I don't know why I keep reading Chris' journal; it's obvious he's marked me "enemy", decided nothing I have to say is of value to him, and has decided to piss whatever friendship we had down the toilet.

I guess I still read it because I find his perspective valuable and agree with it far more often than not, and he has excellent links to various news items and media I don't usually come across on my own. I'll definitely be picking up this book on his recommendation.

At the same time, reading things like this, knowing he thinks these are great Guides to the Truth, and knowing they end up functioning as nothing more than (ironically) ways to shut down conversation is trying and tiring to put myself through.

( ...critique and example... )

You'll also note other similar cases of blindness to rhetorical problems throughout: in this case, blanket, broad-brush statements about "white people" are made, which (if you care to ask) are defended with the explanation that this is shorthand for SOME white people: it's, "Oh, not ALL white people. You know what I mean."

( ...hypocrisy... )

In the end, Chris' lists, while being based on real problem issues that deserve public attention, are often no different than this conservative rant about liberal tactics, and how the ignorant, dishonest libruls are all just sneaky, evil con-men and you need to watch out for their dirty tactics! It's all based on the same foundation, and the tribal politics are just as difficult to watch.

I guess the main reason I keep reading his journal is out of a hope he'll...I don't know...mature through this "angry young liberal" (or whatever the hell it is) worldview he's working from, where critics and dissenters are all willfully ignorant or just-plain-wicked enemies.

I've just spent an aggravating two days having a fight with a friend on a public message board, trying to keep my cool, obviously blowing it, and feeling like shit all around. It happened over on the Dark Sun boards at WotC (that's a direct link to the thread).

( Read more... )