Something I've learned from 20 years online.
If you have to write that everyone in the known universe is against you, except those few elite fellow travelers who truly understand you and agree with everything you say, chances are you're a lunatic destined for a life of sadness and poverty. If everyone you write about is an extremist of some kind, then chances are you're just not right in the head. Very few people really are as horrible as you need them to be to justify your existence.
It helps to get outside the computer and meet people, show them you're a real flesh and blood human being with a family, interests outside of politics, and a conscience.
If your blog is the only thing of importance in your life, that's a personal failure - not a failure of those who refuse to take you seriously.
"If your blog is the only thing of importance in your life, that's a personal failure - not a failure of those who refuse to take you seriously."
Ooh... that's gonna leave a mark!
Good points and too true. I've got more than a few friends who I've nothing in common with politically, and a few of which we have a blast arguing with each other into the wee hours over what we don't agree on... but if I tried to see them as only their political views... what would I have left of them to be friends with?
That would be a life? Ugh.
Having kids helps too.
Posted by: Van | 03/30/2010 at 07:06 AM
Why do I suspect you have a particular individual in mind as you write? :-)
It'll be interesting to see if this posting is RESPONDED TO on someone's blog!
Posted by: Doug Edelman | 03/30/2010 at 07:25 AM
Doug- it is what it is. If I wanted to target a individual, I'd call them out specifically.
Posted by: Jim | 03/30/2010 at 09:26 AM
Fair 'nuff, Jim!
Maybe it's me. I sure thought of someone in particular when I read it!
But it's a good admonition for all anyway!
Posted by: Doug Edelman | 03/31/2010 at 07:57 AM
Ouch. That makes me want to go home and re-evaluate my life. But I think I'll put that off until tomorrow. BTW, 20 years online? What were you connected into in 1990? There couldn't have been much.
Posted by: Independentrage.blogspot.com | 03/31/2010 at 03:47 PM
BBS's were all the rage, then IRC. Early on it was food fight and Global ThermoNuclear War, but that gave way to online forums at places like University of Arizona. I remember the days when you typed numbers online instead of web addresses. And then there was hacking into old VMS systems to make yourself an admin. Nothing nefarious- and I'm pretty sure the statute of limitations ran out on that one.
Nothing like a visit from GoD when you're working on a late night term paper.
Posted by: Jim | 03/31/2010 at 11:03 PM