Tom Tango Is A Douche

Posted on by

Tom Tango is a very smart writer about baseball and researcher of baseball stats. He is one of the most well known and prolific contributors to Sabermetrics. Many of his stats get used on Fangraphs. He is the co-author of “The Book,” a book about baseball strategy that employs authoritative language and some dodgy math. He is the co-proprietor of InsideTheBook.com, one of the better blogs on the internet.

And Tom Tango is also a surprisingly giant douche.

If you are reading this, you’re probably familiar with the internet. It’s a place where towering intellectuals roam amid abject racists; where high art co-mingles with bizarrely niche porn; where ideas and images are served up as an infinite buffet, leaving each individual to decide whether to digest them or move on, with a simple click, to the next dish. It’s a paradise of choice that has vindicated everything enlightenment liberals have been saying for centuries about free speech and the marketplace of ideas.

The Book blog has largely been a good representative for these ideals. Sports, politics, statistics, and economics are discussed at a relatively high and civil level, in the posts and in the comments. There isn’t much in the way of spamming, trolling, racial or ad hominem slandering, or  irrelevancies that plague the comments sections of many blogs. While every blogger obviously has the right to control the content of his or her own website, anyone with a basic appreciation for the marketplace of ideas knows that a free-flowing exchange of conflicting arguments is the hallmark of the pursuit of truth.

Unfortunately, as we shall now see, Tom Tango is not really on board with this. When he doesn’t like the contents of someone’s ideas or when he feels the limits of his intellectual capacity are threatened, he reveals himself to be a petulant bully, an arrogant stuffed shirt, and an irrational jerk. In short, a douche.

Witness:

In November, Tango wrote a mediocre post about the Jerry Sandusky case entitled “Child Rapists.” I read through the post and its 40 some odd comments, and found it to be an echo chamber of pablum. I was particularly put off by the advocacy of violence in some of the comments. I decided to write a contrarian, but sincere, comment (#45). I knew the subject matter was extremely controversial and that I would be seen as defending the indefensible, but I hoped the gently syllogistic form of my argument  would provoke some thoughtful & interesting conversation. And, indeed, it did. My post sparked a few comments vehemently arguing against my position, to which I responded in comment #50.

The came Tango, with comment #51, which- after some fallacious arguments- ends:

“Wexler has simply not thought through what he’s saying.  And, I hope, we don’t hear more about him justifying what he’s saying.”

 

Now, this in itself does not quite reach the level of utter douchebaggery. But it’s an ad hominem and an attempt to shut down the conversation because his sensibilities were offended. I said as much in comment #54, but added that I would respect his wishes not to comment further on that thread. Despite my ensuing silence, readers continued to discuss (or, rail against) my argument for another 35 comments. Some comments were thoughtful, some less so. After one comment dismissed my argument as unworthy of a charitable response, MGL (Tango’s book and blog co-author) stepped in to take up the cudgel in my defense:

“I was going to stay out of this discussion because, like religion, I don’t think that it can be discussed rationally even among otherwise intelligent, rational, and objective thinkers.

But, I don’t like when someone presents an unpopular but rational, reasonable, and cogent argument, and then gets lambasted.  I don’t think Wexler deserves that…

…Wexler’s principal thesis…is absolutely true.”

This upset Tango, and he proceeded to pissily argue with MGL until the thread came to a close. The real douchocracy starts soon after when Tango wrote a post entitled “Fighting In The NHL.” The following three comments were made on the thread:

 

#3    rempart      (see all posts)2011/12/04 (Sun) @ 17:50
The dumbest comment about hockey I hear all the time from the old dinosaurs “the players police the game themselves”. LOL. Why?

#4    Wexler      (see all posts)2011/12/04 (Sun) @ 20:14
#3/ “The dumbest comment about hockey I hear all the time from the old dinosaurs “the players police the game themselves”. LOL. Why?”
I wonder if these folks who think it’s valuable to have players police the game would be in favor of expanding the players’ role in policing the game. Why not just limit the refs to a procedural role- dropping the puck, calling offsides, whistling the play dead for hand passes and pucks out of play, etc. But when Sid gets hooked coming off the sideboards, they don’t stop play and give the guy a minor. Instead, you just send out Steve MacIntyre at some point to drop the gloves with someone from the other team. Enough of this pussy 2min penalty bullshit.

#5    rempart      (see all posts)2011/12/04 (Sun) @ 21:33
#4/Better yet. Give the coaches a Red Challenge stick. They throw it on the ice, and each teams goons meet at center to duke it out. All is then even play continues!
About an hour later, Tango deleted these three comments from the thread. I have no idea why, other than a personal vendetta. I originally thought he was seizing on my use of a curse word in comment #4. But within a day Tango had a new post that featured a curse word of his own, and it’s not hard to find other examples. Also, if my cursing were the problem, why would he delete rempart’s exchange with me?
In place of our comments, Tango left this:
#3    Tangotiger      (see all posts)2011/12/04 (Sun) @ 23:59If you don’t see your comment here, they’ve been moved to another thread. Don’t offer your opinion on my editorial decision.  I don’t need to know it.
Wow- now tell me those aren’t the words of a dyed-in-the-wool douche! Hold on- it gets douchier. rempart, clearly confused at having his innocuous comments removed, asks simply:
#6    rempart      (see all posts)2011/12/05 (Mon) @ 10:18
Why did you move my post?

 

Tango’s reply:

#7    Tangotiger      (see all posts)2011/12/05 (Mon) @ 10:45

I should have been clearer: not only am I not accepting opinions as to why I move posts, or otherwise conduct business on my blog, I’m not going to explain it unless I choose to. This is my home, you are my guests, and I will give wide latitude.  But when I decide to take action, you either take it like a man, or just leave my place. This isn’t Occupy Tango. Any reply on this editorial issue will be automatically deleted, regardless of its content.

 

WTF?! Dbag central. Junior high school kids recognize this kind of wanton use of authority for the patent douchicity that it is. I found the buried thread where Tango stuffed the offending comments and let rempart know where he could find his writings:

rempart- I thought you might like the courtesy of knowing where your deleted posts have been buried…
I listed the link to the thread (which Tango consciously omitted), which was called “Classroom Hallway Notes” and contained an embarrassingly nannyish comment by Tango about keeping “hallway notes” here and out of his “classroom.” I’d offer the full quote, but Tango-perhaps starting to feel a little uneasy about having his Dbag bona fides available for all to read- quickly deleted his own remark. And he deleted that alternate thread, permanently deleting all the comments (here is the cached evidence of the deleted thread).
Unaware that Tango would remove the alternate thread, I posted in the original “Fighting” thread:
“Since Tango bothered to create a thread to move the deleted posts to, I hope he will see fit not to delete the link to it that I posted. However, given that he created the new thread instead of simply deleting the posts completely, I strongly suspect he knew there was something utterly irrational and, indeed, wrong with deleting them in the first place.
That he did so very quickly- while burying the moved posts without giving a link to the new thread- betrays the fact that he would be embarrassed if the discerning readership of this blog saw the posts he decided delete for themselves.”
Tango deleted this comment as well as my reply to rempart telling him where he could find the new thread. Man, fucking douche. I tried this:

“Since Tango will delete any comment on his “editorial decision,” I’ll just remark on what I’ve observed in general from other sites that have a high-level of discussion but decide to start censoring posts beyond spam:


1)They usually start doing so in response to a relatively mild problem (too many tangents, minor incivilities or ad hominems, “inappropriate” words) that would have been naturally constrained anyway by the level of conversation among other participants.

2)They create a new principle for censoring (no cursing, no harassment, no racism etc) but the admins largely end up applying that standard wantonly- usually when they either disagree with the post or dislike the poster, while ignoring other instances of the offense (including their own).

3)Posters respond angrily to having their posts censored. The admins harden their stance and respond rigidly and dogmatically and with an authoritarian streak that undercuts the free flow of ideas, for which the site was in part originally intended. Irrationality is propagated all around.
4)Because of #3 and because intelligent and useful contributors no longer find such an open and welcome atmosphere & depart, the level of conversation suffers.”

Tango deleted it. I resolved not to comment on Tango’s posts anymore. By and by, MGL wrote an interesting post arguing that Mark Buehrle is not in the same class as CJ Wilson. I offered a counter-argument, and ended with a snarky comment:

#4Wexler      (see all posts)2011/12/06 (Tue) @ 23:34

I totally accept your main point that the mainstream community’s process for evaluating players is behind sabrists, but how’s this for a case that Buehrle & Wilson should be projected to be in the same category:
Wilson’s career ERA is 3.60. Buehrle’s is 3.83. Not a huge diff if we disregard sequence (ie, Wilson’s better ERA years have come recently).
CJ seemingly still has the edge, but:
1)MB’s ERA is a more reliable indicator or his true talent since he’s held it over ~2500IP. CJ’s is only in 708IP, so once you regress towards the league average I’m guessing you get something like a tossup.
2)MB’s ERA also came entirely as a starter. You have to adjust CJ’s ERA higher because 40% of his IP came with the advantage of being a reliever.
3)You also need to adjust for quality of competition & run environment. I presume CJ has faced the easier competition by a bit because of his division schedule (M’s, A’s, Angels). And MB certainly has pitched in a higher run environment throughout his career.
Does that move you at all?
Wilson’s HR/FB happen to be very low over the last three years. I don’t know how the projection systems work, but does that low rate factor into the FIP that they spit out?
Hopefully, Tango doesn’t my delete my post again.
Tango deleted the post. He then deleted this response to another commentor:

#6Wexler      (see all posts)2011/12/06 (Tue) @ 23:43

#1-
1)There are 262 pitchers with over 2400 career innings. Shouldn’t we expect to see at least one with with an FIP .4 runs below his ERA just by random chance?
2)I think DCam over at Fangraphs wrote that ERA isn’t the best metric for Buehrle because he systematically allows a lot of unearned runs relative to average (he’s a low k, low bb, high gb guy).
Tango- please don’t delete this post!
And this:
#7Wexler      (see all posts)2011/12/07 (Wed) @ 00:00
MGL-
Can you help me out with a general question about projection systems and pitching age curves?
I presume your system and others use just the last three or four years of data, weight the recent years more heavily, and apply some kind of age adjustment (plus maybe some other fancy but fairly minor stuff). But I’ve read a post by you contending that pitchers seem to simply decline by x runs each year (or each year after 25 or whatever, but let’s disregard that for now).
So then why just use the last few years and why bother weighting the more recent years? If what’s going on in the population as a whole is pitchers are declining by x runs each year, then aren’t we just seeing random fluctuations when pitchers’ ERA deviate from that? Meaning that if a guy’s ERA last season got a run better than it ever had before, we shouldn’t count it towards his true talent level more than the the previous years like we do with batters.
Doesn’t it make more sense that we should take his career averages and presume that’s the best indicator of the average true talent over his career? And then presume that was his true talent level at about the midpoint of his career, and subtract x runs for each year it’s been since that midpoint?
Just trying to understand how your projection methods for pitching square with your belief about pitching age curves. Sorry if this naive. Doesn’t really matter though as Tango is probably just going to delete this.
After he deleted that last one, Tango wrote:

#6    Tangotiger      (see all posts)2011/12/07 (Wed) @ 00:14

Wexler: Your snide comments are disrespectful to me.  Please don’t post here for a week.
I made one final comment calling him out:
#10Wexler      (see all posts)2011/12/07 (Wed) @ 03:45

6/Tango
My comments were disrespectful towards towards your specific actions- ie, wantonly deleting the posts that I and others thought worthy of taking the time to compose. That was the much greater disrespect and you plainly know this to be the case. Your ensuing decisions to cover up the initial deletion of posters’ comments and subsequently delete of all my comments and questions reek of irrationality, hypocrisy, and an ugly, bitter animus that is of your own creation.
You were embarrassed by your initial actions, but instead of simply saying you made a mistake in the moment you choose to dig yourself in deeper and rationalize deleting all writings at the mildest provocation.
You know that it’s unbecoming, but you’ll keep doing it anyway. First you deleted peoples’ posts and said you didn’t need to offer an explanation and would not do so. But you realized that was so dogmatic as to violate your own principles, so you then created a principle that any questions about your “editorial decisions” were worthy of deletion. You then deleted a slew of comments even when they were not about your editorial decisions.
Now you create a blanket ban, so you don’t have to bother with keeping your explanations and principles straight. You can just delete away because, after all, you called “no postsies.”
Enjoy. But I’d suggest that an apology would be much more effective than hoping no one notices that you have acted like a jerk to other people.
Of course, that was gone from the internet within minutes. Fortunately, I copied and pasted all the comments I made shortly after Tango started his deletion spree so that they could return to the internet as a living testament to post-menstrual douchitis to which Tom Tango so sadly succumbed.

 

 

275 thoughts on “Tom Tango Is A Douche”

  1. Pingback: porno izle

  2. Pingback: Hermes Birkin

  3. Pingback: 3j3

  4. Pingback: Homepage

  5. Pingback: agamegame

  6. Pingback: ???? ????????

  7. Pingback: ???? ??????

  8. Pingback: ttpwifcdq

  9. Pingback: hier gehts direkt zur seite

  10. Pingback: hier klicken

  11. Pingback: hier entlang

  12. Pingback: kulutusluottovertailu

  13. Pingback: new autoapproveclub

  14. Pingback: blackhead extractor

  15. Pingback: how to use free ftp software

  16. Pingback: tires for sale

  17. Pingback: seo las vegas

  18. Pingback: here

  19. Pingback: GIMP

  20. Pingback: Software Download

  21. Pingback: weiter zur Seite

  22. Pingback: dieser Link

  23. Pingback: hier lesen

  24. Pingback: sojasprossen bestellen

  25. Pingback: Homepage

  26. Pingback: hier

  27. Pingback: nachlesen

  28. Pingback: facebook fans kaufen

  29. Pingback: computer prescription glasses

  30. Pingback: Software

  31. Pingback: best bluetooth headphones noise cancelling

  32. Pingback: Best replica watches in usa

  33. Pingback: ?????? ???? ????

  34. Pingback: what are computer glasses

  35. Pingback: insurance in erie

  36. Pingback: car insurance for

  37. Pingback: Sex Cam

  38. Pingback: chicken saltimbocca

  39. Pingback: a?k büyüsü

  40. Pingback: msnaddress

  41. Pingback: how to make a website

  42. Pingback: genital herpes

  43. Pingback: payday loans

  44. Pingback: zwembroeken heren

  45. Pingback: zwembroek

  46. Pingback: camsex girl

  47. Pingback: Anonymous

  48. Pingback: Anonymous

  49. Pingback: http://www.fitnesstogether.org/fitness-programs/p90x2-discover-the-next-generation-of-workouts-with-p90x2

  50. Pingback: Anonymous

  51. Pingback: Buy Wood Windows Direct at Factory Prices

  52. Pingback: Buy Wood Windows Factory Direct

  53. Pingback: over here

  54. Pingback: Handyortung

  55. Pingback: apartments

  56. Pingback: Click

  57. Pingback: Factory Direct Prices

  58. Pingback: Buy Wood Windows Direct at Factory Prices

  59. Pingback: computer prescription glasses

  60. Pingback: stickers

  61. Pingback: J5}

  62. Pingback: Factory Direct Prices

  63. Pingback: Private Krankenversicherung

  64. Pingback: manga comics

  65. Pingback: gogo games

  66. Pingback: free home insurance quotes

  67. Pingback: gry friv

  68. Pingback: click here to read more

  69. Pingback: best all in one supplement

  70. Pingback: http://www.envirospeak.tv

  71. Pingback: cigarette electronique

  72. Pingback: Guide To Eat Healthy

  73. Pingback: online share dealing

  74. Pingback: art nu

  75. Pingback: ich las das hier

  76. Pingback: Driving Fear Program Review

  77. Pingback: cheap youtube views

  78. Pingback: Check Wide Info

  79. Pingback: lainaa

  80. Pingback: Wood Windows at Factory Direct Prices

  81. Pingback: lainavertailu

  82. Pingback: watch Sex and the City online

  83. Pingback: lainaa helposti

  84. Pingback: city select stroller

  85. Pingback: hello

  86. Pingback: ????? ????

  87. Pingback: ?????? ??????

  88. Pingback: how to make a website

  89. Pingback: wood window

  90. Pingback: wood windows

  91. Pingback: custom doors

  92. Pingback: sma

  93. Pingback: wood windows

  94. Pingback: payday loans

  95. Pingback: snel afvallen

  96. Pingback: weiche tageskontaktlinsen

  97. Pingback: Electrical Testing Melbourne

  98. Pingback: Electricians Melbourne CBD

  99. Pingback: growing taller tips

  100. Pingback: Electrician Melbourne

  101. Pingback: Electrician Melbourne CBD

  102. Pingback: Electricians

  103. Pingback: rewire house

  104. Pingback: city mini strollers

  105. Pingback: http://intimsa.uw.hu

  106. Pingback: http://intimsasa.uw.hu

  107. Pingback: Dentist in Atlanta

  108. Pingback: http://intima.uw.hu

  109. Pingback: http://intimsedre.uw.hu

  110. Pingback: http://intimdeqa.uw.hu

  111. Pingback: ????? ?????

  112. Pingback: http://intimolre.uw.hu

  113. Pingback: ??????

  114. Pingback: flyttstädning stockholm

  115. Pingback: v2 coupon code

  116. Pingback: cheap hosting

  117. Pingback: how to check for dofollow nofollow

  118. Pingback: Photovoltaik Bayern

  119. Pingback: continue

  120. Pingback: how to build muscles

  121. Pingback: httpwwwallaboutyourownwebsitecom

  122. Pingback: httpwwwmakeawebsiteguidecom

  123. Pingback: Photovoltaik Kosten pro kWp

  124. Pingback: Mallorca Immobilien

  125. Pingback: Mallorca Langzeitmiete

  126. Pingback: Immobilienmakler Mallorca

  127. Pingback: Mallorca Wohnung kaufen

  128. Pingback: Computer Komponenten

  129. Pingback: Elektrotechnik Magazin

  130. Pingback: leumi

  131. Pingback: ???????? ???????

  132. Pingback: ??????? ??? ???????????

  133. Pingback: OBD TOOLS

  134. Pingback: viagra

  135. Pingback: cheap cialis

  136. Pingback: news

  137. Pingback: Jobcenter

  138. Pingback: generic viagra

  139. Pingback: valium online

  140. Pingback: auto diagnostic tool

  141. Pingback: yahoo booters

  142. Pingback: Buy High PR Links

  143. Pingback: juegos

  144. Pingback: free credit bureau report

  145. Pingback: Altersvorsorge

  146. Pingback: hier gehts lang

  147. Pingback: premature ejaculation medication online

  148. Pingback: snapback myreadyweb

  149. Pingback: ACLS Certification Online

  150. Pingback: Forschung und Entwicklung

  151. Pingback: Zuschuss

  152. Pingback: Uhren Ankauf Berlin

  153. Pingback: snapback hats for cheap

  154. Pingback: nfl jerseys wholesale

  155. Pingback: MLB Snapbacks

  156. Pingback: UGG Bailey Button Triplet Boots

  157. Pingback: yahoo messenger exploits

  158. Pingback: Adidas Shoes

  159. Pingback: wholesale nfl nike jerseys

  160. Pingback: Click here for a related site

  161. Pingback: http://rosemarybb.com/

  162. Pingback: Dolce

  163. Pingback: Home Page

  164. Pingback: Info

  165. Pingback: fernseher

  166. Pingback: Ghighi

  167. Pingback: Vibrator

  168. Pingback: Get More Information

  169. Pingback: 97n Neon Open Sign

  170. Pingback: sanibel island real estate

  171. Pingback: pest controller Sydney

  172. Pingback: Cheap USA Dream Team Jerseys

  173. Pingback: cheap nfl game jerseys

  174. Pingback: more help

  175. Pingback: natural insect repellent

  176. Pingback: bookkeeping services toronto

  177. Pingback: Elektrozigaretten kaufen

  178. Pingback: gray's papaya

  179. Pingback: kizi

  180. Pingback: AutoapList

  181. Pingback: foto porno masha

  182. Pingback: porno 2008 goda zakaz

  183. Pingback: seks c jenoi

  184. Pingback: gei porno voennye foto

  185. Pingback: Elektrische Zahnbürsten

  186. Pingback: skachat steam

  187. Pingback: skachat 7 mp3

  188. Pingback: skachat diva

  189. Pingback: skachat kvn ua

  190. Pingback: Click This Link

  191. Pingback: 2893547670

  192. Pingback: Farbdruck a2

  193. Pingback: click this

  194. Pingback: buying kamagra online

  195. Pingback: prix cialis en pharmacie belgique

  196. Pingback: ragdoll cats

  197. Pingback: Cheap Monster Snapbacks

  198. Pingback: Purchase Viagra

  199. Pingback: adderall

  200. Pingback: Cialis

  201. Pingback: Cheap Propecia

  202. Pingback: Buy Ativan

  203. Pingback: Phentermine No Prescription

  204. Pingback: Klonopin

  205. Pingback: Viagra Cost

  206. Pingback: buy high pr backlinks

  207. Pingback: graphicriver download

  208. Pingback: Viagra Online Without Prescription

  209. Pingback: Ativan

  210. Pingback: Cialis

  211. Pingback: Meridia

  212. Pingback: Valium

  213. Pingback: Lexapro

  214. Pingback: virtual private server

  215. Pingback: Ambien Online

  216. Pingback: viagra au maroc

  217. Pingback: shop

  218. Pingback: buy twitter followers cheap

  219. Pingback: Gleichmut

  220. Pingback: test

  221. Pingback: Payday loans online

  222. Pingback: Just 1 Motocross Helmets

  223. Pingback: baidu censor

  224. Pingback: garage doors charlotte

  225. Pingback: overhead door huntersville nc

  226. Pingback: desain rumah rumahku

  227. Pingback: jual rumah rumahku

  228. Pingback: knockoff bags

  229. Pingback: Spanish immersion in Guatemala, Xelaju, Quetzaltenango.

  230. Pingback: Nejlepší ceny!

  231. Pingback: Cykloturistika v Alpách

  232. Pingback: Profesionální dj na svatby po celé ?R

  233. Pingback: samolepky na ze?

  234. Pingback: clarisonic outlet

  235. Pingback: Úsp?šný = Chytrý zjist?te jak

  236. Pingback: Slevy, akce, kupony

  237. Pingback: poskytovatel nebankovních p?j?ek a hypoték

  238. Pingback: catering

  239. Pingback: internetový marketing

  240. Pingback: autoškola praha vršovice

  241. Pingback: push present

  242. Pingback: push present .

  243. Pingback: replica watches

  244. Pingback: Rizikové kácení strom? - arboristika

  245. Pingback: autoškola praha vršovice .

  246. Pingback: autoškola praha vršovice.

  247. Pingback: agentura; online pr; marketingove kampane

  248. Pingback: v?tší prsa, zpevn?ní prsou, malá prsa, cviky na záda, bolest zad

  249. Pingback: ple?, akné, pigmentové skvrny, krása, zdravá výživa, domácí cvi?ení

  250. Pingback: krása, lí?ení, nehty, vlasy.

  251. Pingback: mirapodo gutschein

  252. Pingback: gry android

  253. Pingback: Inzercia, bazár

  254. Pingback: Aaccounting, Payroll and outsourcing

  255. Pingback: nízka cena

  256. Pingback: zm?k?ova?e vody

  257. Pingback: domácí vodárny

  258. Pingback: úprava vody

  259. Pingback: ITIL školení, Foundation, Intermediate.

  260. Pingback: plastové jímky, septiky, akumula?ní nádrže

  261. Pingback: plastové jímky, septiky, akumula?ní nádrže

  262. Pingback: Spolehlivý systém pro e-shop

  263. Pingback: Informa?ní portál pro seniory zam??ený na sociální a finan?ní politiku

  264. Pingback: Zprávy, zpravodajství, informace, slevy, eshop pro seniory

  265. Pingback: webhosting,registrace domén, VPS a dedikované servery

  266. Pingback: spole?esnké šaty, pánské obleky

  267. Pingback: weby pro seniory, senior kluby, veletrhy pro penzisty

  268. Pingback: dámské kabelky, lakované kabelky, trendy kabelky

  269. Pingback: ratanový nábytek, d?ev?ný nábytek

  270. Pingback: obuv, adidas, nike, converse

  271. Pingback: online aukce automobil?

  272. Pingback: stavební prace

  273. Pingback: katalog firiem , firmy

  274. Pingback: e-sshop s pun?ochovým zbožím Knittex, prodej kabelek a dopl?k? zna?ky DOCA

  275. Pingback: green tea capsules.

Leave a Reply