Why do you make me hurt you?

[daveon]

Quote of yesterday, for me, was this on File770:

“I’m not a sociopath. As it happens, I’m actually unusually empathetic. I understand your pain. That’s why I gave you the opportunity to back down

Comments

[a_cubed]

At base, this is all about a tantrum that Larry Correia had when he lost (but wasn't voted below No Award) in the Campbell. He kept up that tantrum for a couple of years and then drew Vox Day into it by managing to get him onto the list of finalists for best editor. After Day was quite reasonably voted below No Award in that category, he had a similar tantrum himself. I'm fairly sure these guys really are deluded and not cyncial about what they're doing. All the evidence that shows that they're wrong about sekret cabals and SJW conspiracies can't convince them that they were wrong, because that would require them to admit that they've behaved abominably and they just aren't the sort of people able to accept that they've made any mistakes. Never imagine that you're going to persuade them to change their minds. On the other hand a modest level of polite, factual engagement help a great deal in avoiding more reasonable people from being drawn into their skewed worldview.
grrm's posts about this were wonderful in that vein. He clearly demolished the claims that SPs and RPs made and brought sensible light into the discussion to help those who can and will see reality to do so.