Comments on: Not in Polite Company

By: shoortPasourl

shoortPasourl — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:49:03 +0000

He put his eye to the hole. He just managed to spy some people sitting in deckchairs chanting, before a finger came out of nowhere and poked him in the eye. As he staggered back, the people started chanting, “Fourteen, fourteen, fourteen…”

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:27:06 +0000

I’m really late to this party but of course, it’s only because I’ve been so caught up in politics. That’s why I’m glad you wrote about this issue. I’m following the election quite closely and I am passionately supportive of my candidate. So, it’s been hard to refrain from mentioning it in comments, on my blog, in social networking, etc. The whole thing is having an enormous impact on me and causing some confusion too, I might add. Should I become a political columnist? Should I volunteer for the campaign? I’m a writer! How can I NOT write about this?

A polite and respectful debate is good for the mind, I think. I don’t like when it turns to nasty fighting. In my mixed-party family, there’s a lot of healthy and heated debates lately

The only reason I don’t write about it is because I don’t want to alienate clients. I think that’s a shame.

Melissa Donovans last blog post..Slam Poetry Links and Resources

By: Ulla Hennig

Ulla Hennig — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 15:59:30 +0000

Are things different in Europe? I can only speak about Germany. In Germany we discuss politics, race and religion in public, that means, even with people who are not that close to us. We are told, that – if we should consider traveling to Great Britain – we should not do so. So there seem to be different approaches to political discussion even in Europe. Maybe we in Germany are not putting so much stress on “being nice” to other people, to act in a friendly way. We don’t care so much if the other person we don’t know much is hurt. On the one hand I very much liked the friendly welcoming atmosphere in the local pub I went to during my stay in England in the 70ies. No sharp discussions, no way to get hurt or hurt other people. But on the other hand – and please forgive me for that -wasn’t it a bit boring? I say that knowing that with saying that I might offend some of you – but I don’t intend to do it, believe me!

Ulla Hennigs last blog post..What I learned from a good friend

By: Brad Shorr

Brad Shorr — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:58:05 +0000

Karen, you may be right about our obsession with entertainment. There’s an evil side to it, perhaps. I wonder if Ulla could speak to whether things are different in Europe. They certainly have had more practice in exchanging ideas with civility – many centuries.

Brad Shorrs last blog post..10 Ways To Free Your Business Writing, by Joanna Young

By: Ulla Hennig

Ulla Hennig — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:00:27 +0000

Brad,
I very much liked what you wrote. I think only because some people can’t talk about politics without screaming at another we shouldn’t avoid exchanging our – maybe different – opinions. In the Zeit, a german weekly newspaper, often there is a “yes” and “no” section, both written very well. You can read the arguments of either side and thus form your own opinion. I like to read that, even if I am already having an opinion.

Ulla Hennigs last blog post..The Early Bird and the Gold

By: Karen Swim

Karen Swim — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:13:40 +0000

Alex, with limited time I think we all have to make those choices, wouldn’t you agree? I am not much for arguing either, so I completely understand your perspective. It is as you said much easier to have all kinds of discussions when relationship is already in place. Very keen insight Alex but then that is your talent.

Valerie (Natural), well said! Personal attacks are vicious and unnecessary and lately I have witnessed a lot of this behavior. When you take away the emotion and focus on the issue both sides have an opportunity to really learn something. On this blog, I agree, I am so not going there! LOL!

Hi Brad! I really appreciate your kind words. I appreciated Mack and Beth challenging me to think about theses issues and my discomfort in writing about it challenged me to not back away from it. It’s funny I am not offering opinions about either subject simply questioning our approach and even that made me cringe. I fully understand why so many just steer clear. I am also a fan of Chesterton, what a great example. I wonder if our propensity for drama has been driven by our entertainment obsessed culture? We have become so acclimated to antics and high drama that good old fashioned talking seems to be out of style. If you blog it I will come.

By: Brad Shorr

Brad Shorr — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:19:06 +0000

Karen, kudos for tackling a tough topic, and so well! G. K. Chesterton, one of my favorite writers, said something to the effect that the only topics worth discussing are politics and religion, because how we feel about them informs everything else we think and do. And though I don't get into either politics or religion on my blog, I'm beginning to think Chesterton was really on to something. Chesterton was very good at debating controversial issues. Even his most ardent philosophical opponents liked him. I think maybe we are losing our ability to write and talk about sensitive issues without giving offense. (That thought was actually what prompted my comment to Joanna that inspired a post on a similar theme to yours, Karen.) Anyway, maybe what we need is more practice in writing about sensitive issues. How we feel about politics, for example, is important. If we can't talk about political ideas without having the conversation explode into a screaming match (like the ones you see on cable news), how in the world are we going to solve any of our problems? If anyone hasn't noticed, they're piling up already. I'm thinking one day a week, maybe one day every couple weeks, why not post about a political issue? Much to ponder ... Brad Shorrs last blog post..10 Ways To Free Your Business Writing, by Joanna Young

By: Natural

Natural — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:39:57 +0000

no, we should not avoid these subjects in public, but here is why i might…because people do not know how to respond to the topic, they respond to the person writing. i have a problem with that.

i can talk almost about anything with people who know me. we don’t have to agree, but when that conversation is tempered with love and respect, it’s easier to focus on the topic.

if people don’t know you and you express your views and they don’t agree, then YOU (not you ) are stupid or dumb. they quickly lose sight of what the real issue is.

i like talking about taboo subjects, but not everyone is trained in knowing how to respond. i don’t feel like fighting on my blog, so i don’t go there

Naturals last blog post..Butt-to-Gutt Ratio Gone Wild

By: Confident Writing

Confident Writing — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:30:24 +0000

How To Write About Hot Issues…

There’s a short answer to the question “How do I write about hot (sensitive, controversial, political) issues?” and that’s “Don’t!”
That was my first inner response to this suggestion from Brad Shorr:
How about…

By: Alex Fayle

Alex Fayle — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:52:49 +0000

@Karen
As I said on Barbara’s BWOB this morning, I am happy to have conversations on differing opinions with people to whom I’m already attached (like the Pen Men for example), but given the number of blogs out that do share my core values, I will pick their blogs to read over the ones that I just don’t get or that make me want to get into a debate.

Alex Fayles last blog post..Practicing Flexibility to Remain Steady – Full Text Answers