tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538874342968130652.post4538809867392206244..comments2024-03-27T10:36:39.504+05:30Comments on tantu-jaal: How to make a pointSunil Mukhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155823169161030174noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538874342968130652.post-3776649609964804992010-02-10T21:48:45.061+05:302010-02-10T21:48:45.061+05:30Good for you Anirbit. When LM loses a logical argu...Good for you Anirbit. When LM loses a logical argument he lashes out with a personal attack, very much like a little child smashing the crockery and bursting into tears. What's good is that people like you (and Eman) handled your side of the argument with logic and patience. I really believe that combination always wins in the end.Sunil Mukhihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05155823169161030174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538874342968130652.post-48026200935568641892010-02-10T18:05:51.008+05:302010-02-10T18:05:51.008+05:30I feel very peaceful to see you disagree with Lubo...I feel very peaceful to see you disagree with Lubos's general trend of argument. Especially to see that you too like me see a racist and white supremacy tone in many of his writings.<br /><br />Earlier when I said that in public some devotees of Lubos Motl in TIFR came down upon me saying how could I say that when he has such great publications in string theory especially since he did all his "big" things as a grad student. <br /><br />For one thing I am not capable of judging his scientific achievement since I don't know any String Theory and further I couldn't see how that could have any correlation to his having or not-having racist ideas.<br /><br />Last year I had tried commenting on his blog where he seemed to have dumped all the blame for global warming and pollution on the developing countries and he seemed to propose that the "first world" countries need not feel obliged to do anything to reduce global warming. He seemed to take the stance that the developed world participating in reversing global warming was like "white man's burden".<br /><br />So I had commented that at the verge of a possible crisis it doesn't seem prudent to debate whose fault is it since if disaster strikes nature will not distinguish between "first world" and "third world". Instead if global warming is scientifically established to be a serious threat then everyone should participate in the safety measures.<br /><br />Somehow Lubos labelled me as a "third world communist" for proposing such ideas!<br /><br />I failed to understand further as to how suddenly communism entered a global warming discussion or what exactly did "communism" have to do at all with what I was saying which seemed very simple and obvious stuff to me!Anirbithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00257290158956552196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538874342968130652.post-13912893809824990902010-02-01T18:40:49.555+05:302010-02-01T18:40:49.555+05:30Rahul S: No I'm not a regular reader of LM'...Rahul S: No I'm not a regular reader of LM's blog and went there recently only to see whether there was a discussion on the recent <a href="http://arxiv.org/abs/1001.0785" rel="nofollow">proposal by Erik Verlinde</a> that gravity is an entropic force. There was indeed quite an interesting discussion (I may try to blog about this topic sometime), and it included a nontrivial debate between LM and Erik and others, but in the end LM abusively trampled on everyone and that was that.<br /><br />Once there, I ended up drifting through the blog (quite possibly out of masochism as you say), and like the proverbial lotus blooming in the muck, Eman's comments rewarded my efforts.<br /><br />Rahul B: Yes that is my point exactly. I don't want you to faint at my new-found (and possibly short-lived) humility, but this little exchange made me realise there is a way I would like to be, which I am not at present.Sunil Mukhihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05155823169161030174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538874342968130652.post-68680890074341167312010-02-01T14:15:46.767+05:302010-02-01T14:15:46.767+05:30Well, to be fair (to all sides really and I am not...Well, to be fair (to all sides really and I am not considering the Motl side) the Eman's of this world are rather rare -- whether Arab or Israeli. It is a rare trait independent of species.Rahul Basuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07751088048215388592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538874342968130652.post-77430225065285833342010-02-01T14:04:56.174+05:302010-02-01T14:04:56.174+05:30Sunil - if you are a regular reader of Motl's ...Sunil - if you are a regular reader of Motl's blog you must be a masochist :) Or perhaps someone else pointed you to that dialogue.<br /><br />Yes, responses on the lines of Eman's are rare, but no less cutting (perhaps more cutting) than a "shouting" response. Unfortunately, understated irony, or even politeness, are not widely understood these days. Motl does a fine job of discrediting himself. In fact, I am sure he thinks in what passes for his mind that he has found a new convert.Rahul Siddharthanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04809667965184094636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538874342968130652.post-50881482567515357392010-02-01T12:27:16.234+05:302010-02-01T12:27:16.234+05:30Yes Rahul, not just a racist but a white supremaci...Yes Rahul, not just a racist but a white supremacist (who once claimed on his blog that Indians, among others, are less intelligent than white people, and then added with exquisite condescension: "which makes it all the more remarkable that the Indian physicists I know are so smart" or words to that effect).<br /><br />But I fear that I (and you) digressed from the point. The Motls are a dime a dozen, but it's the Emans who really inspire.<br /><br />I'm reminded of the following fable: A sadhu is found to be carrying a priceless diamond around with him. A greedy shopkeeper in the village covets it and steals it when the sadhu is apparently sleeping. But the sadhu opens an eye and says "oh you can keep it if you like, I really didn't need it anyway". Thereafter the shopkeeper falls at the sadhu's feet and says "I don't want the diamond. I want whatever it is you have that allows you to give away the diamond so easily."<br /><br />Me likewise. I want whatever it is Eman has, that empowers her (I assume "her" is correct) to answer a Motl in such even-handed, humane and gentle terms. This is true strength of character. Notice even the restrained eloquence of her concluding "thank you", resisting the temptation to offer a stinging retort.<br /><br />I should mention that this dialogue haunted me for several days after I first came across it, which is why I thought of posting it here.Sunil Mukhihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05155823169161030174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538874342968130652.post-76288708733245920882010-02-01T10:25:58.477+05:302010-02-01T10:25:58.477+05:30He is supposed to be a scientist (string theorist?...He is supposed to be a scientist (string theorist?) who are expected to think rationally. I am ashamed for my species. <br /><br />BTW his present post has a hefty amount of Rajendra Pachauri bashing. (Mr Motl, apart from his other sterling qualities, also appears to be a climate change denier). And his post and the comments following have, in keeping with the general tone of this reading matter, a healthy dose of old fashioned racism. (Did Pachauri really write this book?)<br /><br />Need to wash my face and hands, after this...Rahul Basuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07751088048215388592noreply@blogger.com