My long absence from blogging has been brought on by the kind of despondence that other blogger friends of mine have been encountering from time to time.
I think it's a sort of burnout, arising from continual tiresome and frustrating arguments that never seem to go anywhere. Unless you have the fortune to be in the 'real' world of media, internet activism is really just making brilliant, insightful arguments into thin air, just to have someone called "bAzuKaJoe480" tell you you're a "facist" (sic).
So I have had to give up arguing with people of the left wing variety, mostly because they don't actually have any 1) arguments, 2) manners, 3) interest in hearing what anyone else has to say anyway. I will have to, as is always prudent at times such as these, turn to humour, and hope I can take the complete p*ss out of stupid people until the anger dissipates.
I recommend Dennis Miller.
It doesn't mean I'm quitting the blogging game, just that my frustration has seeped into my opinionated side and made me less inspired about writing down my own thoughts. I might just wait for a liberal to say something retarded and comment on it.
I don't think I'll be waiting long for that :)
My sense is that these people cannot be persuaded by rational argument or fact.
ReplyDeleteIf they ever see the light, it's usually because of something bad that's happened to them personally, that's forced them to reconsider.
You should solicit stories from your readership about "conversions"; we all might learn a thing or two about how to direct our efforts.
Welcome back.
Anon.
Good to have you back.
ReplyDeleteTina the Hamster
thanks folks :)
ReplyDeleteAnon, that's a great idea. Care to contribute?
The subject has been on my mind of late because of the furore David Mamet has been causing with his book about his own 'conversion', and I've just been reading Harry Stein's excellent "I Can't Believe I'm Sitting Next to a Republican", which includes some details of his own journey to common sense.
I will definitely be writing my own story up before long.
PS,
ReplyDeleteAnon, I completely agree. Sometimes time turns people, but reason rarely does, and major incidents (or a series of minor ones) that challenge their worldview is really the only 'cure'.
Check out the mugging of Matt Yglesias, as an example.
ReplyDeleteAnon.