tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post2768612450869173079..comments2024-03-29T02:53:45.372-07:00Comments on Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row: Westbard sector plan draft goes to Planning Board todayRobert Dyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-80952003494757043512015-07-23T10:02:29.717-07:002015-07-23T10:02:29.717-07:00@5:45 agreed. The trolls suck, but Robert should j...@5:45 agreed. The trolls suck, but Robert should just ignore them, and engage in healthy debate with his loyal readers who don't troll.<br /><br />Robert, you have multiple people here claiming to like reading your blog, but feel you can at times come off as rude. If everyone around you says maybe you should lighten up a bit don't you think that's a sign?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-14167905767995261212015-07-23T05:45:11.996-07:002015-07-23T05:45:11.996-07:00I concur with all of these sentiments. As much as ...I concur with all of these sentiments. As much as I enjoy reading this blog, the attitudes on both sides are such a turn off. I can see why advertisers and marketers like iPic don't want to get involved. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-56119211233479018812015-07-23T05:13:06.176-07:002015-07-23T05:13:06.176-07:00So if it's anonymous it's a coward and if ...So if it's anonymous it's a coward and if it's a first name it's a fake and if it's an opposing view it's the same person and if it's an angry view it's a troll and if it's a view you find appalling it's a blogger or a politician and if it's a positive anonymous supporting view it's all ok for the all mighty untouchable beyond reproach always correct never wrong super nice guy Robert Dyer. Got it. Disappointednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-76187684894451222802015-07-22T20:34:45.103-07:002015-07-22T20:34:45.103-07:00I am "one" what? And I am a "one&qu...I am "one" what? And I am a "one" based on what actual statement? I put quotes around it because there is a whole string of comments with first names pushing the same talking points, whereas 99% of the time people post "Anonymous".Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-25381959528585347172015-07-22T19:15:08.267-07:002015-07-22T19:15:08.267-07:00But many of us do think you are one. That's an...But many of us do think you are one. That's an opinion, and we are certainly allowed it, despite whether you believe it or not.<br /><br />You do have good content though much of the time. Hence I come back to read your blog. <br /><br />BTW why do you put Brian's name in quotation marks?Betsynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-84995334655520185352015-07-22T18:21:00.868-07:002015-07-22T18:21:00.868-07:00By the way, "Brian", consider the word t...By the way, "Brian", consider the word the guy called me in what you quoted there. The fact you have no problem with him calling me that doesn't give your argument much credibility. Incredibly, I didn't even remotely insult the guy who called me that word, even though he would have deserved it. Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-26940888544909090772015-07-22T18:17:04.858-07:002015-07-22T18:17:04.858-07:004:49: In the words of Justice Alito, "Not tru...4:49: In the words of Justice Alito, "Not true."Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-11938100659520513202015-07-22T18:15:47.376-07:002015-07-22T18:15:47.376-07:00Brian, is someone who claims all senior citizens s...Brian, is someone who claims all senior citizens should be barred from driving ageist or not? That's not a "straw man" any more than racism or any other discriminatory speech or behavior.Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-15635709567987216422015-07-22T18:13:33.567-07:002015-07-22T18:13:33.567-07:00Betsy, where have I been rude? There's no evid...Betsy, where have I been rude? There's no evidence of this false claim, which is an ongoing talking point by the couple of trolls on here. Even when I have justifiably responded to a vulgar and/or obvious troll who has posted personal attacks or otherwise indicated they are not an actual reader, my response has been way more restrained than the troll deserved. Just repeating lies doesn't make them true.Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-41154577086221406382015-07-22T16:49:29.191-07:002015-07-22T16:49:29.191-07:00It seems Dyer categorizes anyone with an opposing ...It seems Dyer categorizes anyone with an opposing opinion that expresses said opinion as a troll.Petranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-31732496997516413512015-07-22T07:55:34.872-07:002015-07-22T07:55:34.872-07:00Yes I agree. Whether we agree or disagree, we shou...Yes I agree. Whether we agree or disagree, we should all engage in civil discussion. Insults, deserved or not, from readers or Robert, regardless of who wrote first, are just childish. Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-57016115534361863532015-07-22T06:56:58.560-07:002015-07-22T06:56:58.560-07:00Betsy you are so right! The troll(s) are annoying ...Betsy you are so right! The troll(s) are annoying and have no place in the discussion, but Robert gets on some crazy defensive and attacks anyone with a differing opinion.<br /><br />That comment up there at 5:30 said "<i>why are you such a dick to your readers?</i>" and Robert's response was "<i>That's not a "reader", but a troll. You support his idea to confine senior citizens to nursing homes and take away their independence at some arbitrary age he pulls out of a hat?</i>" - so his response to a legit comment was a textbook straw man fallacy.<br /><br />What gives?Briannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-87762110193949125132015-07-22T04:40:57.615-07:002015-07-22T04:40:57.615-07:00I don't agree with blanket barring a group but...I don't agree with blanket barring a group but we certainly should have more frequent and stringent testing to allow drivers to stay on the road. Wrolnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-53477512063594915242015-07-21T21:07:12.416-07:002015-07-21T21:07:12.416-07:00You stoop to the level of the trolls. Stay above t...You stoop to the level of the trolls. Stay above the fray. Otherwise you are just the same. You can do it, I believe in you. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-91381417603959095712015-07-21T20:29:01.081-07:002015-07-21T20:29:01.081-07:00I agree the trollers are rude guy honestly you are...I agree the trollers are rude guy honestly you are more often than not just as rude - whether in response to an idiotic comment or simply an opposing comment. Betsynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-76795636006183274372015-07-21T19:15:33.056-07:002015-07-21T19:15:33.056-07:004:20: Telling a troll who says all senior citizens...4:20: Telling a troll who says all senior citizens (which begins at age 55+ for age-restricted housing, or mid-60s elsewhere) should be barred from driving that his comment was ageist is "rude"?<br /><br />Ridiculous. <br /><br />I've never said anything that would be considered rude, and have been over diplomatic toward people who have said nasty things to me in their troll comments.<br /><br />Any sensible person is laughing at your attempts to claim otherwise. Just saying something doesn't make it true (not that that's ever stopped the MoCo political machine from trying). Stop lying.Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-70770429427765606012015-07-21T16:48:12.698-07:002015-07-21T16:48:12.698-07:00A few remarks I'd like to respond to:
1. &quo...A few remarks I'd like to respond to:<br /><br />1. "Why does it have to be compatible?" For the same reason that you're not putting up single-family homes on M Street in Georgetown or on Woodmont Avene in downtown Bethesda: it would disrupt the existing community and be an inappropriate use of land. DC protects neighborhoods in Spring Valley and Palisades because the District values attractive residential neighborhoods. Montgomery County should feel the same way about Springfield and Kenwood. Compatibility is the underpinning of planning and zoning practice in the U.S.<br /><br />2. Urban sprawl and suburban sprawl. <br /> A)Over-developing Westbard violates the principles of good urban planning, sustainability and transit-oriented development. These principles support mixed-use density *in areas proximate to significant mass transit*, especially rail-served areas (Metro, MARC. Amtrak) and commuter bus nodes. The usual metric for proximity to such mass transit nodes is .5 miles or less. As has been repeatedly pointed out on this thread, Westbard is over a mile from Metro and the bus network is spotty. Developing Westbard to the heights and densities advocated by the Planning Department violates the principles of transit-oriented development and sustainable urbanism. Hence, use of the term urban sprawl could be justified in the context of Westbard: the urbanization of a suburban area that is ill-suited to such density.<br /> B)Suburban sprawl is the expansion of suburban areas into previously rural areas, typically through the development of suburban neighborhoods. A good example would be the suburbanization of formerly rural areas along the 270 corridor. The proposed Westbard development is *not* suburban sprawl, but that doesn't mean that the proposed plan is suitable for its site.<br /><br />3.Is Westbard like the Palisades or Spring Valley? Yes, because it sits on a key commuter artery connecting single-family neighborhoods to the Disrrict and because it is surrounded by settled single-family communities that rely largely on the automobile. No, because Westbard's commercial areas have not been integrated with the residential character of the surrounding communities as have the smaller commercial strips serving Spring Valley and the Palisades. Westbard is a mess. If nothing else, this demonstrates the deficiencies in Montgomery County's planning and zoning activities. At the same time, the Westbard commercial/industrial area supports higher densities than the Palisades and Spring Valley. The question is: What are reasonable heights and densities? I'd argue that 3-5 stories fits well with the surrounding single-family neighborhoods and allows for attractive redevelopment at higher densities. The 75-100 foot heights proposed by the Planning Department are literally and figuratively 'over the top.'<br /> If you're inclined to trust the Planning Department's proposal for Westbard, just remember that we're talking about the same entity that planned the existing Westbard-- yes,it's awful-- and then neglected it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-3816449367380412332015-07-21T16:20:18.806-07:002015-07-21T16:20:18.806-07:00I think that commentor's point was that it doe...I think that commentor's point was that it doesn't matter who started it. You still say rude things. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-12934701345724886282015-07-21T15:34:34.449-07:002015-07-21T15:34:34.449-07:00None of the quotes you posted are vulgar in the le...None of the quotes you posted are vulgar in the least, and all were responding to trolls. You need a dictionary so you can learn the definition of vulgar. Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-17479870670968793432015-07-21T15:31:34.258-07:002015-07-21T15:31:34.258-07:001:51,1:53: You just embarrassed yourself again! Bo...1:51,1:53: You just embarrassed yourself again! Both comments were responding to troll comments. One said senior citizens shouldn't be allowed to drive - indeed, an ageist statement, as many seniors retain excellent driving skills.<br /><br />Second comment had called me an "insane drama queen" . I was excessively civil in my response to that insane drama queen troll. Quit while you're behind. Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-10667285185730951532015-07-21T12:46:13.052-07:002015-07-21T12:46:13.052-07:00It seems an opposing opinion counts as insulting t...It seems an opposing opinion counts as insulting to you perhaps?<br /><br />Which comments here for example do you consider trolls?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-90974691048559217162015-07-21T11:46:07.550-07:002015-07-21T11:46:07.550-07:0010:08: The comment was false and attempting to div...10:08: The comment was false and attempting to divert from the topic at hand. No typical reader is engaging in that type of "civility". There is no single-family home inside the lines of the sector plan. Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-34924318549008636372015-07-21T11:42:54.011-07:002015-07-21T11:42:54.011-07:0011:09: Trolls posting offensive, insulting comment...11:09: Trolls posting offensive, insulting comments are not "readers". I've never insulted opinions of readers. Total hyperbole and defamation. Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-15264054900350007882015-07-21T11:39:53.334-07:002015-07-21T11:39:53.334-07:004:37: I've never written a single vulgar respo...4:37: I've never written a single vulgar response to anyone. You're flat out lying at this point. Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-23362700333652775192015-07-21T10:48:41.200-07:002015-07-21T10:48:41.200-07:0010:30 AM That really is the bottom line. This thin...10:30 AM That really is the bottom line. This thing has no community support, but they're gonna do it anyway. <br /><br />I don't think the community in the area organized well against it. From Dyer's reporting, they all spoke out against it at the public meetings, but apparently not enough pressure has been put on our elected officials because the bulldozers are already warming up.<br /><br />10:30 AM is on the money regarding redevelopment. Folks want a better center, but not what is being proposed. Another concern is that this particular developer doesn't have a track record of world class retail development.Trawicknoreply@blogger.com