Reflections on Playboy: File this under “No such thing as bad publicity”

August 14, 2006

File this under “No such thing as bad publicity”

This review of my blog is not at all flattering. But I don’t take it personally, because Amanda Marcotte and her readers at Pandagon are really only using me to take cheap shots at libertarianism. Some day, the Republicans and Democrats will be exposed as the rival gangs of sanctimonious control freaks that they are. Then most Americans are likely to want their personal and economic freedom back.

By the way, my journey to libertarianism had nothing to do with Ayn Rand, whom we don’t universally admire. And I think the other libertarian blogger they mock on that page is rather charming in her unorthodox way of talking about herself as a potential mate. For self-described liberals, these people tolerate very little nonconformity.

A related subsequent post:
Playboy can no longer tell friend from foe

Posted by Brian Sorgatz at 11:14 PM

marie b. left this comment at August 15, 2006 12:10 AM
I usually find Pandagon to be an excellent read (if the comments sometimes leave a little to be desired), but I found the need to call you a loser to be pretty unnecessary.

It's sort of like calling Michael Moore a fat slob. Why the need to resort to third grade insults?

Brian Sorgatz left this comment at August 15, 2006 1:00 AM
marie b.,
Marcotte seems like a person I could have very interesting dialogue with—if only she were willing.

Will left this comment at August 15, 2006 7:08 AM
She seems pretty willing to respond to posters, from what I can see. If you want a dialog, then I'd suggest responding to her post.

Anonymous left this comment at August 15, 2006 10:25 AM
What Marie said.

But as a liberal who reads Pandagon regularly, I find your blog quite interesting. I'm glad that Amanda linked to it. (I agree with her on many topics; this is not one. I'd agree with your comment about insufficient tolerance for noncomformity, at least here.) So that's one bit of vindication of the "no bad publicity" idea.

Brian Sorgatz left this comment at August 15, 2006 2:24 PM
Will,
Unlike you, she doesn’t seem willing to debate in good faith, with all the name-calling she immediately started with. We can all lose our temper eventually, but she didn’t waste any time.

Anonymous,
Thank you.

Scarlett left this comment at August 17, 2006 9:41 PM
Hi Brian Sweetie, just stopped by to say I am sorry I have not commented in a while. This lady that's name calling sounds very silly. Take it with a grain of salt - or even less.

Hugs,
Scarlett

allan left this comment at August 19, 2006 12:03 AM
Those that scream most about how others are intolerant seem most willing to be intolerant themselves.

I may not read Playboy anymore, but I do enjoy your blog.

JJ left this comment at August 22, 2006 11:04 AM
Wow - her review received a shitload of comments from readers.

Brian Sorgatz left this comment at August 22, 2006 3:00 PM
JJ,
Shitload is the right word, if you ask me. Fortunately, I got a temporary boost in readership out of it. On a typical day, I get about 300 hits. But the day the review was published, I got 431. The day after that, 526.

Brian Sorgatz left this comment at August 22, 2006 3:01 PM
Thanks, Scarlett.

Neb left this comment at August 30, 2006 6:18 PM
Nice to hear somebody else hitting the nail on the head about the Democrat/Republican thing. My hubby has decided that they're pretty much identical. Needless to say, we're more than a bit Libertarian around here.

Brian Sorgatz left this comment at August 31, 2006 8:24 AM
Neb,
Do you and the hubby read Reason? If not, give it a try.

R M Roxinger left this comment at June 17, 2007 3:49 PM
In the time that has passed since your post, Jacqueline Passey got her own domain name, so the blog of hers that you mentioned is now here.

August 14, 2006

var a = 13; if(a == 0) {document.write('0 comments');}else if(a == 1){document.write('1 comment');}else {document.write(a+' comments');}