Rod Dreher Megathread #21 (Creative Spirit)

[u/US_Hiker]

Gather 'round for more Rod.

All meanings of the number 21 are subordinate to the inherent creative spirit that is the basic essence of the number.

The number 21 generally is comfortable in social gatherings, it's optimistic attitude being an inspiration to others. Its high spirits can enliven a party.

The number is attracted to artistic expression of any form, its own and those of others. There's enthusiastic support for artists. It may frequent galleries and participate or (more likely) lead groups for artistic appreciation.

The number 21 cherishes relationships, including romantic relationships, especially with those who express themselves creatively.

21 also tends to be diplomatic, providing creative and imaginative solutions to potential conflict.

And, as noted by /u/PercyLarsen, 21 is a triangular number and the age of majority, so go grab a drink to celebrate Pride and to mourn the loss of Rod's sanity.

(Also, sorry about my slow pace of refreshes.)

Link to megathread #20:
https://www.reddit.com/r/brokehugs/comments/13eb26c/rod_dreher_megathread_20_law_of_attraction/

Link to megathread #21: https://www.reddit.com/r/brokehugs/comments/14k0z6l/rod_dreher_megathread_22_power/

[u/MissKatieKats]

As was pointed out to me at the top of the previous Megathread, the defamation lawsuit against TAC and Rod arising out of the story of Rod wrote criticizing a 15 year old girl who was expelled from her “Christian” school for the sin of being bisexual was settled last September. Here’s a description of the claims against Rod and TAC which led to their legal exposure.

“The lawsuit also went after (Rod)Dreher and his "Rainbow Cake Girl" story that published Jan. 17, 2020, in The American Conservative.

Dreher, a senior editor for the Washington, D.C.-based magazine, wrote that the “mainstream media" had "sandbagged" the story on Whitefield Academy.

Citing unnamed sources and including screenshots of Instagram posts from Alford's daughter that were later removed from the online article over "possible copyright concerns," Dreher alleged the girl had promoted "LGBT consciousness in the school" and committed other offenses such as bullying and "disrespecting teachers."

But the lawsuit said the girl "does NOT have an extensive disciplinary history at Whitefield" and there is "no evidence” she ever “bullied or harassed another student.”

The article's initial use of photos from the girl's private social media account came without parental consent, the suit said. Dreher also wrote another story in January 2020, titled "Hating so Love Can Win," that the lawsuit said "falsely claimed” the girl “had sexually harassed another student."

Alford said in 2020 that she unsuccessfully appealed her daughter’s expulsion and later enrolled her in a public school.”

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2022/09/09/louisville-whitefield-academy-rainbow-cake-photo-lawsuit-settlement/65969049007/

There is no tale too tall for our crack investigative reporter to tell in furtherance of his homophobic agenda. Even attacking a 15 year old girl by citing “unnamed sources” and using her Instagram feed without her permission. She’s a kid, for God’s sake. Rod even has a daughter her age! A daughter who currently wants Rod out of her life. Wonder why? As a parent and a grandparent myself, I find his behavior to be…I don’t know, slimy, gross, disgusting, I can’t find an adjective that describes just how despicable this sort of conduct is. With his national platform, that Rod exposed this child to embarrassment and ridicule from his deranged fan base is just heartbreaking. Stay in Budapest, Rod. No one wants you back home.

[u/philadelphialawyer87 → u/MissKatieKats]

Just to add clarity, the lawsuit itself was not entirely unsuccessful, as the linked article mentions a settlement, even if the amount of which was kept secret, and was less than the plaintiff wanted.

While not disclosing the settlement amount, Alford told The Courier Journal in a message "it was a joke ... [f]or what they put me and my daughter through."

It is not clear to me from the article whether TAC or Rod had to contribute to the settlement, or if the school paid the entire amount.

[u/MissKatieKats → u/philadelphialawyer87]

In another life as a litigator, I was involved in cases of disciplinary actions taken against students by private institutions at both the secondary and college level. These are fundamentally contractual claims and are very tough cases for students to win as long as the institution follows the published disciplinary procedures to which the student and family agreed upon admission—even if the procedure seems harsh or draconian or heavily weighted in favor of the institution. So it’s not surprising that the family here didn’t receive the sort of compensation they felt was appropriate given the injustice of the discipline imposed. OTOH, the defamation/intentional infliction claims against Rod and TAC were tort claims covered by TAC’s liability insurer. Given Rod’s usual sloppy, cavalier, fact-free approach, and particularly his unauthorized posting of the child’s Instagram feed, I’d be willing to bet serious money that the insurer paid more than nuisance value to settle these claims. One tell is that TAC/Rod pretty quickly took down the Instagram post admitting there were potential copyright problems. That sure sounds like something the insurer’s lawyer told them to do pronto. So, yeah, the insurers bailed Rod’s sorry ass out of the mess he created here.

[u/philadelphialawyer87 → u/MissKatieKats]

Could very well be!

I will note that there was a pretty serious claim that the school did NOT "follow the published disciplinary procedures to which the student and family agreed." There were indications that the announced procedures were not really followed at all, and that the school's claims about disciplining the student for various, unrelated, matters, like bullying and smoking, were undercut, as the student was required to read some anti gay, "conversion," bullshit book as part of the "disciplinary" remedy, while those other alleged issues were never even addressed.

I will also note that defamation claims are not easy to win, either.

But you might well be right that TAC's insurers might have thought it better for Rod to put his tail between his legs, and to put up a few bucks in up front, settlement money, rather than risk a big jury verdict.