Da Techguy's (no longer backup) Blog

There has been a bit of a fuss about Eric Erickson and his decision to keep out birthers and truthers from Red State.

I have already given my opinion on both subjects, but in terms of Red State here are my thoughts:

1. Everybody has a right to their opinion

2. Everybody has the right to try to propagate that opinion as best they can.

3. That doesn’t include a right to post at RedState.

Just over 16 months ago I signed up for a free blog at wordpress and began blogging here. How successful that blogging has been was dramatically illustrated recently. There is nothing to stop anyone with internet access from starting their own blog and making their case to a world wide audience. If your arguments are skillful then others who agree will link and eventually notice will be given outside your circle.

But to expect Erickson to give you a platform against his will? Sounds a lot like an entitlement to me, not very conservative.

If your argument is good it can stand up under fire, otherwise you are like the kid in the old Ty Cobb story.

You don’t know the story? It’s from the 1985 edition of the Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract (p.113) and goes like this:

A small town pitcher 6′ 4″ says he can strike out Cobb on three pitches anytime and writes Cobb’s manager saying it only will cost him $1.80 train fare to find out. Jennings sends the cash and after warming up then send out Cobb. As James tells the story:

Cobb hit his first pitch against the right field wall. His second pitch went over the right field wall. The third pitch went over the center field wall. Cobb was thinking they ought to keep this guy around to help him get in a grove.

“Well,” said Jennings. “What have you got to say?”

The pitcher stared in hard at the batter’s box. “You know,” he said, “I don’t believe that’s Ty Cobb in there.”

For suggesting reading I would name Eject Eject Eject’s famous post on conspiracy theories: Seeing the unseen. Give it a read, think about it and then make your choice as you will and remember this, there is no shame in being wrong, everyone is wrong about some things.