Friday...

Friday...

In which I don't... get political.

Presidential election season is in full swing in the US, now that the conventions are over, and that of course means we all have our opinion on who will best run the country.  I have my own thoughts on that, but they will remain just that: my own thoughts. I have friends here from all points in the political spectrum, some far more liberal than me and some far more conservative, and I want my LJ to be a place where all feel welcome and no one has to gnash their teeth over an opinion I hold.  As much as I treasure free speech, it's simply not worth it to me to anger anyone while exercising my own free speech in the matter of politics.  I think, sadly, that political discourse in the social-media driven age has essentially devolved into sneering, self-righteous finger wagging and name calling in lieu of actually discussing and debating policy decisions and the ramifications thereof, and it's caused me to simply back away, slowly (and sometimes quickly) from political postings and discussions on the interwebz.  It's gotten so ugly out there in cyberworld that more often than not, even if I agree with someone's points, I'm so turned off by the manner in which they're presented that I have no feelings of encouragement, comradery or connection.

So... seeing as there's no end of places online to discuss politics, I simply send you over to those places with a smile and a wave and a brown paper bag full of cookies and wish you well in the debates. I'll quietly do my research privately, vote, and we'll see how it all turns out.

Peace. 

In which I don't... get political.

Presidential election season is in full swing in the US, now that the conventions are over, and that of course means we all have our opinion on who will best run the country.  I have my own thoughts on that, but they will remain just that: my own thoughts. I have friends here from all points in the political spectrum, some far more liberal than me and some far more conservative, and I want my LJ to be a place where all feel welcome and no one has to gnash their teeth over an opinion I hold.  As much as I treasure free speech, it's simply not worth it to me to anger anyone while exercising my own free speech in the matter of politics.  I think, sadly, that political discourse in the social-media driven age has essentially devolved into sneering, self-righteous finger wagging and name calling in lieu of actually discussing and debating policy decisions and the ramifications thereof, and it's caused me to simply back away, slowly (and sometimes quickly) from political postings and discussions on the interwebz.  It's gotten so ugly out there in cyberworld that more often than not, even if I agree with someone's points, I'm so turned off by the manner in which they're presented that I have no feelings of encouragement, comradery or connection.

So... seeing as there's no end of places online to discuss politics, I simply send you over to those places with a smile and a wave and a brown paper bag full of cookies and wish you well in the debates. I'll quietly do my research privately, vote, and we'll see how it all turns out.

Peace.