MWTW and a couple of others I think, so this might be of particular interest.
The second, here, is a follow-up to the witch hunt comparison. This time, the comparison is with genocide and it makes uncomfortable reading.
I'm sure the author would appreciate your comments, shares or even just printing them out and using them for origami. |
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