As someone who has been multiply guilty of all of these sins, I have to agree with the basic insight here. We don't have to smile and pretend we agree with ideas we differ with. But if we, including me, can be civil and polite and respectful, it certainly wouldn't hurt. It's possible to disagree in a civilized way. jks
--- mike larkin <mike_larkin2001 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> from a fellow named "snuggles" off an sf indymedia
> discussion of Doug, Christian, Liza's activism
> article, but very applicable to this list
> (including
> mea culpa):
>
>
http://www.indybay.org/news/2004/02/1669669_comment.php#1670516
>
> "As others have noted, anti-intellectualism is
> nothing
> new and neither is the unpopularity of politcal
> engagement. It's my opinion that the tendency of
> sharp
> witted people to deride and attack over differences
> that, to the less well informed, seem hopelessly
> arcane is a major factor.
>
> I follow boards and lists, mostly lurking, and I'm
> amazed at how uncivil and cruel people can be. The
> tough love wears thin after a few reads. People I've
> met in tough bars are easier to get along with.
>
> Also, politics and academics attract some really
> creepy people. The strong tendency amongst the
> celebrities to be dismissive of - even antagonistic
> towards - newbs can be tremendously damaging to any
> humane agenda. The right wing leaders knows this.
> They'll take anyone, warts and all, and never let
> them
> know how much contempt they have. They bond, if you
> will, and have a support network that guarantees
> emotional security.
>
> Maybe the radical left is incapable of of this and
> maybe that's positive in some way. Who needs
> mindless,
> uncritical groupthink? Well, a lot of people do.
> Most
> of us aren't wired to bicker and pick. People stick
> with failing relationships and groups long past the
> point of diminishing returns. The majority of people
> aren't very competitive, don't like feeling
> dragooned
> by those more clever and get turned off when they
> see
> it. It's perfectly natural for people to reject the
> whole because a small part of it is ugly.
> Hyperintellectualism is also boring.
>
> So, as long the intellectual left goes on making
> people feel small, they'll get nowhere. Make humane
> politics exciting, sexy and pleasurable and half the
> fight is over. I suggest leaving off dissection of
> character flaws to the right wing. Navel gazing,
> humorless deconstructions never get you laid."
>
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