An Iron Ranger’s View: There’s no arguing with ‘parrot-people’
December 11, 2012 at 6:00 pm in Duluth News Tribune
Preparing to teach college writing, I surveyed 155 colleges, universities and technical schools. Continue Reading
An Iron Ranger’s View: There’s no arguing with ‘parrot-people’
16 Comments
The parrots are frequent visitors to these pages – present company excluded.
Hot debate. What do you think?
23 
14
Henry Ford said, “Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it.”
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
21 
3
People overlook what thinking means. Many figure that since they have internal dialogue, that they are actually THINKING. But there’s a difference. I think this can be measured in how long it takes a person to type a comment on forums like these. For me, I’ll take anywhere from a couple minutes to as long as 15 minutes to make sure what I say is actually reasonable, based on fact, checked for errors, and mostly to make sure that I’m not just blowing smoke out of my backside.
So, when I read comments like, “Well, obviously we can blame this on Obumbler and his failed policies,” I already know that person probably took 15 to 20 seconds to type that, and even less time thinking about whether or not the president even had anything to do with the subject at hand. Yet we live in a world of quantity over quality. So, when a page is filled with people’s half-thought-out comments, it creates the impression that their worldview is verified and thereby somehow accurate.
Like or Dislike:
1 
2
Yup…
“Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth — more than ruin — more even than death…. Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habit. Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid. Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world, and the chief glory of man.” …..Bertrand Russell
“Too often we… enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought. “………John F. Kennedy
Like or Dislike:
0 
1
It is obvious that the author has not retired, but rather has moved to a new venue.
The “provacateur” style at times merely intends to provoke, without the need for controversy. It tends to be insulting rather than thoughtful, and need not be based on anything other than one’s thoughts at a given moment.
And whilst the author gives warning not to use provocation to attack people, he then implies that anyone who responds to a provocative message often might be closed-minded, intolerant, empty-headed, quick-to-hate, vindictive, non-thinking, or parrot-people.
He gives little instruction on how one might discern that a response is merely from an individual who disagrees with the message.
The author should be commended for a successful teaching career and an abundant talent for inspiring today what he hesitated to inspire in the classroom.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
27 
7
I have surmised that coming from the Iron Range and from the direction of his article it is evident the author is a parrot of the left.
Hot debate. What do you think?
19 
24
I was a student of Joseph Legueri, and now I teach college English. Mark Twain also identified this in his essay “Corn Pone Opinions.” A corn-pone opinion is one that is borrowed from somebody else. There are two varieties, according to Twain, the “pocket-book” variety and the other, the opinion that gains approval from others. An In order to have an informed opinion, one must listen, explore, and examine all viewpoints (with an open mind) and then decide what to think, regardless of somebody’s approval. Name-calling, put-downs, diversions, over-generalizations, and shouting will never persuade others. Thank you, Mr Legueri for your wisdom.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
26 
10
Kudos
Hot debate. What do you think?
18 
15
Wonderful examples in the comments to make the author’s well articulated point. To much time is wasted trying to reason with this percentage of the followers. Hopefully evolutionary demographics will catch up to them.
Hot debate. What do you think?
19 
14
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
15 
25
He criticizes democratic parrot people in the same sentence as religious parrot people.
Like or Dislike:
10 
14
Indeed it does, DanH. I call them “Obamanoids”. But the left also consists of people who think before they speak, draw conclusions based on confirmed facts rather than popularity or ideology, and who understand that it’s ridiculous to pick favorites between the government, financial institutions, and private power… Qualities all of which are next to completely absent on the right.
Like or Dislike:
0 
1
I enjoy reading the Iron Range view…very refreshing. I didn’t think this was a political commentary at all , but rather a great commentary on the open conversations and thought that should be part of our everyday lives. Too often, citizens become rapt with the repetitive ramblings from vociferous ideologues who refuse to compromise their single-directional thought process for anyone. Speculation, supposition, and the aforementioned “Parrot”regurgitation are the lazy man’s way out of feigning intelligence without actually having to research a topic to form an educated opinion on it…and an educated opinion is a key to forming a balanced view on any topic.
Excellent Column Again Mr. Legueri!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
24 
9
I am proud to say I have had Mr. Legueri as my teacher in high school. The wisdom that he gives everyone inside and outside of the classroom is invaluable.
Thank you Mr. Legueri for the education that you have given me so far, and I am anxious to continue to learn from you more in your future writings.
Like or Dislike:
8 
6
Thanks for the acclaimation and validation of my point.
Like or Dislike:
7 
4
Smarimus….HUH? Saumz posts cosigns your comment that the author is parrot of left? All he mentioned was felt that author had a lot of wisdom that was invaluable, that got a great education from him….
Wait..wisdom, knowledge, education….you’re right, those aren’t right wing attributes at all…he must be lefty…nevermind…
Like or Dislike:
0 
1