The Laughing Wolf

Something I Have Never Understood

My parents were children of the Great Depression, and as such grew up without a lot in many respects. This meant that they both treasured what they did have, and showed great respect for the property of others. For, by the rules of that day, if you damaged the property of another, great or small, you repaired it or replaced it.

I was raised that way, and as a result I never did understand the love some people had for destroying things belonging to others. I encountered it, both by having some things of mine destroyed and through watching other kids go the destructive route. The fact is that then and now I have trouble with understanding or getting into such a mindset.

This is especially true for the creative process. I can’t paint, but I love to see others do so. I don’t always like what I see and in fact feel that some of it is pure crap, but that does not give me the right to destroy such pieces of art. I am not compelled to deface it in any way, by drawing a mustache upon it or throwing mud. Writing is something I love, both doing and reading. I’ve taken part in various workshops and groups where we review the works of others, and the fundamental rule is to offer constructive suggestions. It is the easy way, the coward’s way, to say that something is dreck without specifying the problem or problems. I suppose it makes the person feel good to attack the work of another, but what purpose does it serve?

As an editor, reviewer, and writer it is much harder but much better to point out specific problems and possibilities for fixing them. In that way, you offer an honest critique with a means to improve. For anyone wanting to write, I suggest strongly reading, reading, and reading. Look at what you like, and then figure out why you like it. That can be the best help you can get to improving your own efforts.

The same is true for discourse. It is easy to say a position or exposition is dreck. Quite often, this is done deliberately because the person making the attack truly has nothing in mind more than attacking. Generalities do nothing constructive, for the devil and salvation are in the details.

That is one reason this site is devoted to discourse, not to debate or argument. I am extremely fortunate that most who come here take part in that spirit and with a sense of intellectual adventure. Like any human, I like it when people agree with me, but I have been delighted at some of the well-reasoned disagreements for they force me to think and to learn. A post long delayed comes from just such an event, and I do hope I have the time soon to finish the research and writing involved. Yes, I have delinked some people, a sad thing which I try to avoid and only do when a matter of honor is involved, and I will delete any post that violates the rules of posting.

What is not discourse, but random destruction, are those who offer up attacks without substance, generalities so vague as to defy proof or disproof, and ad homenim attacks that serve no purpose. I remain somewhat curious as to what drives such people, for they are the type that would destroy a painting, tear down the physical works of another, and delight in defacing another’s efforts. Does it really make them feel good? Is that what it takes for them to feel like something or someone? Is their life so empty and adrift that they can only feed on the negative? How sad they must be to choose to live such a life.

The recent posts in regards Steven Den Beste have brought this to the fore. Such sad, pitiful creatures helped rob us of his insights. No matter if you agreed with him or not, his posts were well documented, well reasoned, and there as a feast of food for thought within them. Yet, those who create nothing and add little or nothing to the world attacked, and a great voice was silenced. We all lost when that happened.

There is little that can be done in some ways, other than to do what I strive to do here: keep it reasoned and to refuse to reward any who openly defy rules of civilized discourse. This little bit of reality is mine, and I will do what I can to keep it civil. Mayhaps if we as individuals and a society stop rewarding those destructive forces, much good can result. It may not bring us back those gone, but it can make for a brighter world. Think on that a bit today.

LW