Tweet
In a previous thread, Berry wrote:
While I largely agree with everything that's quoted above, I find it very difficult to put such things in to action. Since I first joined this forum, I have dipped my toe in to a number of political debates, and I've often felt as if I was dragged under by currents I couldn't fight. I tend towards fluffy-bunny philosophy rather than hard economics, politics or social/psychoanalysis, but I'm trying to learn more about the "realities" of this world (as others perceive them) through what I read here. Generally I don't see nearly as much agreement and "back-slapping" as the more conservative posters often accuse the forum of fostering, but if there is any sort of tendency towards liberalism (with a hard of soft "L", as you wish) I would venture that it isn't especially surprising to find readers who are drawn to the work of a Liberal/Anarchist author favouring left-of-centre policies. That's not to say that alternative viewpoints can't be welcomed and absorbed, it's just that (in my humble opinion) if you go to a Harley convention, you don't expect everyone their to be driving SUVs. No doubt there will be a number of bikers there who also own SUVs and would be happy to discuss them with you, but to walk into a Harley convention and express surprise that everyone has bikes strikes me as a little strange.
It's true that this forum can often seem to be dominated by left-of-centre opinions, but as a man who grew up in (and continues to live in) a part of the country which is dominated by right-of-centre opinions, I find this refreshing and welcome... possibly vital to maintain my faltering grip on any sort of joi de vivre.
Having said that, the "conservatives" I'm familiar with in my home town tend to be rather knee-jerk and reactionary, with very little proof or logic to back up their opinions. It is interesting to find people posting here with well-thought through arguments that at first unsettle be but slowly start to make sense. In my own mind, and my own journals, I can balance out the different voices which are raised here and make my own opinions.
What I personally find suspicious is when a chap comes along and confines himself entirely to political or social topics, without once expressing any sort of interest in, or exposure to, the writing of Michael Moorcock. I know have a tendency towards paranoia, and this is a public forum, but first and foremost this community is founded on an appreciation for Mr M. That doesn't mean we all have to agree with the man, lick his shoes clean or drink his urine as if it were wine... but it's harder to shake the notion that someone might be a Troll, if that poster doesn't write a single word that suggests they could pick Elric out of a line-up.
Trolls, and "hate speech", are really up to The Cosmic Balance to unravel and make a judgement on, but when a sucking black hole of ignorance and prejudice-with-a-logical-mask-on appears in a thread it just depresses me. I've tried to ignore it, or cheerily put across an alternative point of view, but I don't have the tools to debate on a level that places Knowledge and Professional or Academic Experience over Sentiment and Hope*. I understand that some will see this as a flaw in my character, but I'm happier in my own skin now than I've ever been, so if it is a flaw then it's one that suits me. Still, when that sucking hole appears, I have a tendency now to withdraw and hope that someone with more spine and better intellectual resources can counter the points, fighting Brain-fire with Brain-fire.
So, to cut a long story short (too late!), I would love to be able to rise to Berry's challenge and help to educate and contribute to a balanced group, but the most I can do is spew out rambling posts like this one and worry if I sound a bit too much like a hippie.
In case anyone is actually keeping score out there, because someone else brought it up, my IQ is 136... and as you can see from the above, that means very little indeed. It's a shame there's no way to record a person's Soul Quotient.
In closing (hurrah!), I'm not sure if I should have posted this in the Community Exchange, so apologies if anyone clicked here expecting me to actually have discovered a secret new island with a decadent, anarcho-liberal commune where we could all go to live. :)
[Edit: At point marked "*" I should probably replace the words "Sentiment" and "Hope" with "Compassion" and "Honesty"... a little common courtesy wouldn't go amiss either, but it's not a legal requirement]
Originally posted by Berry Sizemore
Originally posted by Berry Sizemore
Originally posted by Berry Sizemore
It's true that this forum can often seem to be dominated by left-of-centre opinions, but as a man who grew up in (and continues to live in) a part of the country which is dominated by right-of-centre opinions, I find this refreshing and welcome... possibly vital to maintain my faltering grip on any sort of joi de vivre.
Having said that, the "conservatives" I'm familiar with in my home town tend to be rather knee-jerk and reactionary, with very little proof or logic to back up their opinions. It is interesting to find people posting here with well-thought through arguments that at first unsettle be but slowly start to make sense. In my own mind, and my own journals, I can balance out the different voices which are raised here and make my own opinions.
What I personally find suspicious is when a chap comes along and confines himself entirely to political or social topics, without once expressing any sort of interest in, or exposure to, the writing of Michael Moorcock. I know have a tendency towards paranoia, and this is a public forum, but first and foremost this community is founded on an appreciation for Mr M. That doesn't mean we all have to agree with the man, lick his shoes clean or drink his urine as if it were wine... but it's harder to shake the notion that someone might be a Troll, if that poster doesn't write a single word that suggests they could pick Elric out of a line-up.
Trolls, and "hate speech", are really up to The Cosmic Balance to unravel and make a judgement on, but when a sucking black hole of ignorance and prejudice-with-a-logical-mask-on appears in a thread it just depresses me. I've tried to ignore it, or cheerily put across an alternative point of view, but I don't have the tools to debate on a level that places Knowledge and Professional or Academic Experience over Sentiment and Hope*. I understand that some will see this as a flaw in my character, but I'm happier in my own skin now than I've ever been, so if it is a flaw then it's one that suits me. Still, when that sucking hole appears, I have a tendency now to withdraw and hope that someone with more spine and better intellectual resources can counter the points, fighting Brain-fire with Brain-fire.
So, to cut a long story short (too late!), I would love to be able to rise to Berry's challenge and help to educate and contribute to a balanced group, but the most I can do is spew out rambling posts like this one and worry if I sound a bit too much like a hippie.
In case anyone is actually keeping score out there, because someone else brought it up, my IQ is 136... and as you can see from the above, that means very little indeed. It's a shame there's no way to record a person's Soul Quotient.
In closing (hurrah!), I'm not sure if I should have posted this in the Community Exchange, so apologies if anyone clicked here expecting me to actually have discovered a secret new island with a decadent, anarcho-liberal commune where we could all go to live. :)
[Edit: At point marked "*" I should probably replace the words "Sentiment" and "Hope" with "Compassion" and "Honesty"... a little common courtesy wouldn't go amiss either, but it's not a legal requirement]
Comment