Holden: Yes, definitely did. Thought it was far too extreme. it’s underlying message — that consent is important — is on the mark but the lengths she went were a little ridiculous. Asking permission for a kiss? Really?
Nathan: I pretty much agree, but what caught my attention was the comments section. Specifically a comment made by a certain ShlomoShunn.
Holden: You don’t say, a certain ShlomoShunn? What’d he have to say?
Nathan: From the top. (1)
Holden: My first thought: this guy’s a genius. That second sentence is a masterpiece.
Nathan: A troll among trolls?
Holden: Oscar-worthy. He begins with a grammatical error — “Everyone know” — that suggests either troll or zealot too focused with a message to bother with plebeian worries like grammar.
Nathan: Or anyone who doesn’t proofread. But that first line is pretty real. Anyway, there’s more—
Holden: —Hold on, I’m not done with this paragraph. He then uses a common trope — that women want men to read their minds — and twists it in the most beautifully perverse manner. He screams at us with the thoughts that we pretend we can’t think.
Nathan: I mean, it sets a terrible generalization about women, especially the last line, assuming he knows the ins and out of most females’ head in that respect is ridiculous and offensive. Well done troll. I almost got worked up.
Holden: Fully agreed. Its ridiculousness is not up to debate but I think the undercurrent, the creepy and undeniable humanity we can see in it, is fascinating. You said something about more?
Nathan: So let’s see, he’s trying to make the argument of reverse sexism to piss people off.
Holden: Yeah. A fairly traditional trope — similar to many of the libertarian special rights claims. But the devices he employs are impressive. It’s blatantly absurd but there’s just enough to give off a whiff of sincerity.
Nathan: Like, maybe he’s not a troll?
Holden: Exactly. Which makes him an even better troll.
Nathan: Uh... you lost me. If someone actually holds these opinions and isn’t just trolling that’s sad. How does that make him an even better troll?
Holden: The fact that there is a discussion of whether he is trolling or not is what makes him such an effective troll. There’s layers to this shit! Trolling is an art that makes us question sincerity, makes us wonder to what extremes our minds can go.
Nathan: Well figuring out the level of sincerity will decide if I’m going to laugh — because he’s a clever troll — or cry — because humanity is fucked if people like this breed.
Holden: But we can’t figure it out! It’s Roland Barthes, it’s the Death of the Author. We’re forced to consume the ‘performance’ as is without considering authorial identity or intention. We have to recognize the array of possibility. You should laugh and cry.
Nathan: I can’t combine the two. I need to know if he’s one or the other.
Holden: Which is the beauty of this beautiful (2) post by the legend ShlomoShunn.
Nathan: Well let’s see if there’s more. He has a Disqus account with… Shit. Over 1600 comments that range from monstrously insensitive and sexist — expected — to dangerously anti-semitic — unexpected — to surprisingly, disturbingly religious — totally unexpected. I’m leaning toward person with a depressingly destructive world view and way too much free time. So, I guess sad?
Holden: 1600 comments — and they’re all, it seems, from within the past month or two. The output. This guy’s the Lil B of hate. But hey, he’s witty.
Nathan: *crickets* Should we even bother going back to the original comment? The thing is so long and awful...
Holden: This guy is the Scorsese of Disqus trolls; I present to you his Goodfellas:
Nathan: “the bucking broncos they become when Mandingo pile-drives their fundaments” ? Maybe this guy is a troll, maybe he is the Disqus Scorsese. Which masterpiece would this be? It’s strikingly offensive on multiple levels.
Holden: That’s Raging Bull and the Departed wrapped in one. A true genius.
Nathan: More like a shmuck with a smart mouth.
Holden: Oy.
(1) You can read the comment in all its glory without our commentary right here.
(2) Someone’s stoned.
To ShlomoShunn:
Thanks for the inspiring comment. Looking forward to your response.
Also if anyone else would like to weigh in please do.
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