[Phnom Penh, 10/29/23] Measured tone has disappeared. Everywhere you look, there’s hysteria, unchecked rage, genocidal lust, flippant insults and, most tellingly, an absence of good cheer, non-abusive humor and, basically, grace, not necessarily amazing. Assholes have overrun the planet!
Speaking of bugs, back in my career days a good friend from the office, when he felt obliged to fall on his sword for things that sometimes were not his fault, he was fond of saying he “would eat the bug.”
Seriously, when you say that the "measured tone has disappeared" I think that mostly refers to residents of the West, and is perhaps a predictable result of an intentional effort by those who manipulate the narrative to drive people crazy. And even many of those not so susceptible to manipulation are nevertheless brimming over with anger at what they are forced to witness, feeling powerless to change it. Ranting on social media or in various Comments sections is a release for these people.
Also, I have noticed that the words triggering the random troll are often not what is actually written, but their misreading of it. Even when your audience reads more carefully and thoughtfully, it takes a certain amount of writing skill to properly convey sarcasm, irony, and parody. For those who read more casually, it's not even worthwhile to bother.
I don't believe I've ever seen a completely troll-free website that had anything interesting to say. The fact that you have a few visits from trolls now and then can at least be viewed as a positive barometer of the stimulating content of your writing. Don’t let them chase you off your own Substack page. This isn’t Unz review.
Well said, JPB. As for Tina Trent, she/he sounds like an aggrieved, brainwashed Jew. Two days ago I heard from a friend about another such case. I can only imagine that for such people the contradictions in their concocted world are just becoming too much to handle.
Yes,that`s why here in Switzerland,Antifa runs on"No Discussions!".A German Green Party member,about two years ago,said in parliament(Bundestag): "One of the pillars of democracy is not to talk with some groups",implying just kill them off.
Even in your recounting of the expletive-laden idiots, Linh, you have such a bemused way of disarming all of that baloney. We all need to be reminded (regularly) that we used to show a bit more class before the internet turned our bad sides free to do this " carousing" in public view. Such a curse, in so many ways, these "chat" opportunities. Also a blessing perhaps when it lets us vent a little with these empty raging tirades (I think). All in all, it is demoralizing to read some of this stuff. Hopefully it won't ever pervade your beautiful website.
Writing was best when it took work to scribble out and preserve. There's too many words typed by too many morons. The internet has become a sea of wordy excrement. Maybe the solution is forcing for every word typed in comments you have to do a pushup or squat. There'd be far less diarrhea everywhere and everyone would be leaner too.
It seems to be "let's pile on to Linh" day. If you can't beat them into senselessness, one must join:
LINH! You dirty rat! You're a lying dog-faced pony-soldier! How dare you criticize Evan Williams Black by linking it with Tina Trent! Tina sucks! Evan Williams is sublime!
Thanks so much, Linh. I've had my share of craziness here in good ol Sacramento. Old friends yelling at me for being racist just because I don't support BLM!
The instantaneousness of the photographs is beyond interesting. Today! That strange picture of that strange man sitting, with the monk nearby, in Phnom Penh is from TODAY! How do you do that, Linh?!? How?!? :--)
Truly repulsive! Especially the guy who brags of being a whoremonger. I’d like to blame the insanity and ugliness of these folk on the relentless propagandizing and programming of the government and media. However, I won’t allow them to escape personal responsibility that easily. We’ve become willing consumers of the BS. In the words of that great philosopher Homer (Simpson), “It takes two to lie: One to lie, and one to listen.”
What will happen to all these keyboard worriers when WW3 kicks off and the internet stops working in toto? Will they come out onto the streets to try their brags and insults on real people, face to face? That could lead to some interesting interaction, no all of it verbal.
Not to worry, due to lightning we often get power outages. My wife posts pics of what I have cooked for dinner but when the power is out she just heads to the neighbors and shows them our plate of food.
Speaking of bugs, back in my career days a good friend from the office, when he felt obliged to fall on his sword for things that sometimes were not his fault, he was fond of saying he “would eat the bug.”
Seriously, when you say that the "measured tone has disappeared" I think that mostly refers to residents of the West, and is perhaps a predictable result of an intentional effort by those who manipulate the narrative to drive people crazy. And even many of those not so susceptible to manipulation are nevertheless brimming over with anger at what they are forced to witness, feeling powerless to change it. Ranting on social media or in various Comments sections is a release for these people.
Also, I have noticed that the words triggering the random troll are often not what is actually written, but their misreading of it. Even when your audience reads more carefully and thoughtfully, it takes a certain amount of writing skill to properly convey sarcasm, irony, and parody. For those who read more casually, it's not even worthwhile to bother.
I don't believe I've ever seen a completely troll-free website that had anything interesting to say. The fact that you have a few visits from trolls now and then can at least be viewed as a positive barometer of the stimulating content of your writing. Don’t let them chase you off your own Substack page. This isn’t Unz review.
Well said, JPB. As for Tina Trent, she/he sounds like an aggrieved, brainwashed Jew. Two days ago I heard from a friend about another such case. I can only imagine that for such people the contradictions in their concocted world are just becoming too much to handle.
Yes,that`s why here in Switzerland,Antifa runs on"No Discussions!".A German Green Party member,about two years ago,said in parliament(Bundestag): "One of the pillars of democracy is not to talk with some groups",implying just kill them off.
Even in your recounting of the expletive-laden idiots, Linh, you have such a bemused way of disarming all of that baloney. We all need to be reminded (regularly) that we used to show a bit more class before the internet turned our bad sides free to do this " carousing" in public view. Such a curse, in so many ways, these "chat" opportunities. Also a blessing perhaps when it lets us vent a little with these empty raging tirades (I think). All in all, it is demoralizing to read some of this stuff. Hopefully it won't ever pervade your beautiful website.
Writing was best when it took work to scribble out and preserve. There's too many words typed by too many morons. The internet has become a sea of wordy excrement. Maybe the solution is forcing for every word typed in comments you have to do a pushup or squat. There'd be far less diarrhea everywhere and everyone would be leaner too.
It seems to be "let's pile on to Linh" day. If you can't beat them into senselessness, one must join:
LINH! You dirty rat! You're a lying dog-faced pony-soldier! How dare you criticize Evan Williams Black by linking it with Tina Trent! Tina sucks! Evan Williams is sublime!
Thanks so much, Linh. I've had my share of craziness here in good ol Sacramento. Old friends yelling at me for being racist just because I don't support BLM!
The instantaneousness of the photographs is beyond interesting. Today! That strange picture of that strange man sitting, with the monk nearby, in Phnom Penh is from TODAY! How do you do that, Linh?!? How?!? :--)
Agreed, James. That photo was an unbelievable capture of the strangeness of our times!
Truly repulsive! Especially the guy who brags of being a whoremonger. I’d like to blame the insanity and ugliness of these folk on the relentless propagandizing and programming of the government and media. However, I won’t allow them to escape personal responsibility that easily. We’ve become willing consumers of the BS. In the words of that great philosopher Homer (Simpson), “It takes two to lie: One to lie, and one to listen.”
You mentioned Oscar Wilde. Your verbal skill is right on par with that witty gent. Most enjoyable reading, keep it going strong 🍻
What will happen to all these keyboard worriers when WW3 kicks off and the internet stops working in toto? Will they come out onto the streets to try their brags and insults on real people, face to face? That could lead to some interesting interaction, no all of it verbal.
Not to worry, due to lightning we often get power outages. My wife posts pics of what I have cooked for dinner but when the power is out she just heads to the neighbors and shows them our plate of food.