Like Armando last night, I'm really starting to wonder.
I should be more careful than I'm going to be, because not everyone comitting these errors is a obstinate rockhead. But man, the level of credulity, critical thinking and calm has not been good the last week or so. Today, in about a 90 minute period, I saw three diaries that contained a slew of comments that just made me cringe they were so knee-jerk and accepting of what a lot of people don't like to hear referred to as conspiracy theories.
Now I don't have a problem with some conspiracy theories. Florida 2000, WMD, even dcg2's diary yesterday suggesting that the issue with the NSA intercepts and Bolton may concern private companies flouting US sanctions against "rouge states." But people, how about some sound reasoning and a little less paranoia?
One diary I saw jumped to the conclusion that a spam email like those I get every day was some kind of Rovian conspiracy to shut down his blog, and at least a few people accepted it at face value. Another diary, still on the recommended list, is so full of errors, omissions and ridiculous leaps of logic and credulity that I find it appalling that so many people have recommended it.
What I think is happening is the fraudster element has returned. Maybe it's migratory, like they spend the winter months at DU and return here in the late spring to nest and cause a cacophony. I dunno. But like Armando last night, I find it disturbing that shoddy thinking, reasoning and presentation of argument are so often being rewarded at DKos, or at least being accepted without batting an eye.
I live in the reality-based community. So do most of the Kosmopolitans, include some who suspect fraud explains the election results last November, but don't latch on to every half-assed conspiracy theory tossed out there. I have no problem with people who believe fraud explains the results, but don't believe every bullshit theory explains the fraud. My problem is with the true believers who don't think, they just scroll around DKos, zombie-like, looking for fellow fraudsters who will keep throwing up theories like handfulls of shit, hoping some of it sticks.
If you want to be part of a reality-based community, it's time you start calling people on this bullshit argumentation. Demand sound reasoning. Examine facts. Look to see if alternative theories were acknowledge, and possibly dispensed with. Most of all, hold people to higher standards.
This place works remarkably well for a site that has over 50,000 registered users, and over any given 4-5 day period probably has comments from 6,000-12,000 users. But every once in a while we need to exercise intellectual hygene. I think this is one of those times.