There's a lot here (and in all the posts/conversations on this--I think I've got at least 10 open tabs and gave up trying to track it all around 2 am this morning) to parse out.
I wanted to say how much appreciate the points you're making and the love letter to those who continue to speak unpopular opinions in the debates. It reads to me, as well, as a sort of love letter to reasonableness. Reasonableness, which is different than logic. Dogma can be logical, if only within its own set of assumptions.
A lot of rigid philosophies are dogmatic and unreasonable--Utilitarianism is logical, but one of its logical ends is that doing horrible things is logical as long as the perpetrator gets enough pleasure out of it. Being reasonable means listening, acknowledging others, and understanding that no extreme can or should "win" in the real world (ends =/= means).
I also appreciate your openness about your personal life (and that of so many people in the conversations about the con policy). Not everyone is comfortable sharing their stories, and it's awful that sometimes people feel they *have* to in order to be listened to at all. But those who share can make those who do not feel less alone, both in their experiences and in their opinions.
Maybe I'm interpreting your post inaccurately, in which case I apologize! I've learned a lot from those who are writing on this topic, some with inspiring and thought-provoking words, some with outrage-inducing words. So at the very least I'm glad following your journal exposed me to the debate/conversation/process/controversy.
Gah, this comment feels totally incoherent. ANYWAY.
There's a lot here (and in all the posts/conversations on this--I think I've got at least 10 open tabs and gave up trying to track it all around 2 am this morning) to parse out.
May God (or chosen Deity or philosophy of choice) go with you.
And yes, that was pretty much my post. The hardest position in any debate is the center; it's easier to cheer for the dramatic, and the center isn't dramatic and it's unpopular and they'll get the most defriendings and the most revile. They deserve so much better.
I wanted to say how much appreciate the points you're making and the love letter to those who continue to speak unpopular opinions in the debates. It reads to me, as well, as a sort of love letter to reasonableness. Reasonableness, which is different than logic. Dogma can be logical, if only within its own set of assumptions.
A lot of rigid philosophies are dogmatic and unreasonable--Utilitarianism is logical, but one of its logical ends is that doing horrible things is logical as long as the perpetrator gets enough pleasure out of it. Being reasonable means listening, acknowledging others, and understanding that no extreme can or should "win" in the real world (ends =/= means).
I also appreciate your openness about your personal life (and that of so many people in the conversations about the con policy). Not everyone is comfortable sharing their stories, and it's awful that sometimes people feel they *have* to in order to be listened to at all. But those who share can make those who do not feel less alone, both in their experiences and in their opinions.
Maybe I'm interpreting your post inaccurately, in which case I apologize! I've learned a lot from those who are writing on this topic, some with inspiring and thought-provoking words, some with outrage-inducing words. So at the very least I'm glad following your journal exposed me to the debate/conversation/process/controversy.
Gah, this comment feels totally incoherent. ANYWAY.
Reply
May God (or chosen Deity or philosophy of choice) go with you.
And yes, that was pretty much my post. The hardest position in any debate is the center; it's easier to cheer for the dramatic, and the center isn't dramatic and it's unpopular and they'll get the most defriendings and the most revile. They deserve so much better.
I want to make them a flag.
Reply
Thank you. I WILL TAKE ANY HELP I CAN GET. *deep breath, dives in*
A unicorn (or pony, YMMV) holding a flag in its adorable mouth!!
Reply
Leave a comment