tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post7196583519355924098..comments2023-11-17T03:55:40.736-05:00Comments on Ink Spots: A New Year's ResolutionLilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373158801523577733noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post-7117625400278794212010-01-05T08:49:57.328-05:002010-01-05T08:49:57.328-05:00I thought Ricks was still a reporter? I guess I ju...I thought Ricks was still a reporter? I guess I just don't pay enough attention to his blog, or who writes the actual articles at WP.<br /><br />I view blogging as a process and the readership is as much a part of the whole process as the authors, so when I evaluate a site I look at what's written, what's "underwritten," so to speak, and the in-going and out-going links. Okay, I don't really do that, I don't have the time. But, in theory....Madhuhttp://onparkstreet.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post-408512003129042812010-01-04T09:48:50.533-05:002010-01-04T09:48:50.533-05:00Tom Ricks is NOT a journalist. He is a paid fello...Tom Ricks is NOT a journalist. He is a paid fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) in Washington, D.C.<br /><br />He is a researcher, a wonk, a spokesman, a thinker and, for all I know, a space monster from another planet but he is NO LONGER a journalist.<br /><br />That doesn't mean that you shouldn't read him, only that you should not invest in his opinions the same level of trust you once put into the fully vetted stories at the Washington Post.<br /><br />Ricks wrote his most recent books at two think tanks -- "The Gamble" came while at CNAS -- so buyer beware there, too.<br /><br /><br />Carl PrineAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post-8315717473926459312010-01-03T11:57:16.611-05:002010-01-03T11:57:16.611-05:00No, it was from my gmail account. So it seems to ...No, it was from my gmail account. So it seems to be all emails - which is indeed impressive.Jason Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18335313679058470722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post-69254234698440627042010-01-02T18:09:10.155-05:002010-01-02T18:09:10.155-05:00Not that I plan on emailing him, but - just curiou...Not that I plan on emailing him, but - just curious - did you write him via a .mil address? I'm curious if he responds to all .mil emails or all emails, period. I'm guessing he gets a ton of email, so that is impressive. I'm notorious for late responses to email from friends and family, let alone strangers.<br /><br />When I was a firebrand young LT, I wrote to Hackworth several times - using an anonymous yahoo account. I can say now, with much relief, that most of my emails were gripes about his articles and not about my chain of command. But he always responded and it was always evident that he actually read the email, even if it was a tad long and rambling. I always thought that was pretty cool because my decision to join the Army was entirely the result of reading his autobiography.Schmedlaphttp://www.schmedlap.com/weblognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post-71950303320701906862010-01-02T17:41:25.711-05:002010-01-02T17:41:25.711-05:00I guess I ought to first clarify what I meant by b...I guess I ought to first clarify what I meant by boycott. He doesn't really sell anything so I mean that I'm not going to read his blog anymore. I may take the Schmedlap TTP and say that if someone sends me something from him to read, I'll probably click on the link. But I will no longer read his blog on my own. <br /><br />And yes, Mahdu, I think it is that bad. It's not even so much the topics anymore as the complete lack of logic backed up with a whole lot of self-righteousness. That post didn't make any sense and I'd have to say it is certainly not the first or twentieth post of his that I've seen like that. But, by God, it proves him right! In his own mind at least. <br /><br />I should also clarify that "anger" is not what I feel when reading his blog, but "exasperation" at the aforementioned mixture of logic avoidance/self-righteousness. Especially coming from a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist who used to be the among the best in his field. I apologize for not making myself clear. <br /><br />And to Tripper - thanks for your comment. I hope I've addressed some of that in this clarification. As for engaging Tom personally, I will say that I have and to his credit, the man answers every email he receives. So I have not been hiding from him. Let's just say that those engagements were less than satisfactory for gaining an understanding of the less-than-formal writing he does on Best Defense.Jason Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18335313679058470722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post-62030410916152164892010-01-02T17:18:57.322-05:002010-01-02T17:18:57.322-05:00Is it really as bad as that? Ricks' blog seems...Is it really as bad as that? Ricks' blog seems reasonable enough for a casual reporter-to-layperson discourse. Also, as mentioned above, commenters - or blog posts such as this - can pipe up and correct misinformation. I can understand not reading, but boycotting? I got to Ink Spots via a political blog that linked to AM (which led me to comment at AM for some time and then follow you all over here). It is possible to educate in this way. Online sites are merely tools - it's up to the reader to make something useful of the experience, and that is not something that can be judged by the post or the comments to said post (although, you can get a pretty good idea from the quality....)<br /><br />*To the substance of his post, I don't see how shutting down a service academy would necessarily solve the problems Ricks is highlighting? All the same issues might still exist even if students are "farmed out" to institutions that are already in place. A strain exists because of the situation, and, if as you say, the rates are the same for the ROTC program, then the data doesn't match the proposed solution?<br /><br />**It's hard to read some of this stuff. I mean, about the strains and all.Madhuhttp://onparkstreet.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post-27268240203059557452010-01-02T15:24:10.134-05:002010-01-02T15:24:10.134-05:00I just clicked on the link to the Ricks post and r...I just clicked on the link to the Ricks post and read it. Now I would like to amend my previous comment.<br /><br />Change <em>"I'll click on the link"</em> to <em>"if I have a ton of free time and if I am given a really good reason to click on the link, then I might click on it and read Ricks's nonsense."</em>Schmedlaphttp://www.schmedlap.com/weblognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post-55017515550527942832010-01-01T21:43:49.450-05:002010-01-01T21:43:49.450-05:00"Boycott" seems a bit much.
There is a..."Boycott" seems a bit much.<br /><br /> There is a limited amount of time in the day available for reading stuff. Ricks's blog doesn't make the cut. If someone stumbled upon something interesting at his blog and provides a link to it, then I'll click on the link. But, for daily reading, no thanks. There is far better stuff out there that gets higher priority from me.Schmedlaphttp://www.schmedlap.com/weblognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post-57731802666315155212010-01-01T19:52:23.104-05:002010-01-01T19:52:23.104-05:00Interesting. Mr Ricks has stung you with his comme...Interesting. Mr Ricks has stung you with his comments. You are correct that Mr Ricks' conclusions are not supported by the limited evidence he offers. But you must not forget that he is a journalist: never let the facts get in the way of a good story. And there is something about the nature of blogging that is different, less formal and considered, than 'regular' work. Didn't Abu Muqawama recognise this in his recent epiphany? I don't think Mr Ricks blogging will 'destroy his legacy.' <br /><br />But by refusing to read material by a writer who once hurt your feelings are you not well on the way to making yourself 'irrelevant to serious discussion'? I suggest you engage Mr Ricks rather than hiding from him. And you can buy dye for those grey hairs if it really bothers you. <br /><br />Regards, <br />TripperAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post-72800343910021810812010-01-01T14:39:30.960-05:002010-01-01T14:39:30.960-05:00Hear, hear! Ricks has such great contacts, and yet...Hear, hear! Ricks has such great contacts, and yet he decides to write so casually about important topics. He needs to either change his blogging style or just stop embarrassing himself.J.http://armchairgeneralist.typepad.com/noreply@blogger.com