[bvw]

Make a list of great and famous people, a short list but more than three. Now you can say whatever you want about some concoctionary motif of your own choice and attribute it some shared characteristic of those people. Almost whatever you say will appear valid, for it is the nature of the great and famous to be multifaceted and have deep opinions. You've just created a high-falutin' table of The Great all of whom hold exactly the intellectual positions you want them to have. And all just straw dolls that drive away every crow.

And crows are known to be the wisest of birds, even more than owls.

[tpaine]

bvw:
Sorry, the author brings a few wagonloads of straw and a truckload of used clothing bins to construct so many straw men [hoards of imaginary affinity groups] -- that the crows are weary unto death.

Um, ok.. -- But maybe you could be more specific about "imaginary affinity groups"?

There are a ~lot~ of prohibitionists around, and they organize in pretty 'unimaginary' groups, -- to my knowledge.

Make a list of great and famous people, a short list but more than three.

Hmm, - so you've given up on "-- hoards of imaginary affinity groups --"? Now its individuals who are 'unfairly characterized'?

Now you can say whatever you want about some concoctionary motif of your own choice and attribute it some shared characteristic of those people.

How bout if these individuals belong to a group like the "Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence"? Is it a concoction to characterize them as prohibitionists?

Almost whatever you say will appear valid, for it is the nature of the great and famous to be multifaceted and have deep opinions. You've just created a high-falutin' table of The Great all of whom hold exactly the intellectual positions you want them to have. And all just straw dolls that drive away every crow.

Weird, in that you've constructed a 'straw man' about Adler's position, then shot that 'doll' down.

And crows are known to be the wisest of birds, even more than owls.

Yep. I'm sure that your 'crow thing' has some deep significance to you, -- but give the rest of us a break.